Guy “Dr. Disrespect” Beahm launched his new AAA gaming firm this morning, which he co-founded alongside veteran Call of Duty creators. Last summer, the broadcaster made news when he was banned from Twitch. Dr. Disrespect claimed in August that he was suing Twitch and that he was aware of the basis for his ban. Now, the popular streamer is back in the news after announcing the launch of his new gaming studio.
Despite his status as a video game streamer, Dr. Disrespect possesses the necessary background to establish a game studio. Beahm previously worked at Sledgehammer Games as a developer, where he created multiple multiplayer maps for Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. This eventually resulted in him gaining experience in the field of game production. However, it has been revealed that he would not serve as the development head of his studio. In August, Beahm advertised a position for the studio’s chief of development on his streamer’s website. According to the job description, the games in development would be mostly for PC and consoles. Additionally, the job post stated that the studio’s games would be built on influencer partnerships, effectively making Dr. Disrespect’s game studio a streamer’s fantasy.
Dr. Disrespect disclosed the name of his new AAA gaming firm, Midnight Society, on his Twitter account today, in collaboration with renowned Call of Duty devs. According to Midnight Society’s website, the company is “dedicated to providing the greatest, most community-driven online PVP multiplayer experience the globe has ever seen.” The studio’s first title, Day-Zero, is being developed on Unreal Engine 5 and will be made available to a ‘Day-Zero Community’ and significant content developers. The studio’s website continues by stating that it is committed to including influencers and gaming communities much sooner in a game’s development process.
This novel strategy of incorporating influencers into the game production process is novel, but it may prove beneficial for the young firm. Inviting influencers early in a project’s development can help shape design decisions and foster creativity in the shooter genre. Dr. Disrespect is well aware of this as a former game developer and current streamer. The fact that his company is already welcoming influencers demonstrates how closely Midnight Society will collaborate with these streaming partners.
Not only will Dr. Disrespect’s Midnight Society introduce gamers to new games, but it will also introduce the gaming industry to a new method of game development. While it remains to be seen whether or not Midnight Society’s financial model will succeed, fans and AAA companies alike will be watching.
