Astrid Leisure: Where Gaming Meets Linear Entertainment in an Innovative Fusion

It was just over two years ago that former Amazon and Fox executive Sharon Tal Yguado announced the launch of her gaming studio, Astrid Entertainment.

Since that time, the developer has been engaged in a project that is yet unnamed, characterized as a “living adventure sandbox” aimed at a teenage audience.

Yguado informs GamesIndustry.biz that she and her team recognized a gap in a market largely ruled by violent genres in AAA gaming and friendly games in the indie sector, aiming to create a distinctly engaging experience for young players.

“We believe it’s time for experiences that are uplifting while also being dynamic and thrilling, capable of delivering an adrenaline kick,” she elaborates.

“Early on, we decided to incorporate the best features of RPGs – rich worldbuilding and storytelling, exploration, and discovery – and integrate a sandbox methodology, granting players the creative means to shape the world as they see fit.”

Yguado outlines the development process since the studio’s inception in 2022, noting that the first year was focused on prototyping and establishing the intellectual property. She reveals that the subsequent ten months involved the team diligently working on a proof of concept and a demo, which has recently been completed.

Astrid is currently undertaking sessions with family and friends to evaluate the quality of the game’s multiplayer experiences.

“It’s an adventure game, but not a survival game,” Yguado states. “Players will encounter challenges and limits; however, it is not a game centered on violence and destruction; rather, it is about abilities that empower them to shape the narrative for their land.”

“Players engage in worlds they genuinely own, and they can invite family and friends to join. This game is not your standard MMO where you encounter strangers on a server. You can design your community. Ultimately, we aspire to connect players with similar interests in worlds and social hubs, although that may come at a later stage.”

Yguado emphasizes that this project prioritizes “multiplayer narratives” over individual ones, which in turn “transform the world in unique ways, making it feel personal.”

After spending over a decade at Fox and Amazon, the concept of this interactive adventure became the impetus for Yguado to transition from linear entertainment to the gaming realm.

“When I first heard the proposal for this new world and IP, it was evident that it had to be an interactive and social experience,” she explains. “The concept involved a magical, open world with a fascinating twist, where people could explore, connect, and create together. Developing this IP as a linear experience would have been a significant oversight.”

The project also represented a refreshing departure from the “cynical and very edgy” stories Yguado has previously worked on, including The Walking Dead, The Boys, Outcast, and Invincible.

“You can’t get darker and edgier than The Boys,” she comments. “However, observing the world we live in and the current entertainment landscape, I realized it was time for a shift.”

Yguado also envisions the potential for this project to eventually transition back into the linear entertainment space.

“Astrid is not merely a game studio but an entertainment company that evaluates all media outlets and platforms as possibilities,” she clarifies. “People are undoubtedly anticipating a film or television adaptation from us, which we will eventually provide, but our primary focus will be on social interactions first.

“Despite all the hurdles the industry faces today, gaming is uniquely positioned at the most favorable intersection of content and social connections.