Molten Games is a new development studio hoping to break free of the traditional relationship between developer and publisher. In a debut announcement, CEO and co-founder Jungwon Hahn says the studio will achieve this by putting gameplay and player experience "first with every decision" as the studio undertakes its flagship free-to-play online PC game.

"We're just trying to take advantage of the free-to-play model, but we want people to have the same expectation of quality they would if they went and bought a $60 console game at the store," chief product officer Paul Della Bitta tells GI International. The pedigree at Molten Games is very much rooted in online games, with key talent having previously worked at Sony Online Entertainment, Blizzard and Relic Entertainment.

Since its formation earlier this year, Molten Games has assembled around 30 employees, but Della Bitta expects headcount to rise to 60 by the end of next year. That headcount is in part thanks to VC funding from NCSoft, which has already given millions to Molten Games through a Series A round investment - a preferred stock allocation to investors typical of most start-up enterprises. Despite the investment, Molten Games will retain the IP to its unannounced game and NCSoft will not serve as publisher.

Source: Molten Games
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