Project Title:
The Taking
Description:
The Taking is an asymmetric multiplayer survival-horror game being developed in Unreal Engine 5.
Players take the role of survivors known as The Taken, attempting to escape while being hunted by killers known as The Takers.
The focus is grounded, immersive horror rather than arcade-style gameplay. Tonally, the quickest comparison is closer to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre than Dead by Daylight, while building its own identity.
Includes:
- Asymmetric multiplayer survival horror
- Multiple escape routes and objectives
- Dangerous, distinct killer characters
- Limited resources and ammunition
- Grounded combat and interaction systems
- Dynamic weather and atmospheric environments
- Unpredictable match conditions
- Strong emphasis on immersion and visual atmosphere
Team Structure:
Founder / Game Director — 1
Currently responsible for:
- Overall creative and gameplay direction
- Game and systems design
- Map and environment concepts
- Character and killer design
- Escape/objective concepts
- Visual and horror direction
- Branding and presentation
- Crowdfunding and marketing preparation
- Project planning and recruitment
I am not a programmer, which is why the first major addition to the team is a technical partner who can take ownership of the implementation side of the project.
Previous Work:
The Taking is my first game project at this scale and is currently in pre-production/prototype development.
Talent Required:
UE5 Technical Partner / Programmer — 1
Looking for someone capable of taking a major technical role in the project rather than simply completing isolated programming tasks.
Preferred experience:
- Strong Unreal Engine 5 experience
- Experience building multiplayer games or multiplayer systems
- Ability to create gameplay and interaction systems
- Ability to quickly prototype ideas using placeholder assets
- Comfortable advising on technical feasibility, scope and the best way to implement features
- Able to take ownership of the technical side of development
- Interest in asymmetric multiplayer and survival horror
You do not need to agree with every design decision.
If there is a better, faster or more technically sensible way to accomplish something, I want a partner who will say so and help find the right solution.
Initial Milestone:
The first goal is intentionally small:
- 1 Taker
- 1 Taken
- 1 objective
- 1 escape route
- Basic interaction/combat
- Functional multiplayer
- Clear win/loss conditions
Placeholder assets are completely acceptable.
The goal is to prove the core game loop before expanding production.
Development Plan:
Prototype → Vertical Slice → Public Steam Demo → Audience/Wishlists → Kickstarter / Publisher / Investment Funding → Full Production
Additional artists, animators, designers and specialists can be brought in as the project grows.
Compensation / Partnership:
There is currently no guaranteed upfront salary.
This begins as a negotiated revenue-share / royalty and funding-dependent partnership.
The objective is to use the prototype and vertical slice to pursue crowdfunding, publisher and/or investment funding, allowing the project to transition into funded production.
Revenue share, responsibilities and ownership terms would be discussed and agreed upon before entering a partnership.
Contact:
Unreal Engine Forum: DM me here
Email: thetakinggame@proton.me
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetakinggame
If interested, please include:
- Previous work / portfolio
- Unreal Engine experience
- Multiplayer experience
- Blueprint/C++ experience
- General availability
- What interests you about the project
