Troy Baker is one of the most recognizable names in the entire video game industry, and the acclaimed American actor has been thinking for some time about a very different next step: what if he moved from performing in games to leading a development studio of his own. The idea is still far from fully formed, but it could push Baker toward understanding games from an entirely different angle.

In an interview with Eurogamer, Baker explained that his interest in game development comes in part from the experience of working alongside some of the biggest names in the industry. From Ken Levine and Hideo Kojima to Neil Druckmann, the actor says those collaborations have helped him understand the narrative and design foundations that define many of the medium’s most important successes.

Abubakar Salim’s Example Gave Troy Baker an Extra Push

At the same time, Baker specifically pointed to the path of another creator as something that made the idea feel more real. “I love Abu; I played his games a lot. He’s someone who has a deep passion for video games and has found a way to turn it into a great business,” Baker said when referring to Abubakar Salim. Salim is widely known for playing Bayek in Assassin’s Creed Origins, but he also founded Surgent Studios, the team behind Tales of Kenzera: Zau.

That said, as noted, this is still a concept that needs time to develop. For now, Baker has confirmed that he is in the early stages of the process, exploring his options and having conversations about what kind of story he could tell and with whom he could build it.

“What excites me [speaking about the creators I’ve worked with] is taking those principles, those foundations of hugely successful titles – not just in terms of sales and numbers, but because of the stories that have defined the industry – and being able to innovate, replicate, and emulate those processes and practices in the stories I want to tell.”

“So I’m going to take it easy, because I want to make sure that when I finally tell a story, it’s of the same quality as those I’m trying to emulate,” the American actor said. What he did not clarify, however, is whether a move toward directing or studio leadership would mean scaling back his acting career. That career remains remarkably strong as it is, and it has already brought him into two games this year alone: Mouse: P.I. for Hire and Screamer.

Source: 3DJuegos