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Netflix: The streaming service added yet another heavyweight to its ranks with the addition of Bungie veteran Joseph Staten as creative director.
Staten has worked at Bungie and Microsoft as a creative leader on the Halo and Destiny franchises, and served as senior creative director for Xbox Games Studios Global Publishing. Most recently Staten was partner and head of creative at 343 Industries on Halo Infinite.
“In my work life, there’s nothing I love more than collaborating with others to build worlds filled with iconic characters, deep mysteries, and endless adventures,” he said on LinkedIn. “So today, I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve joined Netflix Games as creative director for a brand-new AAA multiplatform game and original IP.”
Scopely: Kevin Hogan is Scopely’s new vice president of development. He joins the firm after a stint at Wildlife Studios at first party development director, and prior to that was at EA for a whopping 22 years, most recently serving as senior director of operations.
Also at Scopely, Hadrian Semroud is now leading game design for Yahtzee with Buddies, having spent three years at the firm in product management roles. Semroud has also previously worked at GSN Games and Ubisoft.
Sandsoft Games: The Saudi-based publisher has welcomed Jongin Park to the firm as product manager. He joins from Rovio, where he was also product manager, and has served in the same role previously at Netmarble and Gamevil.
Metacore: The Finnish firm continues to swallow up top talent with the arrival of Sami Lahtinen as live production lead. Lahtinen joins from Dodreams, where he was head of studio, and he’s also a former game development SVP at Rovio.
Big Fish Games: Former bizdev VP at Hyprmx Mobile Christopher Lam has joined Big Fish as senior ad product manager. He’s joined at Big Fish by new producer Sarah Scoggins, who moves from her role as producer at PeopleFun.
Madbox: The Pocket Champs and Stickman Hook maker has appointed Adam Kramarzewski as game manager. Kramarzewski moves from Space Ape, where as lead game designer he worked on titles including Transformers: Earth Wars and Boom Beach: Frontlines. He has also previously worked at Square Enix’s mobile arm.
Netflix: Tonny Jimenez has joined Netflix Games as senior UI artist from the same role at Hi-Rez Studios. Jimenez has also previously worked at Rooster Teeth, Powerhouse and Bethesda, among others.
King: Laura Yagüe Tejero has stepped up to the position of senior QA specialist, Aditya Shinde has joined as junior level designer, and Oscar Chavarria steps up to become principal engineer.
Hutch: Selina Wong has joined as UI designer, moving over from her role as UI/UX artist at Kuato Studios.
Global Warming Games: Claire Rozain has founded a new indie studio centred upon making ‘games for good’. Rozain has previously worked in performance marketing at Rovio, Gameloft and Pixel United.
Kooply: The new Tel Aviv-based platform has appointed former Playtika, SugarCup, Ilyon and Einar Games veteran Hadar Azaria as its new games VP.
Moon Active: The Coin Master maker has promoted Ron Refael to the position of monetisation director, having joined the firm almost five years ago.
Rollic: Yücel Çetin is now head of strategic integrations and monetisation, stepping up to the role having served as studio revenue operations lead.
Zimad: The Hollywood, Florida-based developer has promoted Anastasia Zaiceva to chief communications officer.
Iion: The Australian admon firm has appointed Yun Yip to the position of chief commercial officer.
Popcore: Ben Oughton has been promoted to the position of principal lead of talent acquisition at the Rollic-owned firm.
Wildlife Studios: The Tennis Clash maker has promoted Heloisa Bassalo to the position of talent acquisition manager.
