Founder of nDreams establishes new studio focused on music and gameplay

The developer Patrick O'Luanaigh decided to reshape his professional aspirations to return to his roots in the tech industry. The executive, who stepped down as CEO of nDreams in May 2025 after nearly twenty years and shortly after the company was sold to Aonic, announced the launch of Atmospheric. This is an independent company focused on creating original intellectual properties that blend video games and sound production. With past experiences at industry giants like SCi, Eidos, and Codemasters, he missed the hands-on work directly with lines of code, which was stifled by the bureaucratic growth of his previous company that reached 250 employees.

The new developer's approach does not include making traditional rhythm simulators that flooded digital shelves in the past. In a chat with the portal GamesIndustry.biz, the project's creator dismissed similarities with well-known mechanics from titles like Guitar Hero, Beat Saber, or PaRappa the Rapper.

"I believe a film like Baby Driver would be a closer analogy, actually. We are exploring how music can impact gameplay and, in particular, the emotional response that players receive when playing."

The intent to align sound beats with narrative development aims to create worlds where interactivity and audio emerge from a unique artistic vision. The professional, who also works as a sound engineer and composer in his spare time, aims to capture the intimate atmosphere of indie classics like Firewatch and the productions led by Telltale.

The company’s entire infrastructure operates in a lean manner, without third-party financial backing or dependence on external investors to dictate artistic directions. The founder is the only registered employee at present, working on initial drafts with the help of freelance professionals in illustration, scriptwriting, and basic programming. The roadmap includes seeking commercial support from a partner publisher at the start of 2027 to fund the complete development of the software. Emphasizing a decentralized production model and free from corporate pressures is seen as the best way to ensure the market receives an original experience, away from the generic constraints that spoil current major releases.