Control, Quantum Break and Alan Wake developer Remedy has established a new team to experiment with live multiplayer.
Dubbed 'Vanguard', this outfit will act as an internal start-up with the idea of challenging convention, as well as prototyping and shipping new kinds of experiences.
Remedy has historically focused on single-player titles with a supernatural angle, so this is certainly a change of pace for the Finnish outfit.
It's possible this is the third team that communications chief Thomas Puha told PCGamesInsider.biz about last week at Gamescom - we have reached out for clarification on the matter.
This team is on top of the development staff working on the upcoming Control, published by 505, and Crossfire 2 single player component. There's also the Northlight team, managing Remedy's engine tech.
"As Remedy Entertainment continues to redefine and invest into the traditional triple-A video games experience with our upcoming franchises such as Control and Crossfire 2 / HD, we have been building a framework for a new internal development team with a slightly different focus," the company wrote.
Remedy continued: "The small “Vanguard” development team will act with a startup mentality within the stability of a large company. Its mission is to challenge conventions and to prototype and ship new types of ongoing live multiplayer game experiences, alongside our established and growing core game development teams and the Northlight technology group.
"The aim is to make groundbreaking video games that uphold the Remedy Entertainment name. This is a unique opportunity for you to come in, and create and establish a new kind of Remedy experience."
The narrative in games development right now is that single player titles are not commercially viable anymore, and that studios are moving towards more of a games-as-a-service model.
Remedy refuted this narrative when we spoke to the Finnish studio earlier this year, but the establishing of Vanguard certainly shows that the firm is keeping an eye on experiences that are slightly outside of its typical wheelhouse.