Summary
Though gamers are currently experiencing a bit of a slower period for new releases, Summer 2023 is about to see another huge influx of exciting video game drops. The highly-anticipatedBaldur’s Gate 3hits its full release on PlayStation and PCin early August, FromSoftware’s beloved mech-simulator franchise makes its return on August 25 withArmored Core 6, and the long-awaitedSea of Starsfinally makes its debut at the end of the month. But of everything releasing in August, it might just be Ascendant Studios’Immortals of Aveumthat manages to become a breakout hit.
A first-person fantasy shooterheavily inspired by the likes ofDoomandCall of Duty,Immortals of Aveumis the debut game by Ascendant Studios, being published by EA. But whileImmortals of Aveumis technically the studio’s first title, that doesn’t mean that its talented team isn’t incredibly experienced already, and the developer’s head and founder, Bret Robbins, has worked across the video game industry consistently for the last few decades.
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Every Game Ascendant Studios' Bret Robbins Has Worked On
The very first documented appearance of Bret Robbins in the video game industry occurred all the way back in 1996, with Robbins taking on an Assistant Lead Tester role for the trippy PS1 platformerPandemonium!, developed by Toys for Bob, the studio that’s now most well-known for the recentCrash Bandicootgames. Robbins continued in the industry as a tester for a little while, working on the firstLegacy of Kaingame also back in 1996. Soon after, Robbins began working as a Designer, first working on the tongue-in-cheekaction-platformerGex: Enter the Gecko, which is about to get a Limited Run remaster alongside the other two games in the PS1Gextrilogy.
By the early 2000s, Bret Robbins had amassed quite the resume, and he landed a Lead Designer role on thenow-belovedLord of the Rings: The Return of the Kinggame, which was developed by EA Redwood Shores, which would go on to become Visceral Games. At Redwood, Robbins would also act as a Lead Designer on the007: From Russia With Lovegame, which technically features the final instance of Sean Connery playing the titular role. Robbins then took a big step up for his next role in the games industry, acting as Creative Director of 2008’sDead Space.
Soon afterDead Space’s release, Robbins joined a big group of EA Redwood developers that decided to split off and create their own studio. Named Sledgehammer Games, this studio wasted no time capitalizing on the widespread success ofDead Spaceand approached Activision with an offer to join forces to create a new third-personCall of Duty. Activision accepted the offer, and Robbins becameSledgehammer Games' Creative Director. Though the third-personCall of Dutywould be put on hold, Robbins worked on severalCall of Dutytitles over the next decade, includingModern Warfare 3,Advanced Warfare, andCall of Duty: WW2.
Bret Robbins has had quite an impressive career so far, and it seems to only be getting more so by the moment. Back in March 2019, Robbins announced his departure from Sledgehammer Games and confirmed that he’d be setting up his own studio named Ascendant Studios. As its founder and CEO, Robbins seems to be leading his studio to success, withImmortals of Aveumlooking very promising so far.
Immortals of Aveumlaunches on July 15, 2025, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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