Studio prepping Mass Effect killer as it grows to 600 employees

In a recent interview celebrating Owlcat’s tenth anniversary, studio co-founder and creative director Alexander Mishulin offered a fascinating look into how the studio balances its deep passion for classic CRPGs with ambitious new directions. The conversation revealed that while the foundation remains firmly rooted in role-playing game mechanics, the team is actively seeking new ways to innovate, ensuring their games remain fresh and compelling.

Mishulin firmly stated that Owlcat intends to continue making CRPGs because they love them, but emphasizes a commitment to evolution. “We do not want to become stagnant,” he explained, noting that the studio will be experimenting with different approaches to find the best possible fit for any given game idea. This pursuit of innovation is central to their creative philosophy: creating RPGs that are enjoyable for the players and inspiring for others to create even better experiences.

The consistency in Owlcat’s initial work has established a strong identity, as their first three games share a unified engine, design sensibility, and structural approach—often placing the player in the role of a monarch or leader of a state-level organization. This shared foundation allows them to build recognizable worlds while simultaneously branching into exciting new genres.

This creative flexibility is perfectly demonstrated by their current project lineup. On one hand, Owlcat took a huge leap with The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, which brought in cinematic action and a massive departure from their established house style. Yet, this evolution is seamlessly supported by their other development.

The studio is currently iterating on its core mechanics for another major title, Warhammer 40K: Dark Heresy. This project echoes the successful evolutionary leap seen in other CRPGs, effectively moving the experience toward an ambitious, highly reactive detective and investigation metagame. By iterating on their existing engine and rulesets—drawing inspiration from titles like Pathfinder and Wrath of the Righteous—Owlcat manages to blend complex lore with fresh gameplay mechanics.

This dual focus highlights Owlcat’s impressive growth. The studio has expanded significantly, handling two massive projects simultaneously. While other industry giants like Larian are north of five hundred employees, and Obsidian remains in the low hundreds following recent shifts, Owlcat boasts a substantial team of around 600 employees. This expansion reflects their ability to manage diverse creative ambitions.

Founded in Moscow, the developer now operates from its headquarters in Paphos, Cyprus, spreading its talent across different locations. This expanded manpower allows Owlcat to continue satisfying both hardcore RPG fans and action-oriented players through a multi-game approach, proving that deep design sensibilities can support wildly diverse creative visions.