Gardens Interactive

Gardens Interactive is a globally distributed videogame studio founded in May 2021 and based in Los Angeles, California. The studio describes itself as growing the future of social roleplay, building online worlds intended to bring players together to form lasting relationships and evolve alongside their communities. Its staff includes developers who previously worked on Journey, What Remains of Edith Finch, Sky: Children of the Light, Blaseball, Dustforce, Guild Wars 2, Baldur's Gate 3, Firewatch, Ultima Online, Outer Wilds, Tunic and Ashen, as well as film work including The Hobbit and The Adventures of Tintin.

The studio's flagship title, referred to publicly under the working title Project Gardens, is an ever-evolving online PvPvE fantasy adventure sandbox ARPG. It is set in a shapeshifting, unpredictable wilderness and emphasizes tactile multiplayer interaction between players, including cooperative mechanics such as riding on another player's shoulders to reach fruit, leaping into the arms of a stranger, removing armor from a monster together, or combining to cast spells, while still allowing conflict and betrayal. As of the studio's 2025 year in review, the game remained unannounced and in pre-production, with regular external playtests underway.

Leadership includes cofounder, CEO and Narrative Director Stephen Bell; cofounder, Creative Director and Co-Design Lead Chris Bell; and cofounder, Tech Art Director and Co-Design Lead Lexie Dostal (also referred to as CTO). Other named leaders are Director of Operations Jane Ng, Executive Producer Nick Mhley, Chief of Staff AmyJo Mattheis, Technical Director Dan Ristic, Director of Marketing Caylen Burroughs, Director of Community Molly Carroll, Art Director Andy Porter and Head of Art Jonas Norberg.

Founding story

Gardens Interactive was founded in May 2021 by a group that includes Chris Bell, a game designer whose credits include Journey, What Remains of Edith Finch, Sky: Children of the Light and his student game Way, alongside cofounders Stephen Bell and Lexie Dostal. The studio's stated premise is drawn from the founders' memories of playing online RPGs, MMOs and fantasy action-adventure games, particularly moments shared with strangers, and its name refers to the lush, living worlds it intends to cultivate with player communities.

Business model

Gardens Interactive is a venture-funded independent game development studio. It is developing an original online multiplayer title and has publicly stated it is seeking publishing support alongside investment, and works with external vendors and software partners for functions such as localization, playtesting and online moderation.

Traction

Gardens presented a playable prototype behind closed doors at GDC 2023 that was cited positively by investors and platform partners, and raised a $31.3 million Series A announced in July 2023 with participation from major gaming platform, publisher and executive backers. In June 2025 it showed the project to more than 100 publishers, investors and developers at a private Summer Game Fest event, and it runs recurring external playtests. The game remained unannounced as of the studio's 2025 year in review.

Latest developments

In its 2025 year in review, published at the start of 2026, the studio reported launching a new website with a press kit and blog, spending much of 2025 seeking investment, publishing and vendor partners, showcasing Project Gardens at a private Summer Game Fest event in June 2025, and running regular external playtests during pre-production. It said it plans to enter production and expand its player community during the coming year while keeping the debut game undisclosed.