Ex staff from the likes of Bethesda, BioWare and Naughty Dog have founded a new developer called Near Studios. 

GI.biz reports that the venture is being led by CEO and creative director Heather Cerlan who is fresh from her stint as lead 3D artist at Skydance New Media and has worked at Naughty Dog, Bethesda and EA in the past. 

Near Studios; other co-founder and game director is Jason Richardson, formerly of Funcom, BioWare and Bethesda. Fellow Skyrim alum Bruce Nesmith is working as a lead designer. 

Near is working on Hawthorn, a game that is described as mixing Skyrim with Stardew Valley. 

"In Hawthorn, everything – from crafting to adventuring – is centred around a living village of NPCs and your co-op friends," Richardson said. 

"We want to evoke the nostalgic joy and wonder of shared adventures, much like the timeless stories and simple pleasures that connect us across generations."