Independent video game company ProbablyMonsters is continuing to expand its development teams and games under the leadership of Dallas-based Chief Product Officer Adam Rymer, the former CEO of Optic Gaming.
Bellevue, Washington-based ProbablyMonsters also revealed Hidden Grove, a new development team led by General Manager Chris Opdahl that is working on an original multiplayer competitive adventure game using Unreal Engine 5. Opdahl is a strong creative leader known for his roles on the Halo and Destiny franchises.
‘New opportunities at the intersection of content and technology’
As Chief Product Officer, Adam Rymer leads all ProbablyMonsters development teams. With 25 years of experience in media and entertainment, Rymer has expertise in spearheading multifunctional teams across various business segments, including film, gaming, TV, digital, sports, and music.
A common thread of Rymer’s 25-year career has been “building and creating new opportunities at the intersection of content and technology,” the company said, which is a skill Rymer will leverage in his new position.
Most recently, Rymer was CEO of OpTic Gaming in Dallas, a top esports organization that won world championships in Call of Duty, Overwatch, and Halo. During Rymer’s two-year tenure at OpTic Gaming, he successfully integrated the OpTic brand into Envy Gaming following their merger and played a key role in the construction of the eSports Stadium Arlington. Additionally, he helped secure a $40 million Series C funding round for OpTic.
At Legendary Digital Networks, Rymer guided Nerdist and Geek & Sundry as innovators in new media through the Nerdist Podcast Network and the development of Critical Role, ProbablyMonsters said. Before that, he was a senior executive at Universal Pictures where his team partnered on strategic initiatives for the studio including digital cinema, streaming services, gaming, and the overall film greenlight process.
A key part of Rymer’s role as chief product officer is to provide advice, insight, and guidance to create opportunities for success. He will report directly to ProbablyMonsters founder and CEO Harold Ryan.
“Our definition of product isn’t just the games here at ProbablyMonsters; it’s also the design of the teams themselves,” Rymer said in a statement. “Beyond Hidden Grove, we have unannounced development projects that I’m excited for us to share in the future.”
ProbablyMonsters’ Expansion in Fort Worth
Last year, ProbablyMonsters established a temporary office in Fort Worth at 210 E. Eighth St. In March 2023, the Fort Worth City Council approved an economic development deal for the company, which included $1.5 million in incentives provided in the form of five annual grants.
According to reports, the agreement stipulates that ProbablyMonsters must lease a larger location with a minimum of 30,000 square feet within Fort Worth by Dec. 31.
Other conditions include employing 60 full-time positions by June 2024 and expanding to 300 positions by June 2028. During the term of the incentive agreement, average annual salaries for these jobs must be at least $75,000. Additionally, the company was encouraged to hire locally, aiming for at least 30% of its workforce to be Fort Worth residents.
Founded in 2016 by former Bungie president and CEO Harold Ryan, ProbablyMonsters has multiple development teams and projects, along with ongoing incubation projects, all working within the ProbablyMonsters ecosystem.
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