A new studio founded by developers who worked on id Software games has announced its first project. Hidden Horses describes Danger Pay as a single-player first-person shooter set inside a deadly game show. The host is an AI, and the team names the arcade game Smash TV and the 1987 film The Running Man as influences.
Who is building Danger Pay?
The studio’s founder biographies identify Todd Boyce as a former lead visual effects artist at id, Daniel Young as a former lead AI engineer and Dustin Land as a former principal engine programmer on idTech. Their backgrounds span the effects, enemy behavior and engine work that go into a shooter.
Hidden Horses says in its account of how the studio operates that the developers own the business and make major decisions democratically. The team formed after the 2026 industry layoffs.
What players can follow now
The studio has published the premise and a Kickstarter project page. Its introduction promises more footage and a project teaser. The film below introduces the people forming the studio, ahead of a playable release date.
Hidden Horses’ film introducing the studio.
Featured image credit: Hidden Horses, studio press kit.
