Blizzard Is Hiring For an Unannounced Survival Game Set in a Brand New Universe

Blizzard has announced it is working on a new, AAA survival game for PC and console set in a brand new universe. And Blizzard is hiring to help make it happen.

In a new blog post announcing the job openings, Blizzard says its new survival game will be “A place full of heroes we have yet to meet, stories yet to be told, and adventures yet to be lived. A vast realm of possibility, waiting to be explored.”

Blizzard is hiring across multiple departments including art, design, and engineering. Among the open positions are jobs for Environment Artist, Senior Character Artist, Senior Concept Artist, Level Designer, and Software Engineers for Engine, Audio, Server, and Tools.

Alongside the job listings are two pieces of artwork, one of two people from what looks like the modern-day crossing over from modern civilization into a fantasy world, and the other of some kind of hunter dressed in a fur cap and armor. It’s unclear if these artworks are meant to illustrate the tone of the project, or are meant to portray potential themes.

Blizzard manager Mike Ybarra tweeted that he’s “played many hours of this project with the team” already, meaning the game could be further along in development.

I’ve played many hours of this project with the team and I’m incredibly excited about the teams vision and the brand-new world it presents for players to immerse themselves in together. Join us to help make it a reality! https://t.co/pLhijX2Li9

— Mike Ybarra (@Qwik) January 25, 2022

The blog specifically asks whether prospective employees enjoy survival games, which is a genre typically defined by foraging for resources to maintain your health constantly while building shelters, tools, and weapons to stay safe from a hostile environment.

Blizzard is known for not announcing projects before they’re ready to be shown off, but this job listing feels like a move away from that. After all, hiring for a new “unannounced” survival game is still practically announcing a new game and possibly series within Blizzard’s stables.

Overwatch was the last big franchise Blizzard launched and the studio is currently developing its sequel Overwatch 2, though the long development time has created frustration among the team.

Blizzard is also grappling with its ongoing sexual discrimination scandal that has shaken the company and the video game industry at large to its core. Add a looming acquisition by Microsoft alongside the rest of Activision Blizzard, and this is certainly an unusual announcement from Blizzard. But things have not been business as usual for Blizzard in some time.

Matt T.M. Kim is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach him @lawoftd.

Correction: An earlier version of this story said the unannounced survival game is coming to PC and consoles. The blog post uses the singular “console” and the story has been updated to reflect this.