Hitman art director joins Playground Games
Jonathan Rowe working on Forza Horizon studio's mysterious new open-world IP
The art director behind Square Enix's episodic Hitman outing has returned to the UK and joined Playground Games.
Announcing his appointment via LinkedIn, Jonathan Rowe will serve as art director for the Leamington-based studio's newest project: a open-world, non-racing, new IP - something very different to the Forza Horizon series the studio is best known for.
Rowe's most recent position was at Square Enix and IO interactive as art director for the acclaimed Hitman. Prior to this he held several positions at Crytek, as well as roles as Criterion Games, Disney's Black Rock studio and more.
"I'm proud to announce that I have recently joined the award winning studio at Playground Games," he wrote on LinkedIn. "We're laying the foundations for a project based on a spectacular IP, and will be looking to grow a world-class team."
GamesIndustry.biz previously revealed Playground Games was opening a second studio back in February, a new branch that will be responsible for this original project.
"Opening another studio is something we've been talking about for a good few years, but we've been keen not to rush into it," founder and creative director Ralph Fulton told us at the time. "It's a great opportunity for us to test ourselves in a different genre.
You can read the full interview here