A series of job listings posted by Wizards of the Coasts reveal that the company's latest development studio is working on a G.I. Joe video game.
The New Raleigh-Durham Studio is currently hiring for a series of positions, including an Art Director, Lead Animator, Lead Game Designer and Technical Director. The description for each position specifies that the applicants, if hired, will be working on a "multi-platform, Action-Adventure video game set in the GI JOE Universe." This is the studio's first multi-platform project.
The listings don't provide any concrete information on the G.I Joe video game. The new Raleigh-Durham Studio is lead by a team of veterans from WB Games and "other AAA studios." The Lead Animator position specifies that the game will utilize a third-person perspective. Given its theme, it's likely that combat and gunplay will feature heavily throughout the experience.
G.I. Joe is no stranger to video game adaptions. The beloved animated series has been turned into multiple games, dating all the way back to G.I. Joe: Cobra Strike for the Atari 2600, released in 1983. Most recently, G.I. Joe: Operation Blackout allowed fans to experience the franchise as a competitive third-person shooter. Critics praised the game's expansive roster while lamenting its underwhelming and repetitive gameplay.
Perhaps the most recognizable G.I. Joe video game in recent years is G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. A tie-in with the 2009 film of the same name, the game was poorly received by fans and critics with many lamenting its shallow gameplay and outdated graphics.
Wizards of the Coast is mostly known for producing and developing a variety of iconic table-top games. The company is behind the role-playing behemoth Dungeons & Dragons and the long-running collectible trading card game Magic: The Gathering.
There's currently no word on when fans can expect Wizards of the Coast's G.I. Joe video game but given the importance and seniority of the positions on offer, it's reasonable to assume the project is still in very early development.
Source: Wizards of the Coast