The Astronauts aim to create high-quality game experiences focused on imaginative visuals and rich story-telling, with gameplay designed to challenge industry conventions. Its founding members have more than 50 years of collective experience developing games together, including hits such as “Painkiller” and “Bulletstorm.”

Under the deal terms, The Astronauts have the rights to develop multiple games using the latest Unreal Engine technology. The team is creating its debut title, an unannounced game due for release in 2013, with Epic’s Unreal Engine 3 (UE3).

“We’ve worked with UE3 for the last six years, and we know its power,” said Adrian Chmielarz, co-founder of The Astronauts. “Choosing Unreal Engine technology for our future was the textbook definition of a no-brainer. We are on a quest to map uncharted waters, and Epic’s tech provides the stability required for success.”

“We’re truly impressed with what high-quality games small, independent teams are creating using the Unreal Engine,” said Mike Gamble, European territory manager of Epic. “The best is yet to come, and there’s a good chance that The Astronauts will be one of those teams that makes us say ‘Wow.’”