Hinterland Studio Inc.

Hinterland Studio Inc. is an independent Canadian video game developer and publisher founded in 2012 by writer, director and producer Raphael van Lierop. The studio creates original intellectual property, combining atmospheric storytelling, stylized visual design and survival systems. Its work spans game development, publishing and entertainment conceived for multiple platforms and media.

The studio is best known for The Long Dark, a first-person wilderness survival game set in northern Canada after a geomagnetic disaster. Its sandbox design places exploration and survival at the centre of the experience, alongside an episodic narrative mode, Wintermute. The game was initially funded through Kickstarter and the Canada Media Fund in 2013, entered Steam Early Access in September 2014 and received its full commercial release on August 1, 2017. It has reached more than 10 million players worldwide across PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch.

An expanding original universe

Hinterland has continued developing The Long Dark through both narrative episodes and substantial expansions. Wintermute concluded with its fifth episode, The Light at the End of All Things, in March 2026. Tales from the Far Territory, launched in December 2022, expanded the survival experience, while The Long Dark: Iron Road entered Early Access in October 2026.

The studio announced Blackfrost: The Long Dark 2 at The Game Awards in December 2024. The sequel remains in active development, extending Hinterland's work on its original survival franchise.

Hinterland's capabilities cover the full game lifecycle, including cross-platform development, publishing, community operations and direct merchandise distribution. Its games serve global consumer audiences across computer and console platforms. Based in British Columbia, the company combines a distributed team with physical facilities in Vancouver and on Vancouver Island, where the business began. It continues to operate as a unified independent studio.