Art Director of Oscar-Winning Animated Short Rejoins Harebrained Schemes

Harebrained Schemes :

Seattle, WA - 1/30/2024 - Harebrained Schemes is pleased to announce Mike McCain is rejoining the studio as Executive Producer ahead of the company’s next project. McCain previously served as Game Director on BATTLETECH and Shadowrun: Dragonfall before departing to work on outside projects. McCain will head development on Harebrained Schemes’ next project. 

“I’m thrilled to be back in the virtual office with this amazing team,” said McCain. “There will be plenty of challenges, but the creative momentum we have around this new project right now is exhilarating. We're a small crew making something we really believe in and I can't wait to share it!”

McCain is also known for his visual development for Netflix’s Blue Eye Samurai and Sony’s Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, and for art directing the Academy Award-winning The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and the Horse. He’ll work on the studio’s next project as well as oversee Harebrained Schemes’ transition back into an indie studio. 

McCain is returning to the position after Founder and Studio Manager Mitch Gitelman announced he was stepping down at the end of 2023. Gitelman will no longer be part of day-to-day operations but will continue supporting McCain and the team in an advisory role.

“I'm taking a much-needed break and exploring what the next stage of my life looks like,” said Gitelman. “This is a ridiculously talented team. I’m proud of them, I'm excited for them, and I look forward to playtesting their new game—I think it will really resonate with longtime HBS fans.”  

About Harebrained Schemes

Harebrained Schemes began making games in 2011, releasing Crimson Steam Pirates and Strikefleet Omega on mobile. The studio then focused on PC games that combine tactical gameplay with nuanced and engaging stories, including Shadowrun Returns, Shadowrun: Dragonfall, Shadowrun Hong Kong, and BATTLETECH. Their newest adventure, The Lamplighters League, is a 1930s-inspired tactical RPG that balances clever design with engaging turn-based strategy. You can find more on the official website here. 

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