A segment of the team that worked on EA's now-canceled Black Panther game has joined Wizards of the Coast

Wizards of the Coast has expanded its team by hiring developers formerly involved with EA's now-cancelled Black Panther game, as reported by GamesIndustry.biz. John Hight, the company's president, shared this development.

This group includes Michael de Plater, a seasoned creative director known for his influential role at Monolith Productions, particularly for the 2014 game Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. De Plater's previous credits include work on Tom Clancy's EndWar and Rome: Total War.

The team, having been part of EA's Cliffhanger Games, moved to Wizards of the Coast following the studio's closure in May 2023. Hight notes that they have welcomed de Plater and 14 other significant members from the disbanded team to spearhead a fresh project.

"He'll be starting concept development on something very cool and new – and that part I can't tell you yet," said Hight, indicating the project remains under wraps as it enters its concept phase.

Ample time and creativity are being allowed for this new undertaking's development, according to Hight, mentioning that they are following a process akin to that for a title with Stig Asmussen, known for directing Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Asmussen is collaborating with Wizards of the Coast through his new studio Giant Skull.

Hight expressed enthusiasm about de Plater's integration into the team, highlighting that he would eventually join them at Wizards of the Coast's Seattle headquarters.