iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Espen @jotungames.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

Looking forward to showing off the prototype for The Heirs of Eternity at devcom & gamescom! Hope to see you there 😊

061

Espen @jotungames.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

Thanks Martijn! Hadn't heard of Shardpunk - I'll give it a try!

Espen @jotungames.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

I've been waiting for a good successor to XCOM forever and I know plenty of others who have as well. Apart from Chaos Gate: 40K and Phoenix Point I can't even think of any other games of that type. What do you think? Would you play a game like this? #videogames, #games, #strategygames

131

Espen @jotungames.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

I'm making a game in the mold of Firaxis' XCOM in a science fantasy setting - think forgotten knowledge, ancient civilizations and fantastical environments. I've been told by several Publishers and investor types that the "XCOM genre" is dead, but that just feels wrong to me.

2174

Espen @jotungames.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

My talk “From AAA to iii: My journey into poverty” got accepted to Devcom this year! #ddc2025, #gamedev, #jotungames

071

Espen @jotungames.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

I forgot to mention that this is from the Killzone: Shadowfall release party. A colleague had made these really cool Helghast goggles.

100

Espen @jotungames.bsky.social · 04/05/2025

Our game is looking good on the new laptop. Getting ready to show it off at Nordic Game! #videogames, #gamedev, #indiegames, #heirsofeternity, #jotungames

172

Reposted by Espen

Sander van Zanten @sandervanzanten.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

Last night at #PlaystationTheConcert in the Ziggo Dome! Astonishing production and performances. Super glad we got to celebrate the phenomenal music written by legendary composers, such as @jorisdemanmusic.bsky.social, for some of our industry’s most awesome adventures. Same time next year?

121

Espen @jotungames.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

All this talk of Killzone made me remember this (I'm the one with the Helghast goggles): #killzone, #gamedev, #videogames

161

Like Joris (and a lot of other people that I know who worked on KZ) I would love to be involved in a sequel. The nostalgia is strong on this one! #jorisdeman, #gamedev, #indiegamedev, #videogames, #indiegames, #killzone, #horizonzerodawn, #horizonforbiddenwest

084

During those twenty(!) odd years I've experienced up close what a talented composer Joris is and he happens to be an incredibly nice guy to too. I'm lucky to have him on board on Heirs of Eternity.

200

It was the first time I worked with @jorisdemanmusic.bsky.social We ended up working together on basically the whole Killzone franchise and all the Horizon games too.

110

Espen @jotungames.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

I saw this article on @techradar.com today and it brought me back. Killzone was the first game I worked on all the way back in 2003. www.techradar.com/gaming/killz... jotun-games.com

140

Absolutely adore the vibe ❤️

030

Espen @jotungames.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

Needless to say Joris is an awesome composer and I'm incredibly excited about this. Can’t wait to hear what he’ll create for us!

Espen @jotungames.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

A two-time Ivor Novello winner and BAFTA-nominated composer, Joris has 25 years of industry experience in games, TV, and film. He is best known for composing the iconic theme music for Sony Guerrilla’s Killzone and Horizon franchises, bringing worlds to life with his powerful and evocative scores.

100

Espen @jotungames.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

I’m thrilled to announce that renowned composer Joris de Man is joining Jotun Games to create the soundtrack and more for Heirs of Eternity! @jorisdemanmusic.bsky.social #jorisdeman, #gamedev, #indiegamedev, #videogames, #indiegames, #horizon, #killzone

3104

Now the game is less about inhabiting a dark place and more about taking possession of a wondrous world full of mystery and adventure. So Heirs of Eternity it is. I hope you like it! #gamedev #indiegames #jotungames #indiegamedev

073

Our original tagline was "dark fantasy", so it made sense. As a group we have been moving it towards a lighter tone however. I guess I always wanted the tone to be hopeful, and now with Mario's colorful art style it definitely is. This is what I love about collaborating with talented people.

100

I have to admit that changing the name felt awkward at first, but now that I'm used to it I like Heirs of Eternity better. I think it reflects the world and the mood of the game better than the Dark Earth did.

100

Espen @jotungames.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

So a bit of an unexpected development for us... I turns out there is already a game from the nineties called Dark Earth, which looks really cool by the way, so we’re changing the name of our game to… drum roll… Heirs of Eternity!

100

Conventional wisdom suggests that making a game requires either financial resources or a broad set of hands-on skills. Unfortunately, I have neither. #GameDev

0103

Espen @jotungames.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

I highly recommend the conference and I'm planning on going again this year. Not to speak this time, but to pitch The Dark Earth 😊 #nordicgame, #thedarkearth, #jotungames

000

Espen @jotungames.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

It's a pretty cringeworthy performance, but I think the content still holds up :) It was only the second time I had been on stage and I was super nervous, but it was still an amazing experience. The organizers at Nordic were super friendly and helpful throughout and made sure I had a great time.

100

Espen @jotungames.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

🎮 Just wanted to share another beautiful piece for The Dark Earth by Mario Renaud. #gamedev #videogames

0112

Espen @jotungames.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

Who else is super excited about the Steam sale today? 😁

Espen @jotungames.bsky.social · 21/11/2024

Gaming since: 1988 but dreamed about video games since 1983 First System: Commodore 64 Last: PC Main: PC Favorite: PC Favorite modern: PC Favorite dev: Firaxis First game: The Sentinel Favorite game: Civilization (all of them) Least favorite: Midnight Suns Graphics or frames: Don't care

Espen @jotungames.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Finally movie stars are good at entertaining people from a stage. It's literally what they do for a living. Game devs typically aren't which gives the whole thing an awkwardness that is hard to watch. I'm all for celebrating our achievements, but this format is so unnatural and cringe worthy.

Espen @jotungames.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Another thing that offends me a bit about the Game Awards is that it's aping the movie industry as if it's something we should aspire to become more similar to. I don't want the game industry to revolve around celebrities and the fixation on status that comes with it.

070

Espen @jotungames.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

It's sheer idiocy. For the Oscars it's at least conceivable that the judges have watched all the good movies that year, but when it comes to games - how many games can you really play all the way through in a year.

030

Espen @jotungames.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

One S'more into the breach!

Espen @jotungames.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

Why "turn off NSFW filters"? Seems like something you'd want to be turned on? When I first signed up here I got bombarded with hentai porn which isn't what I was looking for. I guess because I put my interest as videogames 🤷‍♂️

000

Espen @jotungames.bsky.social · 03/11/2024

Just keep trying. They wouldn't have put them on the road if they weren't meant to be used

000

Espen @jotungames.bsky.social · 03/11/2024

Did you pick them up and save them in your inventory?

100

Espen @jotungames.bsky.social · 03/11/2024

Don't know if I agree with that statement. I don't like playing games that I find ugly or boring to look at. Conversely I might not go wow every minute I'm playing a beautiful game, but the art affects me throughout the game. It's nice inhabiting a beautiful game and it doesn't wear off for me.

000

Espen @jotungames.bsky.social · 02/11/2024

It is! How are you doing?

100

It's hard to believe now, but back then doing animation for games was considered a huge step down. It was basically where animators went to die. I ended up getting the job and stayed there for about twenty years. I rediscovered my passion for games and to this day I can't believe my luck.

040

One day in 2003 out of the blue a guy I had worked with in Luxembourg a few years earlier sent me a mail and asked me if I'd like to apply to Guerrilla Games in Amsterdam. I wasn't enthusiastic about it, but I was desperate.

Instead I went to art school to become an animator. After working in film & TV for some years I found myself in a prolonged dry spell. I had to move back in with my parents. Things were looking pretty bleak and I was desperate. I even worked for free at a Danish animation studio for awhile.