### David Vondehaar’s New Shooter Inspired by David Lynch
Former *Call of Duty: Black Ops* designer David Vondehaar is venturing into a new project within the realm of video games. He is currently working on a shooter for the GreaterThan Group (GTG), a holding company established by a former NetEase executive. Notably, GTG is also funding the development of *Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic*. This new shooter project takes an intriguing approach, with Vondehaar drawing inspiration from filmmaker David Lynch, known for his surreal and unconventional narrative style in works like *Eraserhead*, *Twin Peaks*, and *Lost Highway*.
### Background on David Vondehaar and BulletFarm
Vondehaar left Treyarch, the studio behind the *Call of Duty* franchise, in 2023. Following his departure, he co-founded a new studio called BulletFarm in 2024 with initial funding from NetEase. However, as a result of corporate downsizing, NetEase withdrew their support. Recently, BulletFarm has teamed up with Simon Zhu, previously the president of global investments and partnerships at NetEase, now the founder of GreaterThan Group.
### The Vision for the New Game
In an interview with *Bloomberg*, Vondehaar emphasized that the new game will not be a traditional military simulation or a direct competitor to the *Call of Duty* series. With about $40 million currently available for various video game projects and an additional $60 million in commitments, GTG’s financial backing is significant, though it pales in comparison to the hundreds of millions typically budgeted for contemporary *Call of Duty* titles.
The team working on the BulletFarm shooter consists of around 50 members, a stark contrast to the thousands involved in the production of the latest *Black Ops* game. Vondehaar believes that the size of a development team and its budget do not necessarily correlate with the quality of the game, stating, “If you gave me $200 million, I wouldn’t spend it all. Money doesn’t make it good. People make it good.”
### A Lynchian Experience
Describing the project further, Vondehaar posed an intriguing question: “What if David Lynch made shooters?” The game is set to blend player-versus-player combat with environmental challenges, offering a unique gameplay experience that deviates from conventional shooter mechanics. Vondehaar forecasts a development timeline of approximately three years for the project.
The notion of a shooter inspired by Lynch’s distinctive style is captivating. The *Black Ops* series already incorporates elements reminiscent of Lynch’s work, such as hallucinations and fragmented narratives, suggesting that Vondehaar’s new game may embrace similar themes.
### Reflection on David Lynch’s Influence
While David Lynch himself has never designed a video game, his influence can be seen in various titles, notably in *Silent Hill* and *Kentucky Route Zero*. Lynch’s only documented involvement in the gaming world was a discontinued project titled *Woodcutters From Fiery Ships*, featuring quirky, surreal elements characteristic of his filmography. He also produced a unique advertisement for the PlayStation 2 that melded humor and self-parody.
### Conclusion
While details remain sparse, David Vondehaar’s new endeavor at BulletFarm holds promise for those intrigued by the intersection of video gaming and avant-garde storytelling. The project aims to deliver a unique experience that challenges standard gaming conventions, potentially paving the way for a new genre of narrative-driven shooters. As players await further developments, the vision of a Lynchian game continues to stoke interest and curiosity in the gaming community.
