'Infinity Blade' creators to develop 'Spyjinx' game by J.J. Abrams

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While Star Wars helmer J.J. Abrams is gearing up for the release of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" next month, he also has a few more tricks up his sleeve that he would like to share. In fact, Entertainment Weekly reports that the director, as part of his Bad Robot Productions company, is working with award-winning video game production company ChAIR Entertainment to create Spyjinx, a new game that combines action and RPG character building in the conflicted world of espionage.

Fortune reports that Abrams first tried to delve into gaming in 2013, when he and Digital Extremes tried to create a Star Trek game that would bridge the two films he produced and directed. However, the director claims that it did not turn out the way he expected it to be. This time, Abrams admits that he is very hands-on on the project, transitioning from film to gaming.

Geek reports that according to Abrams, "I feel like it’s a natural progression from what we’ve been doing. We really wanted to expand into this area of entertainment."

ChAIR was responsible for the mobile gaming hit series "Infinity Blade" and "Shadow Complex". Together with Bad Robot, the company is developing the game that will run on Unreal Engine 4, IGN reports. According to Stuff, the game promises to deliver "a unique mix of action-strategy gameplay, dynamic world-building and RPG character development --all set in a thrilling, treacherous world of espionage."

"I've been a fan of video games for years, envious of the artists and storytellers who have gotten to play in that world," Abrams said. "Over two years ago, we met with the geniuses at ChAIR in the hopes of collaborating with them. The result has been something beyond any of our expectations."

"Since then we have been working closely with them to create something that I cannot wait to get into the hands of gamers all over the world," the 49-year-old director said.

IGN also reports that according to ChAIR co-founder Donald Mustard, "Bad Robot is uniquely talented at making you deeply care about characters and the trials they experience."

"As game developers, we knew that if we could apply that knowledge to creating game systems that help players care about the world we build for them and then give them tools that let them shape and exercise agency in that world, then we could create something really special," Mustard said.

Gamers and fans may sigh up for a closed beta test now via ChAIR's official website. Spyjinx is set to be released for PC and mobile devices in 2016.