Activision’s Elsewhere Entertainment Targets GTA and Cyberpunk With Ambitious Open-World RPG

Activision's Elsewhere Entertainment is apparently working on an ambitious third-person open-world RPG that looks to compete with big franchises like Grand Theft Auto and Cyberpunk. While the studio hasn't released a game yet, job listings give us early glimpses into its creative ambitions, including a world designed to feel alive, reactive, and full of character.

Backed by Activision’s resources, the studio appears to be pursuing a project with significant expectations attached to it. Elsewhere Entertainment is also one of the more intriguing studios working on a potential first-party XBOX title, making its upcoming project worth watching as more information emerges.

The job listings describe responsibilities related to maintaining a high creative and quality standard for content that makes the game world feel alive and responsive.

They also describe the creation of scalable animation systems to allow emergent gameplay, contextual behavior, and dynamic interaction with the environment. This implies that the studio wants the world to react organically to the player’s actions, instead of just being a backdrop for missions and scripted encounters. 

Competing with Grand Theft Auto and Cyberpunk is a major task, especially since both franchises are renowned for their detailed worlds and the freedom they provide players. The Grand Theft Auto series from Rockstar Games has created a legacy of large worlds with plenty to do, people to meet, and places to explore.

In the meantime, Cyberpunk 2077 boasts a rich sci-fi setting where the environment, characters, and player choices all contribute to the overall experience. Elsewhere Entertainment will have to carve out its own identity if it’s going to stand alongside these established franchises.

That reported focus on reactive environments and emergent gameplay could become a defining part of the studio's identity. Exploration feels more meaningful in a reactive world, and characters, environments, and situations react to what players do. This approach could also make encounters feel less scripted and give players more freedom to shape their experiences.

Emergent gameplay can also lead to unexpected encounters that arise organically from the interplay of different systems, rather than having every situation explicitly laid out by the developers. Should Elsewhere Entertainment succeed in marrying these ideas, it could result in a less predictable, more interesting experience during longer play sessions.

The job postings also suggest contextual behaviors and dynamic interactions with the world.

It is implying that animation and character behaviors will play a significant role in making the environment come alive. They can also help characters be more aware of their surroundings and make interactions feel appropriate to the situation. But based on what we know, there’s no way to tell how much impact these features will have on the game’s missions, story, or gameplay on a moment-to-moment basis. 

With Activision behind it, Elsewhere Entertainment may finally be able to get the time, money, and development resources needed for a project this size. Building a big open-world RPG with detailed character behaviors and responsive environments is a lot of work, especially when a studio is trying to compete with some of the most recognizable games in the industry.

That kind of backing could help the team pursue its ambitions, though financial backing alone doesn’t guaranty a successful outcome. The project is still largely shrouded in mystery, and players will have to wait for an official announcement to learn more about its direction.

The timing is also notable as Grand Theft Auto VI approaches its eventual arrival. The next Grand Theft Auto is expected to raise expectations for open-world design, although the full extent of its world systems and interactions remains to be seen. Whatever Rockstar delivers could influence how players judge other open-world games in the years ahead. 

Elsewhere, entertainment is not the only XBOX-related development attracting attention. XBOX Cloud Gaming is also evolving, with Microsoft introducing options for players to purchase a fixed amount of cloud gaming time without needing an XBOX Game Pass subscription. XBOX Insiders have trialed the feature, which provides another way to access Microsoft’s cloud gaming service.

The information discussed was that players can purchase time in different packages and not just have to rely on the time that comes with a subscription. This gives players more flexibility, allowing them to choose a package that suits their gaming habits and budget without committing to a higher subscription tier.

The reported packages include 10 hours for $3.99, 25 hours for $8, and 50 hours for $12.

XBOX Game Pass tiers also include a fixed amount of cloud gaming playtime, with the possibility of purchasing additional hours for players who need more. The new structure gives users another way to access cloud gaming, particularly those who do not want to maintain a Game Pass subscription. 

Microsoft has also indicated that a free tier supported by advertisements is coming to XBOX Cloud Gaming. This would give players another potential entry point, although the available details do not establish exactly how that tier will work or when it will become available. The launch of paid time packages and a free, ad-supported option indicates that Microsoft is experimenting with different approaches to providing cloud gaming while controlling the costs of operating the service.

Cloud gaming has been a useful way for gamers to access their games without downloading them or carrying specific gaming hardware. It’s especially useful when you’re traveling or playing on a phone with a supported mobile controller. But the new pricing model could leave some wondering if people who already own consoles or gaming PCs will be tempted to buy gaming time separately.

If you’re the type of player that likes to download games and have them available on your local machine, you may not see as much value in paying for limited streaming hours. For these players, investing in a larger storage drive or a capable gaming PC might offer better long-term value than paying for cloud gaming access.

The changes also come at a time of wider concern about the cost of keeping gaming services up. There is a lot of infrastructure and compute power behind cloud gaming, and those costs can make it difficult to offer unlimited access at a fixed subscription price. Microsoft may be looking to control those costs, but it is not removing cloud gaming from Game Pass entirely.

But some subscribers might wonder what they are getting for their membership if they feel the service is becoming more restrictive, even though the price of the subscription is not changing. If the available benefits continue to shrink, subscribers may start questioning whether their money would be better spent on other gaming services or purchasing games outright.

That said, it’s still a good option for players who already use cloud gaming as an occasional perk of Game Pass.

The concern is that imposing extra costs for longer playtimes might make it less appealing to those who use it a lot. Some players might prefer to buy the hardware to download and play their games directly, rather than to buy hours over and over. Handhelds in particular provide an alternative for people who want to play games outside of their primary gaming setup.

Ultimately, both developments speak to different challenges in the XBOX ecosystem. Elsewhere, Entertainment is apparently working on an ambitious open-world RPG that will have to find ways to stand out from established competitors, and XBOX Cloud Gaming is testing new ways of managing access and costs.

The studio’s project is still under wraps, and the long-term impact of the cloud gaming shifts remains to be seen. More details will be needed before players can fully judge either development, but both are worth following as Microsoft’s gaming strategy continues to develop.