Highdive’s Leap Into the AAA Era: A Deep Dive into the Studio and Its Upcoming New IP

According to recent coverage by industry outlet Need4Games, Highdive — the Montréal-based studio of NetEase Games (ThunderFire group) — is working on an ambitious new AAA single-player console/PC game. The outlet reports the target platforms include PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
The project is described as follows: NetEase’s first AAA single-player project, with the release estimated for 2027 or later. According to information pulled from a LinkedIn profile of a narrative designer attached to the project, the game features:

• A campaign mode of 20+ hours of playtime.
• Rich narrative structure: major character arcs, original factions, immersive world-building.
• A multi-discipline workflow: narrative designers working closely with art, design and audio; motion-capture and voice actors employed to deliver high-fidelity performances.
• A large team (reportedly 100+ team members).
• A new IP (i.e., not a sequel or existing franchise).

In this article, we’ll examine: who Highdive is; what the project appears to be; the strategic importance this holds for NetEase and the wider industry; and what remains uncertain.

1. Studio Background: Who is Highdive?

Origins and Rebranding

Highdive is the studio previously known as NetEase Games Montréal, operating under NetEase’s ThunderFire umbrella. On their website, they describe themselves as: “a NetEase Games ThunderFire development studio from Montréal. Bound by no borders, we create games that let us dive into pure emotions, together.”
On November 6, 2024, the studio officially unveiled the brand name “Highdive,” celebrating its 5th anniversary, announcing a milestone of 150 employees, and emphasising a shift towards developing its own IPs (versus only co-development). 

Strategic Focus & Culture

From Highdive’s “About” page, key values and positioning include: “Bound by no borders”, “dive into pure emotions”, and a pledge to focus on “high quality games that will spread joy and wonder beyond borders”.
They also explicitly state:

“We will … focus on developing our own IPs.”
Their games portfolio page lists “New IP in development” as a distinct listing alongside previous co-developed titles. 

2. The Project: What We Know So Far

Platform & Positioning

• The project is reportedly targeting the PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
• It is described as a single-player AAA campaign experience, following NetEase’s first AAA single-player title (which has been publicly announced as Blood Message)
• According to the narrative designer's listing: 20+ hours of campaign, original factions and world-building, motion capture and voice work, etc.

Key Narrative & Development Features

• Narrative lead: From “story proposal to world-building, shape unforgettable characters, lead the writers’ team”.
• Cross-discipline workflow: “Design new processes to ensure writing, art, design & audio collaborate seamlessly.”
• Performance capture: “Work with voice and motion-capture actors to ensure real, immersive performances.”
• Scope: Campaign length (20+ hours), major arcs and original factions.

Timing & Scale

• Media report cites “a team of over 100 people”.
• Release window: After “Guī Táng” (《归唐》), which is mentioned as NetEase’s first or early AAA single-player project; estimated release 2027 or later. (Note: “Guī Táng” may be a codename or mistranslation; the publicly announced first AAA single-player Game from NetEase is Blood Message.)
• If the studio has 150 employees (as of 2024) and is now scaling for a primary IP, the timeline (2027+) aligns with the typical 3-4 year development cycles of AAA games.

3. Strategic Importance: Why This Matters

For NetEase and the Global Market

• NetEase has been historically strong in online multiplayer and live-service games. Their announcement of Blood Message signals entry into the AAA single-player space. 
• A second new IP by a western-based (Montreal) studio supports NetEase’s global ambitions, especially in the console/PC market.
• It reflects a broader trend: Chinese publishers/developers are increasingly investing in high-budget, narrative-driven console/PC games for a global audience.

For Highdive

• This is the pivotal moment for Highdive: transitioning from co-development to own-IP leader.
• With the brand rename (“Highdive”) and an emphasis on “own IPs”, the studio has established its identity as a creator of high-emotion, cinematic games.
• Success could place them among the global AAA studio ecosystem (especially in Montreal, which is a top game-dev city).

4. What We Still Don’t Know

• The title of the new IP has not been publicly revealed.
• The genre specifics remain unclear (action-adventure, RPG, open-world, linear narrative?).
• Exact platforms are not officially confirmed beyond PS5/Xbox Series/PC as per media reports.
• The release date remains speculative (“2027 or later”).
• Whether the “first AAA single-player” project referenced (“Guī Táng”) is indeed Blood Message or another project.
• Whether the new IP will be an open-world, live-service hybrid, or strictly a single-campaign.
• Budget, monetisation model, and scope (beyond campaign length) are unknown.

5. Outlook & Conclusion

Highdive’s upcoming project appears to be an exciting juncture: a large-scale new IP, available on console and PC, with a heavy narrative focus, original world-building, and a global ambition. For players and industry watchers, it suggests that NetEase is serious about competing in the AAA space beyond mobile and live-service games.
If successful, this could mark a strong statement from a Chinese publisher via a Western-based studio (Montreal) in creating a culturally diverse, globally oriented narrative AAA game.
For now, the project remains under the hood, but the indications are promising. Should official trailers, gameplay reveals, or further details emerge, this is definitely a title to watch.