It looks like EA’s new open-world developer could be ‘Neon Black Studios’

Electronic Arts’ new open-world game developer could be called “Neon Black Studios”.

That’s according to a trademark filed by the Battlefield publisher at both the US Patent and Trademark Office and the European Union Intellectual Property Office last month.

The listings, which covers “design and development of interactive, computer, video and electronic game software”, is registered to EA’s head office in Redwood City, California.

The trademark is possibly related to EA’s new unnamed studio recently founded by former Monolith Productions VP and studio head Kevin Stephens.

EA announced the new studio in May and confirmed it would be working on “an open-world action-adventure game”. Stephens knows the genre well, having overseen Monolith Productions during development of Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War.

We’ve asked Electronic Arts for comment on the trademark.

Speaking to GI.biz earlier this summer, EA’s group general manager Samantha Ryan – who was formerly president of Monolith in the 90s – declined to say whether the new studio would be working on an original IP or existing brands.

“We’re still figuring out a lot of foundational questions,” she said. “How big? What games? How fast to grow? Kevin and I both know how important it is to get the foundations of any studio ‘right’ and he’ll take his time to figure it all out. When you rush, you don’t give yourself time to be thoughtful. Why rush?

“I know Kevin well. I know the kind of quality team he will build and the kinds of amazing games he will deliver. I don’t need him to rush to prove anything to me! I want things done right and know that Kevin will build an amazing group.”