Reflector and Bandai Namco Europe reveal Unknown 9: Awakening Story Trailer at Summer Game Fest.
A loved one lost, a former pupil gone rogue, and new motives exposed—these are just a few of the details brought to light in the trailer that premiered today.
If you missed our appearance at Summer Game Fest, here’s what you need to know about the latest narrative details revealed about Unknown 9: Awakening.
A closer look at Unknown 9: Awakening
Set to release this fall, the game centres on Haroona, a tenacious young woman seeking revenge upon those who’ve done her wrong. Played by Anya Chalotra, Haroona isn’t your average adventurer. As curious as she is resourceful, her connection to the Fold gifts her incredible powers (Umbric abilities) that players can wield against whoever stands in their way.
While those who caught the Announcement Trailer premiere in March got a peek at some of the gameplay, Awakening’s Story Trailer dives deeper into the game’s narrative elements.
Viewers will discover Haroona’s motivations, spot new characters, and glean additional intel on the enigmatic figures at the heart of our universe’s many adventures—the Unknown 9.
Meet the Quaestors
Quaestors are Unknown 9’s resident truth seekers. They’re the ones that venture into the depths of the unknown to unearth lost wisdom. Though several Quaestors make cameos in the Story Trailer, two in particular have greatly impacted Haroona’s life, and will inevitably drive the player experience.
Reika, our protagonist’s beloved mentor, possesses an unmatched mastery of the Fold. Her Umbric gifts and worldly wisdom have shaped Haroona into the powerful Quaestor she is today.
The game’s main antagonist, Vincent Lichter, is the Ascendants’ leader and a former pupil of Reika’s. His growing frustrations about her blind faith in the 9 coupled with a momentous Fold discovery he made has caused him to reject her teachings. Believing that humankind should take back control of its own destiny, he’s rallied his loyal followers together to expose age-old secrets that threaten to usher in a new, more chaotic, world order.
When his and Reika’s paths cross, he swiftly takes her down in the name of his cause. This devastating loss is what sets in motion Haroona’s revenge mission.
The History of the Unknown 9
Reika explains how these enigmatic figures once belonged to an ancient civilization called the Sahin, an advanced society wiped from the face of the earth many millennia ago. During its fall, nine of its members were made immortal and entrusted with protecting all of humanity’s knowledge. They’ve since watched over us for centuries, acting on the powerful wisdom they guard at specific moments in time to guide us in the right direction.
Platform and wish list details
Unknown 9: Awakening releases in the fall of 2024 on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox one, Xbox series X|S and PC via Steam. Players can add the game to their wish lists on all major platforms.
For the latest developments on all things Unknown 9: Awakening, visit Unknown9.com and follow us on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. And don’t forget to join the conversation on X and our official Discord channel!
If you’d like to contribute to the next major Reflector Entertainment x Bandai Namco project, good news! We’re looking for talented individuals with game development experience to join our Montreal video game studio.
Reflector Entertainment’s integration into the Bandai Namco Group has catalyzed our studio’s creative and technical evolution over the past three and a half years.
Discover what it’s like working for a Quebec-based video game company supported by the publishers of some of the most iconic video game titles of our time. Plus, hear what our employees have to say about what it’s like to level up with the help of Bandai Namco.
How it All Began
Reflector’s acquisition in the fall of 2020 was part of Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe’s larger strategy to expand its Western content development efforts.
This new chapter, which sparked an ongoing alliance centred on creating and delivering innovative video games and entertainment experiences to audiences worldwide, has been a game changer for Reflector.
In addition to holding the distinction of being the first Bandai Namco-owned studio in North America, our ties to (and support from) the renowned publisher has allowed us to pursue our game development and transmedia ambitions for our first IP, Unknown 9. It’s also opened the doors to exciting new game development opportunities.
The Bandai Namco Advantage
Joining Bandai Namco has transformed Reflector on every level, and in the best way possible.
A legendary cohort
We’ve joined a roster of legendary games recognized worldwide, like Dragon Ball, Elden Ring, Tekken, Pacman, Little Nightmares, Dark Souls, and the list goes on! Having our work shine alongside these timeless titles is a massive source of pride for us all.
Top-tier resources
Our ties to Bandai Namco provide us with the financial and technical support needed to create impactful experiences while maintaining our creative autonomy. It’s a win-win in the dynamic, high-stakes game industry.
Collaboration and exchange
When you pair Bandai Namco expertise with Reflector innovation, great things happen.
Whether it’s bringing Unknown 9 to market, prepping for the development of the next IP, or hosting knowledge-sharing events (like the first-ever Bandai Namco Global Development Summit), one thing is clear—we can go much further together.
Flexibility and creative autonomy
Bandai Namco has given us the resources and freedom to establish our unique identity. We’ve been able to build and maintain internal processes that suit our local reality; we’ve developed and continue to nurture our own company culture; and get to create entertainment experiences unlike any of the distributors’ other IPs!
Awesome projects
In addition to the Unknown 9 universe, we’ve begun developing a new experience for a popular Bandai Namcoproperty. It’s incredibly rewarding to be able to inject our unique creative vision into a beloved IP. It’s also proof positive that we’ve established our long-term strategic value within the group.
Leveling up with Bandai Namco
Hear what some of our team members have to say about what it’s like working with Bandai Namco x Reflector.
What’s Next?
The countdown is on to the release of the Unknown 9: Awakening video game and its larger transmedia experience. Remember, this vast universe’s borders will expand with the addition of new adventures, as well as fresh twists and turns in a number of its existing stories.
As for our next major endeavor, although we can’t yet divulge which Bandai Namco property we’re working on, our studio has welcomed some notable industry talent over the last year to help kick-start production!
Our first video game, starring Anya Chalotra, will be released this summer!
Reflector and Bandai Namco Europe Unveiled a First Look at Unknown 9: Awakening
Highlights of this preview included first gameplay, the reveal of a famous protagonist, and a Summer 2024 release for the third-person action-adventure title, which is the cornerstone of our new IP, Unknown 9.
Our teams have been hard at work bringing the studio’s first video game and larger narrative universe to life. This upcoming release represents an important milestone for our Montreal-based studio, which was acquired by Bandai Namco Europe in 2020 as part of its strategy to expand the group’s Western content. Reflector has since pursued its mission to build narrative universes spanning multiple media for Unknown 9 in a way that would expose its products and experiences to a global audience.
“We’re thrilled to announce the game’s upcoming release! Thanks to our dedicated team and the unwavering support of Bandai Namco Europe, our vision has become a reality, and this is just the beginning” said Marc André Séguin, General Manager at Reflector Entertainment. “We’re eager to share this IP, its narrative universe, and the many adventures that unfold within it with players.”
Presenting Unknown 9: Awakening
Unknown 9: Awakening follows the story of Haroona, a Quaestor born with the ability to venture into the Fold: a mysterious dimension that overlaps our own. On her quest for powerful hidden knowledge, she will learn to master her unique connection to the Fold, which allows her to channel its powers into our world…but such power does not go unnoticed. Haroona quickly becomes the target of the Ascendants, a splinter faction of a secret society known as the Leap Year Society, who want to use the Fold to alter the course of human history.
Players take on the role of Haroona, who embarks on a globetrotting journey to right the wrongs of her past. They will peer into the depths of the Fold to uncover long-lost knowledge and use its potent energy to save humanity from destruction. As this quest unfolds, players will Step into their enemies to control them, dodge bullets, shield attacks, hurl energy, and devise creative combat combinations to customize their play style.
“I’ve witnessed the remarkable commitment and creativity of all those who have worked on the game and the larger universe that it’s set in“, said Christophe Rossignol, Creative Director of Unknown 9: Awakening. “It’s been a collaborative effort and together, we’ve crafted something truly special. I cannot wait for players to embark on this adventure with us and see what we have in store for them.”
The latest trailer also revealed Reflector’s collaboration with the talented Anya Chalotra, who portrays Haroona, the game’s audacious main protagonist. The actress’ knack for bringing strong female characters to life made her an obvious choice when it came to casting Unknown 9: Awakening’s lead character.
Unknown 9: Awakening: the gateway into a larger universe
The video game is the key entry point into the Unknown 9 IP’s expansive narrative universe, which includes a series of interconnected adventures told across comic books, podcasts, novels, and more. Fans of the video game will be able to extend their experience by consuming these tales.
Unknown 9: Awakening will be available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, and on PC via Steam in the summer of 2024. Starting today, players can add the video game to their wish list on platforms where the game will be available.
In an industry where demand for top talent keeps increasing, it’s our challenge to recruit and retain the creative minds that will help our video game studio flourish…and we love a good challenge.
At Reflector Entertainment, we’ve set out to create the best possible workplace for our people. We’re talking great employee healthcare benefits, career development opportunities, and policies that prioritise work-family balance.
If you’re looking to join a passionate, empowered team and contribute to ambitious company projects, here’s why you should start the next chapter of your career at Reflector.
1. Support from the world-renowned Bandai Namco Group
In 2020, Reflector joined Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe, part of the publishing group behind blockbuster titles such as Pac-Man,Elden Ring, Armored Core, and more. This partnership ensures we have the resources to pursue our long-term gaming and transmedia ambitions–and means you do, too.
So, while we’re still a Montreal company at heart, we’ve got an international reputation. A job here launches you into the worldwide game development community and gives you the opportunity to craft epic entertainment experiences for a global audience. The sky’s the limit!
2. Creative challenges and teamwork
When you’re building extraordinary narrative universes shared through multiple media on numerous platforms, innovation is the quotidian. Every day at Reflector brings new puzzles for your team to solve. Whether you’re tackling technical challenges, developing novel approaches to storytelling, or testing out new workflows, opportunities for personal growth and creative accomplishment abound.
3. Employee flexibility
Our facilities are located in the heart of downtown Montreal, are equipped with ergonomic workstations and top-of-the-line equipment, and are filled with cool people to talk to…but we understand that coming into the office five times a week can be tricky. Thanks to our hybrid work policy and flexible hours, you can work from home on the days when it just makes more sense.
Employee well-being is top of mind for us, and we know that work-life balance helps creative souls thrive. Whether you prefer the office or the comfort of your home, if it helps you do your best work, we’re here for it.
4. Career advancement opportunities
When we invest in your future, we’re investing in ours. That’s why talent development is a key part of the Reflectorian experience. We devote time and resources to helping our team members level up their skills, feel empowered in their abilities, and meet professional goals. Your manager will serve as your coach and biggest ally in making it happen.
5. Exceptional work-life balance
When you work hard, you know the value of a good day off. Or thirteen. In December, Reflector celebrates the festive season with two weeks of paid leave to spend with loved ones–without impacting your already accumulated vacation days. We also top up five annual bank holidays, turning Easter, Fête Nationale du Québec, Canada Day, Labour Day, and Thanksgiving into four-day long weekends!
Plus, flexible summer Fridays means more time to spend on Montreal’s many terrasses. It’s enough to recharge your batteries on a regular basis.
6. Top-tier benefits
Reflector Entertainment sets itself apart by offering great health benefits, which we finance at 80%. Our comprehensive health insurance policy covers dental, medical, paramedical care, and for anything not covered, an additional health management account can drastically reduce costs.
What’s more, thanks to a partnership with the Dialogue telemedicine platform, our employees and their families benefit from convenient online medical consultations paid for by Reflector. We pay particular attention to mental health on the job, offering 100%-paid access to stress management resources and programs.
The cherry on top? Personal days that start when you do and unlimited sick days.
7. Diversity, inclusion, and respect
Collective success means everyone feels included and respected. Our employees hail from not just Montreal, Quebec, or Canada, but all over the world, bringing a wealth of perspectives and cultures to the table. We value creating an inclusive workplace that adds to much-needed diversity in video games, one where everyone has the space to put themselves forward authentically.
To support this aim, an employee-led committee for diversity and inclusion in the workplace organizes webinars, forums, and other exchanges that celebrate both our individual differences and the aspects that unite us (like our love of gaming!)
8. Quality team-building experiences
Beyond the all-important healthy, inclusive work environment, we think quality time spent together is a vital part of any team’s success. Our busy Engagement Committee gives us ample opportunity to strengthen bonds within and across our departments, planning all kinds of events tailored to the many interests of our Montreal team members.
From lunches and game nights to happy hours and themed parties, you’ll have a ton of opportunities to mingle with programmers, artists, developers, level designers, and management. Fun is part of the job.
Want to work with folks who share your passion for game development, storytelling, or worldbuilding? Make Reflector your next move by checking out our current career opportunities.
A few moments ago, we informed our team that we are refocusing our efforts as we enter a new phase of development. The changes resulting from this transition are necessary for us to efficiently deliver on our most pressing objectives while guaranteeing that every member of our team can meaningfully contribute to our ongoing projects.
In the spirit of full transparency, we want to share what this means for our colleagues, our games, the worlds our products unfold in, as well as what everyone can expect moving forward.
For most of our studio’s history, we have been fortunate enough not to have to make changes like this. Today’s announcement isn’t driven by commercial success or external pressures, but stems instead from our current reality, which is that at this time, we cannot guarantee tangible work for all of the talented individuals we employ.
With the recent release of Unknown 9: Awakening and our two key production lines entering the early stages of development, we must make sure that our staff is laser-focused on contributing to the projects that wholly benefit from their skillsets.
As such, we are reducing our team by approximately 18% of Reflector’s total workforce, a decision that impacts people who aren’t assigned to roles that our active projects require.
This change affects our colleagues, our friends, and their families, and we are doing all that we can to help them through this difficult time, providing them with severance packages as well as access to medical, emotional, and career planning support.
We know that the community we’ve built over the years cares deeply about the people who bring our games to life. Our goal is to assist the affected individuals with the respect and support they deserve.
As you can imagine, this is a trying time for us all, but we are committed to learning from this experience.
The Road Ahead
This shift will allow us to take the necessary time to refine our processes and perfect our upcoming projects so that we can deliver experiences that are both meaningful and memorable for players.
While change is never easy, it allows for meaningful reflection. We’ve learned a lot from our journey so far, including the challenges that come with growth. As we move forward, we are committed to applying these lessons to build a stronger, more focused future.
We are grateful for your ongoing support. Your interest keeps us grounded and reminds us why we do what we do.
Reflector Entertainment and Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe are thrilled to announce the worldwide release of Unknown 9: Awakening.
It’s a momentous day for our Montreal studio as we proudly announce the worldwide launch of our very first video game, Unknown 9: Awakening!
After countless hours of ideating, collaborating, creating, testing, and adjusting, to say we’re excited for you to step into Haroona’s shoes and join her quest is an understatement.
Our heroine is ready to step into the unknown and fulfil her destiny. Are you? Watch the action-adventure game’s cinematic launch trailer and learn more about Reflector’s journey to launch.
The Road to Release
From the initial concept to the final polish, our journey has been filled with challenges and successes, fruitful collaborations, and valuable takeaways, all fueled by our passion for telling great stories and developing creative gameplay experiences.
The rise of Unknown 9: Awakening
What started as an idea to create something more than a game has since transformed into the development of a fully loaded narrative universe!
From the outset, we wanted to tell a story full of mystery and adventure about humanity’s evolution; a tale that would instill hope, possibility, and a sense of wonder into people’s lives.
To do so, our teams worked diligently to establish an iron-clad mythology that would guide our world-building efforts, fuel our game and its world’s rich lore, and ensure we remained true to our initial intentions from start to finish.
From a development perspective, it was important to devise mechanics that were both unique and, of course, fun to play around with. With Unknown 9: Awakening, it all started with Haroona’s “stepping” ability, which became the foundation for the combat system’s other elements, all of which were designed to give players agency in devising their own unique strategies to progress through the game.
The creation of the Unknown 9 narrative universe
As the game’s technical and narrative development picked up speed, so did the creation of the larger universe’s many other stories.
Our goal has always been to create worlds made up of overlapping adventures, each one connected in some way to the next and tailored to fit a specific medium. After all, we’re game developers and transmedia storytellers!
To create a seamless transmedia experience for Unknown 9, our narrative designers and game developers worked closely together to identify the key lore, gameplay, and story elements to carry over from one medium to the next.
The result has since taken the form of a narrative-driven action-adventure game that launches players into a universe riddled with crossovers, callbacks, and Easter eggs!
Key Collaborations
While collaboration across Reflector’s teams was vital to bringing our game and transmedia experience to life, we also had a chance to partner with incredible talent that only served to bolster the experiences we were crafting.
The talented Anya Chalotra portrays Unknown 9: Awakening heroine Haroona, in her first video game role. Having had a chance to work with such a strong and inspiring woman to bring our heroine to life was incredible, to say the least.
Another inspiring artist we worked with was American singer songwriter BANKS, who co-produced Unknown 9’s official theme song in collaboration with Reflector’s audio and narrative teams.
Available on all major streaming platforms, the track is also featured on Unknown 9: Awakening’s Official Soundtrack.
About the Game
Unknown 9: Awakening is our Montreal game studio’s first narrative-driven action-adventure game. Its story centres on Haroona, a powerful young Quaestor whose connection to a mysterious dimension called the Fold gifts her unique Umbric abilities.
After witnessing the fall of her beloved mentor at the hands of Vincent Lichter, she sets off to exact revenge on him and his army of Ascendants, a splinter faction of the Leap Year Society who want to use the Fold to usher in a new era for humanity.
As Haroona’s journey progresses, she learns to master her Fold-powered abilities, finds allies in the Leap Year Society, and fights to prevent the world’s long-lost knowledge—powerful secrets said to be guarded by the Unknown 9—from falling into the wrong hands.
The game is available now on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X | S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam.
A Look Ahead as we Work to Develop Other IP
The launch of Awakening marks the end of a very important chapter in our video game development company’s continued evolution. And the best part is, this is just the beginning!
While the Unknown 9 universe continues to expand in the coming months through the extension of existing stories and the addition of new adventures, we’re also currently developing an all-new experience for a popular Bandai Namco brand!
To bring our next video game to life, we’re looking to fill positions within our animation, level design, game design, and art teams. If you’re interested in joining us and contributing to the development of a great IP, check out our open positions and learn why should join our video game development studio.
Those of us who work at Reflector Entertainment like to think of our studio as more than a Montreal-based video game development company. We consider ourselves universe builders who create entertainment experiences that extend beyond the world of gaming!
Yes, we’re on the brink of delivering our very first action-adventure game on October 18, 2024, but did you know that Unknown 9: Awakening is one of many stories belonging to a sprawling transmedia experience?
Check out our Narrative Universe Trailer in which video game heroine Haroona gives a nod to Unknown 9’s other Quaestors who, just like her, are brave enough to Step into the unknown to unearth answers to humankind’s most obscure mysteries.
Reflector Entertainment’s Transmedia Recipe
Transmedia is a storytelling approach that takes a single story and tells it across different media formats and platforms. Each part of the story (including the format in which it unfolds) makes a unique contribution to the overall entertainment experience.
Unknown 9’s transmedia recipe involves many different stories told across a variety of entertainment mediums, all of which unfold within a single narrative universe. Each adventure can be enjoyed on its own, but consuming them all reveals an overarching tale…a larger narrative that links Unknown 9’s events, people, and phenomena together.
“Reflector’s innovation on the usual transmedia formula is simple but profound: every product is an entry point, each one onboards the audience into the universe in its own unique way, which means there is no wrong order to experience our stories.” – Christopher Masson, Story Architect
Connecting the Dots
The characters our stories follow (known as Quaestors) come from different places, backgrounds, even eras, but share similar goals that require them to unearth forgotten truths about our collective past and present, as well as their impact on our future.
Not only do these characters’ journeys expose them to a mysterious dimension called the Fold, but their quests also launch them on a collision course with powerful secret societies whose century-old feud find its way into every Unknown 9 story. What’s more, much of the hidden knowledge being sought out is said to be guarded by the infamous Unknown 9, who choose to reveal themselves in subtle ways across each adventure.
These are just a few of the narrative threads woven into each Unknown 9 tale. The more adventures you follow, the more links, crossovers, and Easter eggs there are to discover, and the more likely you are to revisit a product to confirm the connections you make.
The end result is an ongoing entertainment experience that not only expands with every new story added, but one that can be revisited again and again.
What’s your entry point into the Unknown 9 universe?
The events of the Unknown 9: Awakening video game are the first to unfold within the narrative universe, making it a great gateway into the world of Unknown 9.
Those who begin their journey with the video game will get to extend their Unknown 9 experience through the many overlapping themes, character crossovers, lore links, and interconnections embedded within the universe’s other adventures!
That said, with one month to go until Awakening’s release on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC, there’s no better time to dive into the stories out now. And the best part is that most are available for free!
Visit Unknown9.com to get a feel for Reflector’s unique storytelling approach. Check out Issue #1 of the Unknown 9: Torment comics, Season 1 of the Unknown 9: Out of Sight podcast, and the first two installments of the Unknown 9: Genesis trilogy to start putting the pieces of a larger narrative puzzle together!
Spoiler alert: Many of these adventures will continue to evolve, and brand-new ones are slated for release later this fall. Keep your eyes peeled for updates coming soon!
If you prefer sticking to a chronological order of events, check out the free single-issue comic book, Unknown 9: Echoes—a prelude that was written, drawn, and designed by awesome Reflectorian creators!
Reflector Entertainment and Bandai Namco Europe announce Unknown 9: Awakening’s release date alongside a Live-Action Trailer today at Gamescom.
Exciting news! Unknown 9: Awakening officially launches on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam on October 18, 2024, with pre-orders available now. The announcement marks yet another major milestone in our video game studio’s history.
Here’s a recap of everything that was revealed today!
Unknown 9: Awakening’s new Live-Action Trailer
Anya Chalotra takes centre stage once again in the latest trailer, which premiered today during Opening Night Live. It underscores heroine Haroona’s readiness to awaken her powers and embark on her quest into the unknown. It also offers a preview of the video game’s official theme song, A Light Lies Within, which pays homage to our protagonist’s journey to Umbric greatness!
Pre-orders now open
As of today, players can pre-order the various editions of the game and score a bonus cosmetic DLC pack. Depending on the edition selected, it’s also possible to unlock up to three additional cosmetic DLCs as well as collectors’ items!
Players can choose from the following editions:
Pre-Order Edition:
Includes the base game and a pre-order bonus cosmetic DLC.
Deluxe Digital Edition:
Includes the base game, pre-order bonus, as well as three additional DLCs.
Collector’s Edition:
Includes the base game, pre-order bonus cosmetic DLC, and collector’s items.
The Collector’s Edition, which is exclusively sold in the Bandai Namco Store, includes replicas of Reika’s amulet, a LYS membership coin, a Quaestor’s journal containing exclusive artwork along with hidden links to the larger Unknown 9 universe, and more!
For additional information about preorders and DLCs as well as the latest Unknown 9: Awakening developments, head over to the official game page! Those curious about what the rest of our narrative universe has to offer, be sure to visit Unknown9.com.
Join our next major production!
As Unknown 9: Awakening’s release date looms closer, our Montreal-based team is hard at work developing the next major Reflector x Bandai Namco project.
If contributing to the expansion of a beloved IP sounds interesting to you, check out our open positions and apply today!
The end of last year had many of us reflecting (no pun intended!) on what a ride 2023 was for our company! From the challenges we overcame and the accomplishments we achieved to the milestones we hit and the great times we shared; it’s safe to say that it was a productive year!
In the spirit of starting 2024 on a positive note, we’re kicking things off with a recap of 2023, looking back on some of Reflector’s greatest moments of the year.
We stayed true to the mindsets that fuel our success.
As we continued our development efforts onUnknown 9: Awakening and wrapped unique transmedia products set within the same universe, work on our next IP and second production line began to pick up.
And while our people worked hard to achieve critical project milestones, they also took time to partake in several enrichment workshops. Nine Ask Me Anythings brought Reflectorians up to speed on exciting departmental initiatives. Staff also took part in over 1,600 hours of professional and personal development training sessions covering topics like stress and priority management, communication, collaboration, and more.
We can’t forget the professional achievements we celebrated. While 21 Reflectorians were promoted throughout 2023, five were honored with slick-looking Reflector-branded Kanuk winter coats for their five-year work anniversaries!
February 2023 town hall
We hosted the first-ever Bandai Namco Global Development Summit.
As Bandai Namco’s sole Canadian studio, we welcomed colleagues from six countries across Asia and Europe into our Montreal office for the first-ever Bandai Namco Development Summit.
While our marketing and narrative teams brought our guests up to speed on our first IP’s brand DNA and product offering, leadership teams from Bandai Namco development studios worldwide came together to discuss strategy, success, and the day-to-day realities each one faces.
This five-day event—packed with presentations, workshops, brainstorms, and a memorable happy hour—proved instrumental in laying the groundwork for future collaborations.
Bandai Namco Global Development Summit 2023
We paid it forward by supporting Technovation’s Gameable program.
Following through on our intention to shape the future of gaming and storytelling, 2023 marked a new chapter in our mentorship mission with our participation in the Gameable program.
To support the Montreal initiative, whose aim is to foster tech and game design skills in young girls, Reflector’s IT department donated computer towers to ensure program participants had access to a robust set of technological tools. Moreover, one of our game designers spent six months mentoring a dedicated group as they drafted a viable business plan and built a video game prototype, both of which were presented to parents, mentors, participants, and sponsors in June 2023.
In addition to ongoing weekly mentoring sessions, two other Reflectorians took the time to host two dedicated workshops, one on UI programming and the other on game design—experiences we hope to continue to share with the game developers and designers of tomorrow in the years to come!
Senior Game Designer Yoan Le Souder partakes in a Gameable workshop.
We made it a point to get together on the regular.
Reflector consists of creators and experts from all corners of the industry. We’ve always known our complementarity to be our strength, and 2023 showed us, yet again, just how crucial hanging out beyond the confines of department meetings and Teams chats is to our collective success.
And for this, we have our incredible Engagement Committee to thank!
Bi-weekly 5-à-7s and game nights allowed us to relax, unwind, catch up, and meet new additions to our growing team, while our more formal events saw Reflectorians bring their theme party A-game.
From maleficent masquerades and skull decorating competitions to an epic Monopoly-themed celebration, our Engagement Committee devised great company-wide events and bonding experiences. Whether donning our most spooktacular wears or dipping into the Community Chest, we had a blast connecting with colleagues within and across departments!
Sugar ShackSummer PartyHalloween PartyEnd-of-Year Monopoly Party
We’re ready for an eventful 2024.
Hot on the heels of a well-deserved two-week holiday break, we’re more than ready to tackle 2024!
A priority of ours this year is to find exciting new ways to bring Reflectorians together and ensure they’re afforded the right conditions to professionally thrive. Not only are we moving to a new space (still conveniently located in the heart of downtown Montreal!) but our Talent and Culture team is hard at work devising promising career advancement programs. We’ll also continue to give back to the communities to which we belong.
On the product side, we are ramping up ongoing efforts to expand a popular Bandai Namco IP and bringing our next video game to life! If you’re interested in joining a diverse group of creators passionate about video game development, design, and innovative storytelling, check out our current career opportunities and apply today.
We had a chat with Senior Director of Animation Teppei Takehana, an industry veteran who joined us in 2022. Get his thoughts on Reflector culture, how he got here, and what makes working in Montreal unique.
How and why did you end up joining Reflector?
I was working in Paris when Reflector reached out and offered me the role of Director of Animation. Taking the job was a big decision! After all, it’s not easy to pick up and move your family overseas.
But the company did a fantastic job of demonstrating Unknown 9: Awakening’s potential. They showed me the studio’s creative vision, its unique approach to game design, and the ways it supports its employees. The fact that Reflector was part of Bandai Namco Europe was also a plus!
How is working at a Montreal video game studio different?
The biggest difference is the international aspect. I’ve worked in Japan and in France, but in Montreal, there’s so much more diversity. I get to collaborate with people who have different personalities, skills, ideas, backgrounds, and thoughts on game design.
There are challenges—language barriers, for example—but this kind of teamwork gives rise to new lines of thinking and alternate ways of doing things.
What led you to work in the video game industry?
I’ve always loved video games—I’ve played them since I was little. I grew up in France and moved to Japan to study video game creation at the Konami School in 2002
I chose the Artistic branch, a general field, with zero idea I’d end up in animation. I started out learning how to build 3D characters, create concept artwork, et cetera. But after attending a master class on animation through meme creation, I was hooked.
After that, I honed my animation skills as an intern and then as a Junior Animator working on Metal Gear Solid 3 before taking on the role of Lead Animator of Cinematics for Metal Gear Solid 4. I eventually returned to France, where I worked in a leadership position on Beyond: Two Souls. In this role, I had the opportunity to improve the production pipeline between the motion capture studio and the animation team. Plus, I got to meet Elliot Page and Willem Dafoe!
In 2016, I made the move to a new company in which I was given the chance to build my very own animation team—an incredibly exciting experience, to say the least! By 2022, I had been promoted to Animation Director, managing a team of 40 and working on numerous production lines simultaneously, each with its own unique art direction.
By the end of that same year, I joined Reflector Entertainment x Bandai Namco Europe and began work on Unknown 9.
What does a typical day at Reflector look like for you?
It starts by chatting with the different creative teams—Art, Game Design, and Level Design. Animation is at the intersection of these departments, so everyone’s got to be on the same page. We discuss tasks, prioritize problems, and clarify our milestones. Then, I brief my team on what was covered.
I spend a lot of time conducting animation reviews and feature reviews, and I work with technical teams to help evolve Reflector’s production pipeline. Sometimes I prep motion capture initiatives as well.
No matter how busy my days get, I always try to carve out some time to play video games. Right now, I’m playing Armored Core VI and Streetfighter 6.
What’s your favorite part of your job and why?
I love creating animations…when I get the chance! What I love most about my role of Senior Director is interacting with so many different people with different specialties, whether they be game design, programming, or artwork.
What do you find special or unique about Reflector’s animation team?
My team has a high level of professionalism and a great sense of humor. Everyone is open, up for any creative challenge, and always willing to go above and beyond for the sake of quality.
What advice would you give to someone starting out in video game animation?
What separates a good animator from a great one is truly understanding the physical aspect of anything you are animating. It’s not enough to assume—test things out for yourself. Go out and run 100 metres, observe the physical effects, and you’ll be ready to animate someone sprinting!
Video game animation comes with a lot of technical and gameplay constraints, so you’ll often be asked to modify movements you produce. To succeed, you must understand them extremely well. So, practice, practice, practice!
If you could shadow anyone at Reflector for a day, who would it be and why?
I would shadow Christophe Rossignol, Unknown 9: Awakening’s Creative Director. He has a global view of everything going on with the video game—he gets feedback from every department. And since a single decision can have a colossal impact on the game, it would be fascinating to see what goes into the calls he makes.
In two words, how would you define the culture at Reflector?
Challenge and originality!
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