Frontier Developments, the studio that brought us the BAFTA-nominated Planet Coaster and upcoming animal corralling simulator Planet Zoo, has just announced in a press release that it has signed its first publishing partnership – and it’s with the studio behind Tropico 5 and Surviving Mars, Haemimont Games. Best of all, it looks like they’re working on a new game together.
Marking the first step in growing its new publishing initiative, Frontier Publishing, the studio is teaming up with the Bulgaria-based independent games developer Haemimont to deliver a title, due for release in around two to three years. Frontier will provide the development funding, plus distribution and marketing for the project. It’s not known what this mysterious title will be just yet, but based on the genres the two studios are known for, it seems likely that it could be a management or strategy game, which Frontier CCO Jonny Watts’ says in the statement “both companies have a strong passion for”.
Beyond this, there is little information to go by – but it would be pretty fun to see some kind of mash-up of the studios’ big titles, where you have to build an island dynasty whose stability rests entirely on tourism and entertainment, like theme parks and zoos. Perhaps with some Omerta-style turn-based combat thrown in for good measure. It probably won’t be this – whatever it is, we’ll just have to wait and see.
Frontier has said that it’s looking to make bringing other developers’ games to market an important part of the company’s plans going forward, and that it hopes to be able to announce some new partnerships in the future.
Related: Check out the Ghostbusters Planet Coaster expansion
In the meantime, check out our guides to the best strategy and best management games on PC.