How Blumhouse Games Tapped Amanda Kruse for Key Role

Blumhouse Games, an emerging force in the interactive horror entertainment space, has made a significant strategic move by appointing Amanda Kruse as its new Head of Business Development. This key hire underscores Blumhouse Games’ commitment to expanding its reach and solidifying its position as a purveyor of original, indie horror gaming experiences. Kruse brings a wealth of experience from across the gaming and entertainment industries, positioning her as a pivotal figure in the company’s future growth and partnership strategies.

Amanda Kruse Steps into Key Leadership Role at Blumhouse Games

In her new capacity as Vice President of Business Development, Amanda Kruse is tasked with forging and nurturing relationships with multimedia partners within the interactive entertainment sector. Her primary objective is to support Blumhouse Games’ overarching vision: to deliver distinctive, original indie horror titles to a global audience. This role is central to identifying new opportunities, fostering collaborations, and driving the strategic expansion of the games division, ensuring that the unique creative energy of Blumhouse extends effectively into the gaming world.

“Joining Blumhouse Games is an exciting next step,” Kruse stated, expressing enthusiasm for the current creative landscape within the horror genre. She looks forward to championing original games that promise to challenge, surprise, and leave a lasting impression on players in the most compelling ways.

A Deep Dive into Kruse’s Extensive Industry Background

Amanda Kruse’s career trajectory is marked by a diverse and impactful history within both the gaming and broader entertainment industries, making her an ideal fit for Blumhouse Games’ ambitious goals. Her expertise spans creative direction, business development, and transmedia storytelling, showcasing a comprehensive understanding of how intellectual properties can thrive across different mediums.

From Lionsgate to Big Fan Games: A Diverse Portfolio

Prior to joining Blumhouse Games, Kruse served as the Head of Business Development at Big Fan Games, a label under Devolver Digital. In this role, she focused on transforming stories from film, television, and literature into original, developer-led games. Notable projects during her tenure included “Hellboy Web of Wyrd” and “John Wick Hex,” demonstrating her ability to navigate complex adaptations while maintaining a strong creative vision.

Before her time at Big Fan Games, Kruse was the Head of Development at Hivemind, a production company known for its work on critically acclaimed series such as “The Witcher” and “The Expanse.” This experience further honed her skills in cultivating intellectual properties and overseeing their development across various platforms. Crucially, Kruse also played a foundational role in co-founding Lionsgate’s first games division. As Creative Director there, she oversaw the development of more than 40 titles, including fan favorites like “Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid” and “Blair Witch,” alongside significant integrations with popular titles such as “Fortnite” and “Dead by Daylight.” This extensive background highlights her deep understanding of game development, intellectual property management, and strategic partnerships.

Expertise in Transmedia Storytelling

Kruse’s career consistently reflects a keen eye for transmedia storytelling—the art of conveying a story across multiple platforms and formats. This particular skill set is invaluable for Blumhouse Games, a division of the renowned Blumhouse Productions, which is celebrated for its distinctive horror films. Her proven ability to translate compelling narratives into engaging interactive experiences aligns perfectly with Blumhouse’s brand and its ambition to create cohesive, expansive horror universes that resonate across different forms of media.

Strategic Implications for Blumhouse Games’ Expansion

The appointment of Amanda Kruse as Head of Business Development is a clear indicator of Blumhouse Games’ strategic intent to significantly scale its operations and impact within the gaming industry. Zach Wood, President of Blumhouse Games, underscored this sentiment, praising Kruse’s profound understanding of games, her talent for transmedia storytelling, and her drive to push creative boundaries. Wood emphasized that her extensive cross-media experience will be instrumental in shaping bold and distinctive interactive worlds for the company.

This strategic hire is expected to catalyze new partnerships, facilitate licensing agreements, and attract top-tier indie developers eager to collaborate on horror titles. With Kruse at the helm of business development, Blumhouse Games is better equipped to identify and secure opportunities that align with its mission of delivering innovative and terrifying gaming experiences.

Blumhouse Games’ Expanding Horizon Beyond Interactive Titles

The expansion of Blumhouse Games’ leadership team, particularly with a focus on business development and transmedia expertise, arrives at a time when the company is already demonstrating its commitment to multi-platform storytelling. This is exemplified by their recent announcement concerning “Fear the Spotlight,” one of their debut game titles. The narrative of “Fear the Spotlight” is slated to continue in an upcoming graphic novel, penned by Patricia Villeto (“Sonic Prime,” “Tigtone,” “Ben 10”) and featuring the visuals of Claudia Leonardi, known for her work on the “Life is Strange” graphic novels.

This initiative showcases Blumhouse Games’ holistic approach to content creation, where interactive experiences can seamlessly extend into other forms of media, enriching the overall universe and engaging audiences through multiple touchpoints. Kruse’s background in such adaptations will undoubtedly play a crucial role in future ventures of this nature.

Conclusion

Blumhouse Games Taps Amanda Kruse as Head of Business Development marks a pivotal moment for the burgeoning games division. Her unparalleled experience in navigating the complex intersections of gaming, film, and television, coupled with her strategic acumen in business development, positions her as a vital asset. As Blumhouse Games continues to carve out its niche in delivering original and spine-chilling interactive horror, Kruse’s leadership is anticipated to be a driving force in expanding its partnerships, diversifying its portfolio, and ultimately, bringing more innovative horror experiences to players worldwide.