Former lead quest designer at Bethesda, Will Shen, has made a significant move by joining Something Wicked Games. In his new role, Shen will assume the position of lead content designer for Something Wicked Games’ debut project, the open-world fantasy RPG Wyrdsong.
Will Shen boasts an impressive track record, having been part of the Bethesda team and contributing to the development of several iconic titles, including The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, Fallout 4, and Fallout 76. He also took on the lead designer role for Far Harbor, a compelling story-driven downloadable content (DLC) expansion for Fallout 4, which invited players to embark on a mysterious journey to the foreboding island of Far Harbor.
Something Wicked Games, although relatively new, has brought together a group of industry veterans, with CEO Jeff Gardiner as a prominent figure. Gardiner, who co-founded the studio in 2022, is himself a Bethesda veteran, having spent over a decade at the renowned studio and contributing to games like The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion and Fallout 4. With such an experienced team, it appears that Will Shen will seamlessly integrate into the creative environment at Something Wicked.
While much about Something Wicked’s forthcoming RPG, Wyrdsong, remains shrouded in secrecy, a few intriguing details have surfaced. The game is set in medieval Portugal and is intricately intertwined with the mythology of the Knights Templar, promising an engaging and immersive experience for players.
In an interview with TRG, CEO Jeff Gardiner conveyed his vision for Wyrdsong and the ethos behind the new studio: “I wanted to create a safe space for creatives; that was my number one goal. You do that by establishing trust, by allowing people to fail and not feel like they did something wrong, by people feeling comfortable throwing a terrible idea in the room, without any bad repercussions.”
While the game has only been introduced through an announcement trailer at this stage, it is evident that with the talent of Will Shen and Jeff Gardiner backing it, Wyrdsong has the potential to become a standout RPG, possibly earning a place among the best in the genre.
