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The acclaimed co-director responsible for the iconic survival game is making a new venture to video games. His new project, named Coven of the Chicken Foot, marks the inaugural effort of his studio, Wildflower Interactive, and it draws heavily from his previous work with a focus on reactive companion characters.

A Witch, A Creature, and A New Kind of Adventure

Revealed at the 2025 Game Awards, Coven of the Chicken Foot is described as an adventure game blending puzzles and platforming. Players control Gertie, a protagonist who subverts typical power fantasies. The foundational premise came from an interest in re-examining what it means to be a protagonist.

"Consider a scenario where you lacked traditional weapons? Perhaps you are not built for battle? What if you’re a little old lady?" mused Straley. "I thought it was incredibly compelling to think about what makes a hero. Being a hero means fighting your way through problems, but it’s also about selflessness and unwavering will."

Evolving Past Companions: A New Level of AI Interaction

Although this project seems unfamiliar visually, its core innovation builds directly upon the technology developed for The Last of Us. The entire project flowed from a central inquiry: "What if I could make an AI partner more dynamic and responsive in response to the user?"

The companion creature that accompanies Gertie isn’t an average NPC. Straley describes it as a learning entity which observes and responds through a multi-phase process. Initially, it explores with wonder, resulting in silly antics. Subsequently, it enters a playful state. Finally, it observes and assimilates comprehending the world's rules.

• As an instance: Should the beast observe an object being placed, it grasps the physical act but not the reason.
• It will then begin grabbing random objects and test fitting them, repeating what it saw.
• The 'why' is learned only when it accidentally solves an obstacle, creating a genuine learning moment.

A Personal, Player-Driven Narrative

This complex system seeks to generate individualized narrative moments. The creative lead highlights that Coven of the Chicken Foot will be a contemplative journey of exploration as opposed to a traditionally structured narrative.

"Anytime I tried rigid narrative turns into this game, the dynamic felt wrong," Straley explained. "The true vitality between these characters stems from how every person who plays will inevitably create personal anecdotes and outcomes than I will."

By prioritizing emergent, character-driven storytelling, Coven of the Chicken Foot signifies both a continuation and a bold new direction from Straley's iconic past work. The game is currently targeting computer systems.