Operation: Alpha — We need new recruits!

Sneak into an early build of our upcoming stealth‑adventure epic. Play, break things, and tell us exactly how you did it so we can make the game even better.

👉 Sign up now via our Discord to join the closed alpha and get:

• Early access to globe‑spanning levels, disguises, and more…
• A chance to shape gameplay before anyone else sees them
• Eternal bragging rights for spotting that one guard stuck in a wall

📜 NDAs keep the intel under wraps, but the glory is all yours. Ready to disappear into the shadows? Hit the link below and enlist today!

https://discord.com/invite/BhtJ42mjNh

Shifty Eye Studios is excited to welcome two new hires to our team, Andreanne Dussault and Andrey Merzlikin.

Andreanne Dussault, a graduate of Dawson College, most recently worked as an animator at Moving Picture Company in Montreal, Canada. While at MPC, Andreanne contributed to notable Disney projects including “Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers” and Disney’s “Pinocchio.” She also worked as an animator at Icon Creative Studio in Vancouver, Canada, where she animated several episodes of “WondLa,” based on the beloved book trilogy, which was recently released on Apple TV+.

When she’s not animating, she enjoys watching movies and spending time outdoors, reveling in nature’s beauty.

Hailing from Saki, Ukraine, Andrey Merzlikin joins us as a 3D Artist with over 10 years of experience. He has worked on games such as “World of Battles” and the “Sherlock Holmes” series from FROGWARES, the “MXGP” series from Milestone, and “Sniper: Ghost Warrior” from CI Games.

 

Shifty Eye Studios is a Calgary-based game company currently developing a stealth-adventure game based on a very popular movie franchise. The game will ship in 2025 for PC, XBOX, PlayStation, etc.

We are looking for people to come into our offices in Inglewood to play test the game, which is still in development. We are looking for people who can play levels and provide feedback on gameplay, level design, and more. Typical play tests will take 1-2 hours, Monday through Friday. You’ll have a chance to pick your date and time.

The beta test is absolutely free and does not require you to pay for anything. We will be compensating people for their parking fees, providing drinks, and the ability to participate in round-table discussions, and more.

If you are interested in testing the game (it does require that you sign an NDA), please fill out this beta test form.

Any questions, please feel free to email us at [email protected].

Thank you!

Shifty Eye Games is thrilled to announce the latest addition to our team, Nikolai Borodin, joining us as a Level Designer. Originally from a small rural town in the Ural region of Russia, Nikolai’s journey into the gaming world has been fueled by a lifelong passion for video games, starting from the classic Nokia 5210 snake game to the latest cutting-edge releases.

Nikolai’s gaming journey took a professional turn in 2019 after he obtained his master’s degree in Applied Computer Science. With over five years of rich experience in level design, game design, and level art, Nikolai has already made a mark in the industry. He played a pivotal role in the successful worldwide launch of Crossout Mobile, contributing significantly from its initial testing phase through to its global release.

His technical expertise, combined with a creative flair, enables him to create immersive and engaging virtual environments that captivate players. Nikolai’s approach to level design is deeply influenced by his academic background in Theoretical Physics and a vivid imagination that once dreamt of working at Black Mesa.

Beyond the digital realms, Nikolai is an avid traveler with a love for exploring new places, camping, hiking, and skiing. He also has a keen interest in old-school cars and motorcycles and enjoys the strategic complexities of board games.

As Nikolai brings his diverse talents and fresh perspectives to Shifty Eye Games, we look forward to the new and exciting environments he will craft for our games, enhancing the player experience with each level.

Please join us in giving a warm welcome to Nikolai Borodin. We are excited to see how his innovative designs will shape the future of our games.

Shifty Eye Studios is looking for a 3D Character Animator to help bring our characters to life in our cinematic for an action-adventure title in our Calgary office. We’re looking for people with at least two years experience up to senior – if you’re not sure if that’s you, go ahead and apply anyway, we’d love to hear from you.

Job Responsibilities

 

Artistic Skills

• High quality animation with a good sense for weight, cloth & hair, posing, acting, timing and strong keyframes for gameplay and cutscenes.
• Experience making game run and walk cycles, jumping, crawling etc, in several different styles depending on the character type/art direction.
• Demonstrates skills that include being: proactive, detail oriented, creative, organized, efficient, good communicator.

Technical

• Ability to modify already created rigs with new bone placement and control relocation if needed.
• Animation/Modeling in either: Maya (preferred), Motion Builder, 3DS Max, Blender and familiarity with integration into Unity.
• Experience working on games, tv or movies.
• 2+ Professional yrs animation experience
• Integrate animations into the game while meeting technical limitations for bone count and weights per vertex.

Bonus Experience

(we don’t expect anyone to have all these things, but each could be helpful)

• Character Rigging
• Create original skeleton rigs & controls
• Binding & painting weights
• Ability to modify existing models geometry as well as UV’s
• Create character models from scratch
• UV Characters
• Lip Sync
• Motion Capture data and cleanup experience

Other Notes

• Must have an online portfolio with several examples of cycles, animated scenes.
• Work on site in our studio in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Benefits

• Casual dress
• Two weeks paid vacation
• 5 paid sick days
• Stock options/Profit Sharing

Interested Applicants can apply Here. 

Shifty Eye Games is excited to welcome Andrey Petravchuk as our new Senior 3D Artist. Andrey, who recently moved from Ukraine, brings a rich background from his time at leading companies like Ubisoft, Disney, and Zynga, contributing over a decade of expertise to our team.

Andrey’s specialization spans 3D modeling, digital sculpting, hard surface modeling, 3D rigging and animating, lighting and rendering, and texturing. His arrival promises to elevate the visual and interactive quality of our projects, pushing the boundaries of what we can achieve in game development.

We’re thrilled to have Andrey on board and look forward to the creativity and innovation he brings to Shifty Eye Games. Join us in giving him a warm welcome to the team!

As the dust settles on this year’s Game Developers Conference, our CEO Tuncer Deniz shares his valuable insights and takeaways, bringing back not just memories but also lessons and a renewed sense of inspiration.

A Testament to Passion and Resilience

Tuncer notes the unwavering passion that defines the gaming industry. Despite a year of challenges, the enthusiasm and commitment to crafting exceptional games remain the industry’s heartbeat. This enduring passion is what fuels innovation and keeps the community resilient and forward-moving.

The Power of Personal Connections

Highlighting the importance of one-on-one interactions, Tuncer emphasizes the significance of personal meetings at GDC. While scheduling conflicts are inevitable, leading to some missed connections, the completed meetings were profoundly rewarding. Personal engagements not only strengthen professional relationships but also spark collaborations and shared visions for the future.

Celebrating Community and Longevity

Reconnecting with former colleagues and sharing moments of laughter underscore the GDC’s vibrant community spirit. For Tuncer, these reunions are a reminder that while making games is a business, fostering lasting relationships lies at its core. The joy of GDC is found in its ability to blend professional endeavors with the warmth of camaraderie and shared history.

Mentorship and Industry Growth

The conference also presented moments of mentorship and guidance, especially with aspiring developers. Engaging with young talent, Tuncer offered insights, encouragement, and a clear message: the path to industry entry is challenging but achievable with determination and a positive work ethic. Such interactions underscore the importance of leadership, respect, and open communication in nurturing the next generation of game developers.

Contemplating the Industry’s Landscape

Reflecting on the vast attendance at GDC, Tuncer pondered the implications of an industry abundant with studios and new titles. The concern is not just about quantity but about the innovative quality that defines memorable and impactful games. He advocates for a paradigm shift towards risk-taking, originality, and the crafting of exceptional gaming experiences, whether by large studios or indie developers.

Looking Ahead

In the aftermath of GDC, Tuncer is more committed than ever to applying these insights to Shifty Eye Studios’ operations and creative endeavors. The conference has reinforced the studio’s dedication to innovation, excellence, and the profound community spirit that makes the gaming industry unique.

As we reflect on Tuncer’s takeaways from GDC, we are reminded of the complex yet rewarding nature of game development, a field driven by passion, creativity, and the constant pursuit of excellence.

Shifty Eye Games, an independent, industry veteran-owned game development studio has appointed Vikas Gupta, Justin Ratushniak, and Bungie founder Alexander Seropian to its board of advisors. The company also announced its ongoing search for key talent additions.

These strategic moves coincide with a significant milestone for the company: as Shifty Eye prepares for the company’s biggest project yet – a stealth-adventure game based on a world-famous movie franchise – the studio also was awarded $788,500 CAD in funding to distribute, sell and promote the game in more than 180 countries. The funding comes from the Government of Canada and Canadian Heritage through the Creative Export Canada program, Export-Ready Stream.

“Adding deeper insight and expertise to our advisory board is a critical step in Shifty Eye’s rapid evolution into a premier game development studio,” said Tuncer Deniz, ex-Bungie project lead and CEO and founder of Shifty Eye Games. “Alexander, Justin and Vikas bring incredible media and entertainment experience to Shifty Eye, and we look forward to leveraging their acumen as we continue to build our upcoming game project. With Shifty Eye also receiving funding through the Creative Canada Export Project, we now have the resources to promote the Canadian gaming industry around the world, bolster our talent pool, and provide our team with the necessary support to make our next – and every project – a hit.”

We’re excited to report directly from the Game Developers Conference (GDC), the premier event that has gathered the brightest minds in the game development community from March 18-22. This year, Shifty Eye Studios is proud to be in attendance, represented by our CEO and team leads who are engaging firsthand with the pulse of the industry.

GDC stands as a pivotal hub for professionals across the gaming world, including programmers, artists, producers, and game designers. It’s a melting pot of ideas, showcasing the latest in game development tools and services, with industry giants like AWS, Epic, and Google leading the charge. Our team is diving deep into a wealth of lectures, panels, and discussions, gaining insights and inspiration to propel our projects forward.