Four ex-Rare staffers have established a new independent development studio, which is working on a sci-fi Xbox Live Arcade title due to be published by Microsoft.
Leicestershire-based Starfire Studios consists of designer Chris Tilston, programmer Mark Edmonds, and artists Ross Bury and Phil Dunne, all of whom worked at Rare for over a decade.
The studio’s debut game, entitled Fusion: Genesis, promises to offer “an explosive mix of space adventure and multiplayer shooter” action. Set for release later this year, it revolves around an "always connected" dynamic space environment and promises 100s of single-player and co-op missions, as well as eight-player PVP gameplay.
A sister title called Fusion: Sentient, which in development for Windows Phone 7 at a different unannounced studio, will link up with Starfire’s title by enabling players to trade items.
Source: Gamasutra / Starfire Studios