2023-10-13 19:30:01
Nour Polloni, director of Beenox Studios, has been waiting for this moment for over a year, with the new studio having been announced in March 2022. (new window)
Since the pandemic as well as the context of teleworking have proven to be particularly profitable for the video game industry, the Quebec company had already begun its growth in Montreal two years ago to meet certain needs.
It was important for us that we might have an office, so that people might come together. A quote from Nour Polloni, director of Beenox studios
The choice of the Quebec metropolis was completely natural for the new studio, in particular because of its large pool of talent, not to mention that its universities and a large number of training courses give pride of place to the video game industry. The diversity of Montreal’s population also weighed heavily in the balance for Nour Polloni, herself a representative of a visible minority.
Nour Polloni (center) has worked in the video game industry for 23 years. She began her career in France, with Atari, before becoming a producer for Beenox and rising through the ranks.
Photo : Beenox
It is precious and important for me to propagate this culture and increase diversity, so that each person has their voice, she insists.
In the heart of downtown
Unlike its cousins Ubisoft Montréal and Behavior Interactif, Beenox has chosen to establish itself in the city center, rather than in the Mile End district.
For what? For its dynamism, its accessibility by public transport – access to the Réseau express métropolitainREM, the metro and the train is from the underground city – and the idea of being at the center of everything, of the members of the staff of Beenox lives in the greater Montreal area, according to the director, who has 12 years in the company, including 3 years at its head.
You can also do your holiday shopping right next door! she said, laughing.
The new Beenox studio is mainly made up of open work spaces, but it also has a corner relaxation lounge, which offers a breathtaking view of downtown Montreal.
Photo : Beenox
Maison Manuvie also wants to be a strategic choice for Beenox. The Montreal studio currently has 100 people, bringing the total number of workers in the company to 500, and there is room for more, says Nour Polloni, adding that there are other options in the building.
When asked what the growth goals are for this studio, the director of Beenox simply answers with a smirk: We will see the opportunities [occasions] which present themselves to us.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III among the missions
Just like the Quebec studio, the Montreal studio works on different productions of Call of Duty, one of the most popular first-person shooter games in the world.
The team is mainly working on the PC version of the reimagined game from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, which will be launched on November 10, 12 years following the release of the original title. (new window)
“Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III” is the continuation of the work started in recent years by Activision with “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II”, released in 2022.
Photo : Call of Duty
We promise a title at the cutting edge of technology, adapted to several ranges of graphics processors, from the least to the most efficient. The studio has also doubled down on accessibility with functions designed for people affected by motion sickness, audio sensitivity and photosensitivity, among others.
We always want as many people as possible to be able to play it. A quote from Marc-Alexandre Boulanger-Milot, director of the interface (in English : user interfaceor UI) and user experience (user experienceor UX) by Beenox
Beenox is, however, stingy with details on the game’s campaign, but Marc-Alexandre Boulanger-Milot affirms that it will please those nostalgic for the series. He notably mentions the return of the Cold War zombie game mode and highlights the return of several iconic characters such as Captain Jonathan Price and Lieutenant Simon Ghost Riley.
If the team used photogrammetry technology to Modern Warfare II – which offers an impressive graphical update of the city of Amsterdam – it does not shy away from the landscapes that will be present in the rest of the game.
What is certain is that it is intended to be realistic, inspired by real events from somewhere in the world, but integrated into fiction, indicates Marc-Alexandre Boulanger-Milot, remaining enigmatic.
A mobile game of Warzone expected
Perhaps one of the most notable projects the Beenox team is working on is the highly anticipated game Call of Duty Warzone Mobile. (new window)
I have the impression that we are going to turn a page of history with the mobile version of Warzone.A quote from François Reimnitz, Head of Mobile User Interface (UI) at Beenox
Call of Duty Warzone, a free online battle royale PC game, has enjoyed dazzling success during the pandemic, and its mobile version is eagerly awaited by players, according to François Reimnitz: Forty-five million people pre-registered to get the mobile version on day one. The bar is high.
Beenox took advantage of the inauguration of its studio in Montreal to unveil its new visual identity.
Photo : Beenox
The game, more refined than the PC version, will be multiplatform: elements unlocked in the mobile version can be recovered on the PC version of the game, and vice versa, while keeping certain characteristics specific to the smartphone, according to the team.
A person who plays on PC will be once morest people on PC, and people who play the mobile version will be once morest others also on mobile, specifies Marc-Alexandre Boulanger-Milot.
Activision has not yet announced an official release date for the mobile game, co-developed with Activision studios in the United States, Spain and China, but there is talk of an unveiling planned for spring 2024.
Dave Stohl, general vice-president of Call of Duty, accompanied by the director of Beenox, Nour Polloni, the Minister for the Economy, Christopher Skeete, and the president and CEO of Montréal International, Stéphane Paquet.
Photo : Beenox
The mobile version of Warzoneas well as Beenox’s PC expertise, is one of the key elements which suggest that [Beenox] is becoming one of the most important players for the Call of Duty series, said Dave Stohl, general vice-president of Call of Duty, who was in Montreal on Thursday for the studio’s inauguration.
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