Creative Assembly, the studio behind Alien: Isolation, Halo Wars 2, and the prolific Total War series, is staffing up for their next project. According to the developer, the game will be a new IP and will be the “biggest multiformat project Creative Assembly has ever undertaken.” Consider my interested piqued!

　　Creative Assembly hasn’t officially revealed any specifics about their new IP, but a handful of postings on the studio’s careers page may reveal some details. Here’s what Creative Assembly is looking for in a new Lead Systems Designer:

　　“You will lead the Gameplay Systems team, developing the core gameplay systems, such as weapons, movement, abilities, gadgets, health and other underlying gameplay systems. You will collaborate and communicate closely with the project's creative leaders to effectively deliver on the vision of the game.”

　　Hmmm, weapons, movement, and gadgets? This doesn’t seem like another strategy game – it sounds like some sort of action-adventure title. Another job ad for a Senior Meta Game Designer may provide a few more clues about Creative Assembly’s mystery game:

　　“Working with the Design Director, you will be responsible for defining the range and depth of the meta game. You will be designing and implementing the game’s Meta framework, including economy, progression and retention methods, leaderboards, challenges, world building and events.”

　　Hmmm again! Leaderboards and challenges hints the project will have multiplayer, and mention of economy, progression, and retention methods suggest it may have a live-service element. In other words, even though this game is being developed by the specific team that made Alien: Isolation, don’t expect another intense single-player horror experience. There were rumors another Alien game was in the works earlier this year, but they were later shot down. Disappointing, but not exactly surprising.

　　So, what might Creative Assembly be working on? Given their strategy roots, could they be making some sort of MOBA-like multiplayer game? They’re also owned by Sega, so maybe they're reviving one of their old franchises? Who knows! I’m just taking shots in the dark here. What do you think Creative Assembly might be preparing for us?