2K-owned Hangar 13 has set up shop here in the UK.

A new Brighton location joins the studio's three other sites in Novato, Prague and California.

The developer is hard at work on a currently unannounced console project, with industry vet Nick Baynes (pictured) heading up the outfit.

"This is a specific choice for us," Hangar 13's VP of development Andy Wilson told GamesIndustry.biz.

"It's actually based on the fact that Nick and I used to work together at Black Rock, going back longer than I am prepared to say. At GDC last year we met up, and Nick had formed a smallish studio with some of our former colleagues from the Split/Second team. They were interested in getting back into console development. Back then we needed a partner for some contracting work, so we started out that way. As the year went on, things were going well and it became apparent we had a big opportunity, because Brighton and the South East has this vast pool of talent, with console experience, but there's a lack of console development going on in the UK.

"Obviously there is still a good amount of AAA development. But the reason I am sat in California is because the studios that made those games were starting to recede, and a lot of publisher-backed studios with a mandate to make big games just went. So we feel this is an opportunity to pump a bit of oxygen back into the fire as far as console development in the UK is concerned."

Baynes continued: "There's been a general feeling amongst the developers in Brighton that there is something missing here. Really since Black Rock, we haven't had a major, AAA console development studio in the city. Like Andy said, about a year ago I started something new. The intention was to start off small. Start doing console work and see where it all went. Then through a series of organic conversations, and working together on bits, suddenly this opportunity appeared, and we realised that our goals were aligned."

This follows the firm announcing a number of lay-offs earlier this year.