{
  "id": 1530157,
  "title": "The Hollywood disruptors making a large-scale game with a 12-person team – and no generative AI",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/the-hollywood-disruptors-making-a-large-scale-game-with-a-12-person",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-17T17:43:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "GamesIndustry",
    "slug": "gamesindustry",
    "url": "https://www.gamesindustry.biz/the-hollywood-disruptors-making-a-large-scale-game-with-a-12-person-team-and-no-generative-ai"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Hollywood innovators are crafting a large-scale game with a mere 12-person team, without relying on generative AI. The project, known as Join Us, is a darkly comic co-op cult simulator featuring robed cultists riding pigs and firing machine guns, culminating in tentacle-like imagery. The game's unique snake gun was devised by a team member's son after suggesting the idea. The team, Wolf Haus Games, aims to disrupt the industry by creating high-fidelity experiences with limited personnel. They have Hollywood roots, with co-founders Joe Dietsch and Michael Abbott having backgrounds in film, and COO Michael Abbott's father, Larry Abbott, being a renowned make-up artist. The team's unconventional approach led to a successful funding round from Krafton and Lifelike Capital. Despite the challenging industry climate, the studio secured its seed round and is now creating Join Us with a small, tight-knit team focused on maintaining a creative atmosphere.",
  "summary": "You might recall the trailer for Join Us being featured in the Xbox Showcase back in June. It depicts a darkly comic co-op cult simulator, with robed cult members riding around on pigs and loosing off machine guns, before ending on an image of Cthulu-like giant tentacles. Not shown was the snake gun, says Joe Dietsch, CEO and creative director of Join Us developer Wolf Haus Games. Read more",
  "key_points": [
    "Hollywood innovators create Join Us game with 12-person team",
    "Game features darkly comic cultists, snake gun, tentacle imagery",
    "Wolf Haus Games funded by Krafton and Lifelike Capital"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}