Harebrained Schemes Teases New Project GRAFT Amidst Studio Revival

Harebrained Schemes, renowned for its work on BattleTech and Shadowrun Returns, is hinting at an all-new project. This much-loved studio, known for its strategic masterpieces, recently shared an enigmatic teaser video. The video reveals a shadowy, futuristic city with a large crater, subsequently shifting to an image of a planet surrounded by debris. It ominously hinted, "Something's coming," while directing viewers to their website featuring the prominent word, "GRAFT."

In March, executive producer Mike McCain shared an update through a blog post, mentioning that the team was deeply engrossed in prototyping for their next venture, seeking approval from potential publishers. McCain expressed that they had discovered the game's core excitement and were now awaiting publisher interest. Hence, the recent teaser could signify that the studio's new game is moving forward.

This news is particularly hopeful given the studio's challenging year. Following significant crowdfunding success with three Shadowrun games and further acclaim with BattleTech, Paradox Interactive acquired Harebrained Schemes in 2018. However, their game, The Lamplighter's League, released just last year, met with lukewarm reception and poor sales, leading to their separation from Paradox and the studio regaining its independence.

Paradox CEO Fredrik Wester commented that while The Lamplighters League showcased notable strengths and had positive player engagement through subscription services, its overall commercial performance was disappointing. Amidst these setbacks, including mass layoffs, it's heartening to see Harebrained Schemes making a comeback with their new project, "GRAFT."

While eagerly awaiting further details on "GRAFT," fans can explore the top current strategy games.