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Industry veterans net $4.5 million to establish fully-remote studio Gardens

Gardens' co-founders have worked on titles including Journey and What Remains of Edith Finch.

Chris Kerr, News Editor

February 2, 2022

1 Min Read

A group of developers from across the industry have secured $4.5 million to establish Gardens, a new studio built around the mantra of 'collective growth.'

Gardens was co-founded by Chris Bell, Lexie Dostal, and Stephen Bell, whose credits include Journey, What Remains of Edith Finch, Dustforce, and Blaseball. The studio has also attracted other developers with experience working on titles like Marvel's Spider-Man, Ratchet & Clank, Skyrim, and Fallout.

Outlining their vision for the new studio, Gardens' co-founders explained the company wants to champion transparency, sustainability, inclusivity, and empowerment. With that goal in mind, Gardens will be a fully-remote studio that offers unlimited PTO, 35-hours work weeks, and other benefits.

"Our top priority is making sure our teammates enjoy their lives and are given the tools and resources to grow while creating compelling, well-crafted, thoughtful games that cultivate novel shared experiences between players online," said co-founder Chris Bell.

The nascent outfit has already begun work on its debut title, which will pull players into "a mysterious and magical world." The studio will use its cash injection, courtesy of a seed round led by Transcend Fund, to expand over the coming years.

About the Author

Chris Kerr

News Editor, GameDeveloper.com

Game Developer news editor Chris Kerr is an award-winning journalist and reporter with over a decade of experience in the game industry. His byline has appeared in notable print and digital publications including Edge, Stuff, Wireframe, International Business Times, and PocketGamer.biz. Throughout his career, Chris has covered major industry events including GDC, PAX Australia, Gamescom, Paris Games Week, and Develop Brighton. He has featured on the judging panel at The Develop Star Awards on multiple occasions and appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live to discuss breaking news.

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