Industry veteran Leah Hoyer has launched indie studio Level Headed Games, drawing on her extensive experience to develop cooperative online gaming experiences. The studio is working on an unannounced collaborative arena party game, originally developed at Wizards of the Coast, with a planned PC release in 2026. Hoyer acquired the rights to the project after its original studio closed, allowing the team to continue development.
Studio Background
Leah Hoyer, with a career spanning television, video games, and interactive experiences at companies like Disney, Xbox, Telltale Games, and Bungie, has founded Level Headed Games. The team includes professionals from Xbox, Bungie, Insomniac, and other studios, aiming to elevate cooperative online gaming. Hoyer's past work includes critically acclaimed titles such as Destiny 2, Minecraft, Halo, Lilo & Stitch, Phineas & Ferb, and The Walking Dead.
Project Origins and Development
The upcoming title began under Hoyer's role as GM and Vice President of Creative at Wizards of the Coast, where it was intended to expand the company's market. Development halted when the new IP studio closed, but Hoyer negotiated to retain ownership of the work. "We knew we had something special. Early testing with players showed excellent promise, and the team was making rapid progress on a world we were passionate about. Good projects tend to flow, and this one was really flowing," Hoyer said.
Level Headed Games participated in the a16z Speedrun program and re-scoped the project to preserve its "big fun" within a smaller scope, targeting Gen Z and multi-generational players for broad accessibility. The studio is preparing for a reveal and a 2026 PC launch. "We are grateful to Wizards of the Coast that we were able to keep the project going. We aren’t building our game the way we originally thought we would, but change is the one constant in the industry these days. We regrouped, made critical shifts to reflect the realities of our new team size, and got back to work making something that we are really proud of," Hoyer added.
Players can join the Alpha community via the Level Headed Games website for playtest sessions.