Matteo Lanfranco on Prism Studio’s level-up rebrand, and why they’re going big for gamescom

Vince Pavey checks in with Prism Studio’s CEO Matteo Lanfranco to find out about everything going on with the studio after its recent rebrand, as well as check in on how they’re feeling about showing the game to the public at the upcoming gamescom trade show

You’ve rebranded! What’s the reasoning behind the new logo? 

Building a company has its phases, and we are so proud to shift our identity from a startup to an enterprise-level brand. We admire the likes of Activision and other giants that paved the way in the industry, and felt a deep need to connect with our rapidly growing audience in a memorable way.

Is anything else about the company changing alongside the new logo and website? 

A rebranding effort encompasses more than just a logo change; it reflects our organization’s growth, which in turn impacts our market positioning, creative direction, and internal organization.

How is work coming along on Heptic Arena?

After three intense years building our first video game, I can finally say it’s really enjoyable. Progress is coming along well, and we are reaching new heights in terms of gameplay every week.

Heptic Arena is going to have a big presence at Gamescom this year. What advantages and opportunities do you think being at such a big trade show in such a big way will provide your relatively new indie studio? 

Gamescom enables us to capture a genuine feeling and gain insights into the thoughts, feelings, and behaviour of our audience while they play our game. This has huge value for the development team as we learn and build on top of what our players desire for a live service product

What came first, the game or the studio? 

The game came first, and the studio was brought to fruition the same day. We wanted to build Prism as the home for Heptic Arena, and all our future goals.

How big is the team working on Heptic Arena? 

We stand at over 40 talented individuals.

What does your studio structure look like?

Whilst the majority of our team is hybrid, we have lots of office space to ensure that our top-tier talent can both work from the comfort of their own home and visit us quarterly for team-building events and activities held here in Malta.

What are you most excited about in the months ahead, from a studio perspective?

There’s a lot we’re looking forward to, but right now, it’s seeing players smile and have fun playing Heptic Arena at Gamescom.