Ex-Call of Duty: Black Ops Design Director David Vonderhaar Teases New Original FPS: ‘If David Lynch Made Shooters’
David Vonderhaar, former multiplayer design director for Call of Duty: Black Ops, is developing a new original first-person shooter that marks a significant departure from his military shooter background. In an interview with Bloomberg, Vonderhaar described the game as “if David Lynch made shooters,” suggesting a surreal and artistic approach far removed from traditional multiplayer combat games.
The project is being developed under GreaterThan Group, a holding company founded by a former NetEase executive. GreaterThan Group is also funding the development of Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic. The studio BulletFarm, which was previously dropped by NetEase, appears to be involved in the new venture.
Rather than positioning itself as a “Call of Duty killer,” Vonderhaar’s new game draws inspiration from surrealist filmmaking. The comparison to director David Lynch—known for works like Eraserhead, Twin Peaks, and Lost Highway—suggests the shooter will embrace artistic and atmospheric storytelling similar to how Lynch’s influence has shaped games like Silent Hill and Kentucky Route Zero.