(Irvine, Calif.) - Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 - Bonfire Studios, an independent video game developer, is finally coming out of stealth mode, unveiling the name and first details of its debut project, Arkheron. Founded by industry veterans responsible for iconic franchises including Blizzard Entertainment’s Diablo, Overwatch, StarCraft and World of Warcraft, the Bonfire team draws on the expertise and design principles honed on those titles to craft an innovative new PvP game. Private playtesting for Arkheron is already underway and will be expanding in the coming months with rolling invites. Players who love fast-paced PvP combat are encouraged to sign up now for a chance to be among the first to play Arkheron and help shape its later stages of development: bonfirestudios.com/playtest
Bonfire has been playing and iterating on Arkheron behind-the-scenes for years and began private playtesting sessions with a small community in 2024. While players will find familiar ideas and concepts in Arkheron, it isn’t about combining genres - it’s about creating something entirely new; a dynamic, fast-paced PvP gameplay experience set in a dark and foreboding world. The team at Bonfire playtests the game every day, and attributes this aspect of their development process to helping them create a fun and unique game they believe will resonate with players.
“There’s a simple truth at the heart of our development philosophy,” said Rob Pardo, CEO, Bonfire Studios. “If we don’t love our game, our players won’t either. We believe the best games are born from a genuine love of playing them, which is why we’ve poured years of passion into developing Arkheron, constantly iterating and refining it to deliver something truly unique and exciting. We’ve played the game daily as a team for years, and while we haven’t figured out yet exactly how to describe it, we often say ‘you have to play it to get it’. We’re eager to start sharing the fun we’ve found in Arkheron with a wider community soon, and we hope players will love it as much as we do.”
Players who sign up through the website will have a chance to be invited to the private playtest, but the easiest way in is to find a friend who’s already playing - because Arkheron is best when played with friends. Currently access is limited to North America, but Bonfire plans to continue expanding the playtest to other regions throughout the year.
Building on last week’s reveal of a partnership with HYBE IM to publish Arkheron in Korea and Japan, Bonfire also secured new investments from Andreessen Horowitz, Founders Fund and Altos Ventures, among others, which will fuel the remaining development of Arkheron as the team readies it for global launch.
As Bonfire continues its work on Arkheron, the studio is growing, with open roles on its Engineering, Art, Audio and Publishing teams. Interested candidates can learn more and apply on the Bonfire website: bonfirestudios.com/work-with-us
About Bonfire Studios
Headquartered in Orange County, California, Bonfire Studios is an independent video game developer focused on crafting games that weave pulse-pounding thrill with the warmth of belonging. The company was founded on the belief that great games are born from lean teams of talented craftspeople who dream big and build with passion.
Bonfire’s design philosophy centers on fun and deeply rewarding gameplay, imaginary worlds that inspire self-expression, welcoming, long-lasting communities and experiences that become a meaningful part of players’ lives.
The company’s first title, Arkheron, is a team-based PvP game currently in a private playtesting phase of development.