The Chinese studio behind Genshin Impact is settling in Montreal

The Chinese studio behind the planetary success Genshin Impact, Mihoyo, chose Montreal as the first antenna in North America.

The new office, which is currently being developed Boulevard Robert-Bourassa, will officially open next January.In two years, he will have a hundred employees.He will devote himself to "the creation of a brand new action and adventure game AAA in the world open", specifies the organization Montreal International, which accompanied the studio for this expansion.

The Quebec metropolis has become "a hub" so essential that it is now the big studios that take the first steps to settle there, rejoices StéphanePack, CEO of Montreal International.

"I consider that we are in the world top 5, which makes us a magnet, explains in interview M.Pack.We receive a phone call, we take them by hand, literally.When these are your first steps in North America, you need someone to explain everything that it takes to settle.»»

He believes that it is the Montreal Talent Basin, more than tax incentives, which make the metropolis attractive.

19^e studio

It was not possible to get an interview with a Mihoyo official. Par communiqué, le cofondateur du studio Forrest Liu estime qu’il a choisi une ville « où l’on retrouve une riche communauté de développeurs de jeux ainsi que des universités reconnues partout dans le monde»».

« Nous accordons une grande valeur à l’expertise et à la créativité de l’écosystème local qui, selon nous, inspireront miHoYo dans son processus de création de jeux»», ajoute-t-il.

Fondé en 2012 par trois étudiants de Shanghai, miHoYo est un acteur relativement petit dans l’écosystème chinois, avec 2400 employés répartis dans 18 studios – Montréal est le 19^e.It already has six mobile games in its catalog.Their graphics are very inspired by Japanese manga and fantasy.Generally welcomed, these games struggled to get out of the Chinese market.It was not at all the case with Glonshin Impact, released in September 2020 and which today has some 53.6 million monthly players, according to the Dexerto website.

This free download adventure game game, with the possibility of integrated purchases, is considered one of the most popular mobile games of all time, with income estimated at 245 million US from its first month of launch.Often compared to the classic of Nintendo The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, it allows the player to choose from four main characters who explore, fight, fly in the air and collect treasures.Since September 2020, versions of human impact have been launched for the PlayStation and for PC, and we can play online in co-op mode, regardless of platforms, with a maximum of three other people.

Little information has filtered on the concept of the new game which will be concocted in Montreal. Le communiqué de Montréal International précise tout au plus qu’il s’agira d’« un jeu de tir dans un univers paranormal vivant»» qui sera publié sur « console, PC et plateformes mobiles»».