2020 in video games: Black Mesa dev on their new IP, putting rogue-lite ideas into FPS games, and Hades' breakthrough

Joining us today for a quick end-of-the-year interview is Benjamin Truman, lead writer on Crowbar Collective’s Black Mesa.

Benjamin Truman

How did 2020 treat Crowbar Collective?

Despite all the hardships, 2020 was a great year for digital entertainment. We released Black Mesa 1.0 in March and Black Mesa Definitive Edition last month. The team has been overwhelmed with the positive response!

What new trends in your niche would you say deserve attention?

My pet theory is that Battle Royales are very similar to Rogue-Lites, since each play session feels like a “randomized run”. I want to see more Rogue-Lite ideas in more games. Somebody must be trying to bottle up the energy of Dead Cells or Hades, and put it into an FPS. I can’t wait to try that!

Any general trends across the video games industry that stand out to you?

2020 showed us how games can keep people connected and entertained. Hopefully 2020 will reinforce how important the arts and artists are to our lives. 

As a studio, what are you going to strategically focus on in 2021?

We are developing our own, top secret IP! 

What third-party game releases got your attention this year?

Personally, I think Hades made a breakthrough with their combination of gameplay and story. It made a strong impression on me, and I hope it inspires a lot of other developers!

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Make sure to check out our big interview with Black Mesa devs in case you missed it in back in April.