Nomada Studio Talks with Us about Their Upcoming Title, GRIS

One of the most highly anticipated indie games of 2018 is most definitely GRIS. Published by indie powerhouse Devolver Digital, GRIS is shaping up to be another noteworthy installment in the publisher’s proven track record. Partnering with Devolver is the game’s developer, Nomada Studio.

Nomada, a new, Barcelona-based game studio,  was founded by friends Adrian Cuveas and Roger Mendoza. After spending several years developing AAA games, Cuveas and Mendoza embarked on developing GRIS. The result is a beautifully animated game that promises a somber yet moving story.

The footage we have seen for GRIS, including cinematic trailers and gameplay, highlights how truly unique the game is. It is undeniable that the title not only draws from gaming, but the realm of  visual and musical artistry.

To learn more about GRIS, we talked with Nomada Studio about the upcoming title. Check out our interview with them below.

 LoadingXP: It appears that GRIS draws from some of the most notable installations in the adventure-puzzle genre. Notably, Journey, through its use of isolation, and Monument Valley, for its use of space and geometry. How did these titles inspire the development of GRIS, and how does GRIS elaborate on the foundation of these titles?

Nomada Studio: Other titles have influenced us greatly: not only video games though, our references include many other media. With GRIS, we tried not only to make another “artsy game” but to create something that truly bridges and brings closer videogames and art as a concept.

While similarities have been drawn from the above noted titles, GRIS seems wholly unique – especially in the game’s art direction. What was the philosophy behind the game’s art direction, and what do you hope the player experiences through this art direction?

Nomada Studio: [we] had the idea of a world devoid of color that regained it as the player advanced through it, and we connected that idea with the experience of our protagonist, a lost young girl that deals with a recent painful experience. We try to convey her growth through our art and how it evolves during the game.

Adrian and Roger each have a background in AAA game development. What was the catalyst to develop a game unlike any AAA title? Moreover, does their time spent in AAA game development affect GRIS’ execution?

Nomada Studio: Both of them are really proud of their work at Ubisoft: it was amazing working there and they learned a lot, but it was also tiring, and they felt like it was time for them to try something new and more personal, where they would have a bit more weight in the development process.

Devolver is known as powerhouse in indie publishing. A partnership between Nomada and Devolver seems like a perfect fit. How did this relationship come to fruition?

Nomada Studio: We met at Gamescom a few years ago, that’s where we made contact. From there on, there was some communication and we soon started working with them, which I have to say, has been a boon. From treatment to creative freedom, the experience has been excellent.

The Nintendo Switch has developed an impressive library of indie titles soon after its launch. What made you decide to bring GRIS to the Switch alongside PC?

Nomada Studio: We are confident in Switch as the console that fits the game more when it comes to aesthetics and design. Besides, economics had some influence over the decision.

I understand Nomada is based in Barcelona, which may not be considered as a tent-pole for the games industry. Do you feel that the cultural and artistic heritage of Barcelona seeps into the game’s design?

Nomada Studio: Inevitably, the culture that surround[s] us and [that] we have grown in influences everything we do unconsciously, and that is even truer in as city with a cultural heritage as deep as Barcelona’s. A lot from its architecture and beautiful scenarios resonates through this experience.

GRIS seems to forgo an obtuse narrative, instead offering a more subtle journey of self-discovery in a strange landscape. What role does narrative play in the upcoming title?

Nomada Studio: Over everything else, we wanted each player to take something unique and personal from GRIS. As we said, we conceive this project as something open to interpretation, so though we left symbols and clues scattered through all of it, in the end it’s the player job connecting and understanding them however they wish.

GRIS releases on PC and Nintendo Switch on December 13. Stay tuned to LoadingXP for more news.