One More Level Discusses AA Funding Challenges and the Development of Valor Mortis

Polish studio One More Level has spent the past 12 years carving out a distinct niche in the AA gaming sector. Known for producing titles with high production values that approach AAA scope, the developer achieved critical acclaim and commercial success with its 2020 cyberpunk action platformer Ghostrunner, which was followed by a 2023 sequel. However, navigating the mid-tier landscape has proven increasingly difficult. According to One More Level game director Radek Ratusznik, investment in the AA sector has dried up in recent years while competition has grown. While major players lean heavily into evergreen titles and smaller publishers focus on micro-budgets of $1 million or less, securing funding for mid-tier games remains a substantial uphill battle despite breakout successes like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

The journey to bring One More Level's upcoming first-person action RPG, Valor Mortis, to market involved significant hurdles. The studio initially partnered with indie label Private Division—a subsidiary of Take-Two—following their previous work with 505 Games on the Ghostrunner series. However, plans changed when Take-Two began scaling back Private Division in 2024 to focus squarely on AAA hits, eventually leading the studio to consider self-publishing. Ultimately, salvation arrived through Lyrical Games, a game-publishing spin-off formed in 2025 by former Private Division heads Blake Rochkind and Roger Kurtz. This partnership provided the vital support needed to maintain the game's intended quality level without compromising the internal team.

During periods of funding uncertainty, One More Level utilized its own savings to protect its workforce of 40 to 50 employees rather than resorting to layoffs. As Valor Mortis approaches its October 13 release date, the company has expanded to over 70 staff members, keeping most of its asset creation and development in-house while relying on external QA and marketing partners. Ratusznik noted that if the game succeeds, the studio plans to grow organically rather than hastily transitioning into a AAA company, allowing them to retain creative control over their projects.

Valor Mortis distinguishes itself in a crowded market through its unique setting and mechanics. Set during the 19th-century Napoleonic Wars, the game shifts away from standard dark fantasy toward a more grounded horror-infused historical approach. Gameplay elements draw inspiration from titles like Dark Souls—notably regarding formidable bosses and mechanics around player death—alongside plasmid-like powers reminiscent of BioShock. Combined with first-person swordplay, these distinct unique selling propositions have helped the project generate positive early reception as it prepares for launch.