Bloober Team expands leadership, as studio steps up to seven horror titles in active development

Silent Hill 2 remake developer Bloober Team has expanded its leadership as it transitions to a multi-project structure, with the studio currently working on two single-player horror games plus five more in co-development.

The studio has previously confirmed it is developing a new horror title for Nintendo platforms, alongside a new original title being worked on by the developers of Kronos: New Dawn.

The new appointments are Thaine Lyman as head of studio, Katya Baukova as director of business development, and Michał Gembicki as head of publishing.

Lyman brings senior leadership experience from Activision and Wargaming, where he led large-scale productions from concept to launch. As head of studio, he will oversee Bloober Team’s production pipeline and development teams.

Baukova has senior experience at CD Projekt as well as Techland. As director of business development, she will lead strategic partnerships, franchise growth, and global expansion.

Gembicki previously served as CEO of indie developer Klabater SA and held key positions at CD Projekt. He will now shape Bloober Team’s publishing strategy and oversee global distribution.

With the new executive team in place, CEO Piotr Babieno says Bloober Team will continue to operate with two “first-party” production teams working on the studio’s major releases.

“We don’t want fewer than two productions, because relying on a single title creates too much risk in today’s market,” Babieno tells GamesIndustry.biz. “But we also don’t want more, because quality, focus, and creative oversight would inevitably suffer. For us, two core productions are the right balance between ambition and responsibility.”

The studio is currently developing several projects, including original IPs and franchise expansions. The two “first-party” teams are working on what Babieno describes as “what defines Bloober Team: single-player horror experiences with strong gameplay foundations, premium execution, and themes that resonate on a deeper emotional or social level.”

Alongside them, the firm continues to expand its co-development label, Broken Mirror Games. It is currently working on a broader porfolio of horror titles with five games in various stages of development, one of which has been previously confirmed as Layers of Fear 3. Babieno says the studio is taking a measured approach to greenlighting new projects.

“We’re not interested in growth for the sake of numbers. We believe players don’t need a constant flood of releases. They want experiences that feel meaningful, distinctive, and worth remembering years later.”

As Bloober Team adopts its new structure, Babieno says the focus will be on talent retention and a sustainable recruitment pipeline. The studio employs nearly 270 people from Poland and abroad.

“We’re mindful about how we grow. We’re not trying to scale as fast as possible. Our focus is sustainable development, financial discipline, and long-term stability,” says Babieno. “That stability matters. Many team members have been with us for years. Long-term collaboration creates trust, shared creative instincts, and a stronger foundation than rapid expansion could.”

“I never want to build a company that grows recklessly and then solves problems through layoffs. We want to come out stronger from industry challenges – together.”

Babieno also wants to continue boosting Poland’s influence on game development, which he describes as an “established, respected, and globally recognised” industry.

“Polish game development has gone through a remarkable evolution. Today, it’s no longer about a few success stories – It’s a mature ecosystem of studios, creators, and specialists working across AAA, indie, and highly specialised segments. What makes Poland special is not only its talent or scale, but also its creative identity.

“Many Polish developers still approach games first as something meaningful to create, not just something to monetise. That mindset leads to bold ideas, distinctive voices, and a willingness to take creative risks.”

“At Bloober Team, we’ve always felt part of that movement. When we started in 2008, both the market and our own studio were still finding direction. Instead of chasing trends, we focused on discovering our own voice. For us, that became psychological horror, beginning with Layers of Fear.”

“That instinct – to build something authentic rather than follow what is fashionable – still defines many Polish studios today.”