T-Minus Zero Entertainment Shut Down
Business
01 September 2025 13:13
T-Minus Zero Entertainment, the Austin-based game development studio formed under Chinese tech giant NetEase, has officially shut down just two years after its founding. Studio head and co-founder Rich Vogel confirmed the closure, which comes shortly after he announced the end of the studio’s partnership with NetEase.
In a LinkedIn post published on August 26, Vogel revealed that the collaboration with NetEase was concluding, marking a turning point for the studio. “Every journey has its twists and turns, and ours with NetEase is coming to an end,” Vogel wrote. “We deeply appreciate NetEase for providing us with both ample runway and support – from helping us find potential investors to giving us the time and budget to develop our game into a fully playable hands-on demo. It has generated a lot of interest.”
Despite the team's progress, Vogel cited an increasingly challenging financial landscape as the key reason for the studio's closure. “However, despite this progress, current market conditions have prevented us from securing the funding we need at this time,” he added.
T-Minus Zero was established in August 2023 with considerable fanfare, announced as a new venture by NetEase focused on creating a third-person, multiplayer sci-fi action title. The team was composed of veteran developers from top-tier studios, including BioWare and Bethesda. Alongside Vogel—previously a co-founder of BioWare Austin—the leadership team included industry names such as Mark Tucker, Jeff Dobson, and Scott Malone.
At launch, Vogel described the studio's mission as one centered on community-driven gameplay. “Our studio's mission is to create epic, immersive worlds where players from around the globe can play together, forming vibrant and passionate communities,” he said.
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Business
01 September 2025 13:13
T-Minus Zero Entertainment, the Austin-based game development studio formed under Chinese tech giant NetEase, has officially shut down just two years after its founding. Studio head and co-founder Rich Vogel confirmed the closure, which comes shortly after he announced the end of the studio’s partnership with NetEase.
In a LinkedIn post published on August 26, Vogel revealed that the collaboration with NetEase was concluding, marking a turning point for the studio. “Every journey has its twists and turns, and ours with NetEase is coming to an end,” Vogel wrote. “We deeply appreciate NetEase for providing us with both ample runway and support – from helping us find potential investors to giving us the time and budget to develop our game into a fully playable hands-on demo. It has generated a lot of interest.”
Despite the team's progress, Vogel cited an increasingly challenging financial landscape as the key reason for the studio's closure. “However, despite this progress, current market conditions have prevented us from securing the funding we need at this time,” he added.
T-Minus Zero was established in August 2023 with considerable fanfare, announced as a new venture by NetEase focused on creating a third-person, multiplayer sci-fi action title. The team was composed of veteran developers from top-tier studios, including BioWare and Bethesda. Alongside Vogel—previously a co-founder of BioWare Austin—the leadership team included industry names such as Mark Tucker, Jeff Dobson, and Scott Malone.
At launch, Vogel described the studio's mission as one centered on community-driven gameplay. “Our studio's mission is to create epic, immersive worlds where players from around the globe can play together, forming vibrant and passionate communities,” he said.
Related news
View AllNetEase is parting ways with its studio, Fantastic Pixel Castle, as the studio’s head, Greg Street, admits that the future...
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Simon Zhu, President of Global Investments and Partnerships at NetEase, has officially stepped down from his position after more than...
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Apr 28, 2025
Chinese gaming giant NetEase is reportedly divesting its overseas holdings, sparking concerns about a broader retreat from international markets. This...
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Feb 24, 2025
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