Occasionally you see listings for roles on the https://www.stillfront.com/en/career/join-the-team/ website that let on tiny bits in-between the lines - The post below is older but I have a screenshot from my DMS with Breor still where it was briefly brought up.

https://preview.redd.it/gwa2x3nstytg1.png?width=521&format=png&auto=webp&s=d9e5a02b3c82035766cc40369c7e108b12a1bb91

https://preview.redd.it/6wbqppf3uytg1.png?width=875&format=png&auto=webp&s=10c2feb245cd21dc847d2825eab81fb4aec18dec

One currently live so you can see the format:

https://www.stillfront.com/en/career/join-the-team/

A transcribe of the first image below:

Expert UI/UX Designer (Composite of first two images)

'About the Role Goodgame Studios is developing a new cross-platform 4X strategy game, rooted in one of Europe's most successful strategy IPs. For this project, UI/UX is a cornerstone of success: our ambition is to deliver world-class clarity, accessibility, and emotional impact across platforms.

We are seeking an Expert UI/UX Designer who will take full ownership of HUD design, dialog systems, and overall usability. Your work will be benchmarked against the very best in the genre, with Rise of Kingdoms and KingShot as key references. From the First Time User Experience (FTUE) to long-term LiveOps flows, you will ensure that the game is both visually striking and intuitively usable.

This is a high-impact, hands-on role where design quality directly drives engagement, conversion, and long-term retention.

In this role, you'll join the Empire Family Team working on Goodgame Empire, Empire Four Kingdoms and future additions to the franchise. Collaborate closely with our 30+ dedicated professionals, employ your initiative and strong communication skills to seamlessly integrate your ideas into our MMO pioneer games with more than 200 million registered players worldwide and a history of more than 1bn € in revenues. If you're ready to take on this challenge and thrive in a high-target environment, we want you on our team!

Goodgame Studios is known for successful strategy titles and data-driven game development. We self-publish our games in-house and have all relevant professions under one roof. Plus, we are part of Stillfront Group, one of Europe’s leading game publishers with a strong focus on long-term IP growth.'

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In this video you will see a while ago Breor discussing something similar regarding the idea of developing a new game although what he calls for is 'Empire Classic' - Not a Rise of Kingdoms clone or trying to beat Rise Of Kingdoms at being Rise Of Kingdoms: https://youtu.be/mlWa0cpBY58?si=wkfsi76F9CZNwrb-

Strategic Analysis: The "Empire" 4X Project

1. The "RoK Clone" Trap: Late to the Party?

The job listing explicitly benchmarks Rise of Kingdoms (RoK) and Whiteout Survival (itself a RoK-clone evolution). By 2026, this "hero-led, real-time march" formula is no longer a trend—it’s a saturated baseline.

• The Trend Lag: RoK launched in 2018. Whiteout Survival perfected the "weather/survival" hook in 2023. Entering this space in 2026/2027 puts Goodgame nearly a decade behind the initial curve.
• The Clone Problem: If the game is just Empire skins on a Whiteout Survival loop, it risks "Clone Fatigue." Players in 2026 are looking for the "Next Big Thing" (like AI-driven NPCs or deeper grand strategy elements), not a prettier version of a game they’ve played for five years.

2. Development Timeline: How long to build a "Clone"?

Building a competitive, cross-platform 4X isn't just about the code; it’s about the LiveOps infrastructure.

• Estimated Time: Even for an experienced team of 30+, a polished RoK-style 4X takes 24–36 months to reach a globally competitive state.
• The MVP Risk: If they rush to market in 12–18 months, they will lack the "clutter" and content depth (Heroes, Gear, seasonal events) that keep RoK players invested.

3. The Gameplay & Monetization Speculation

Feature	The "Legacy" Path (Empire Strat)	The "Pivot" Path (Modern 4X)
Monetization	Aggressive ruby-style "pay-to-win" power spikes. Heavy focus on consumables.	Battle-pass driven, Hero gacha, and cosmetic-heavy "Whale" vanity items.
Gameplay Loop	Static castle building with menu-based combat and "Glory" farming.	Seamless zoom, real-time open-world troop control, and seasonal "Kingdom vs Kingdom" (KvK).
Good Outcome	High initial ARPDAU (Average Revenue Per Daily Active User) from old fans.	Long-term retention and a fresh audience that finds the game "fairer" than RoK.
Bad Outcome	Rapid "Churn." Modern players find the 2011-style monetization predatory and quit.	"Identity Crisis." The game is too complex for old fans and too generic for new ones.

4. The "Classic" Demand vs. Corporate Reality

As highlighted by community figures like Breor, there has been a persistent, vocal demand for a "Classic Empire"—a version stripped of the decade of power-creep and bloated mechanics.

• The Conflict: A "Classic" version is a service to the fans, but a New 4X Strategy Game is a play for investors.
• The Likely Reality: Goodgame is unlikely to give fans a "Classic" mode because it splits the player base. Instead, they are trying to "Modernize the IP" by forcing the Empire brand into the RoK mould.

5. Can they compete with RoK and Industry Leaders?

• The "IP Strength" Argument: Goodgame Empire has over 200 million registrations and €1bn in revenue. That is a massive headstart, but Brand Recognition ≠ Player Loyalty. * The Barrier to Entry: A RoK player has likely spent thousands of dollars and years building their account. To get them to switch to a new Empire game, the "hook" must be revolutionary, not just a skin swap.

6. The "Stillfront Shadow": Consolidation vs. Innovation

Goodgame is no longer an independent rogue studio; it is the "Empire" pillar of the Stillfront Group. Recent 2025/2026 financial reports show Stillfront moving toward a "one-segment" reporting structure, focusing heavily on their seven key franchises.

• The Pressure to Perform: With Stillfront selling off non-core assets (like their narrative games portfolio), there is immense pressure for the "Empire" IP to carry the Group’s growth.
• The Speculation: This often leads to "Safe Design." Investors prefer a guaranteed $200m revenue "clone" over a revolutionary "risk." This suggests the new project might lean closer to the Whiteout Survival or Rise of Kingdoms math models because those are "proven assets" in Stillfront’s eyes.

7. The Cross-Platform "Uncanny Valley"

The job listing mentions "cross-platform" and "world-class clarity." In 2026, this is a massive technical hurdle.

• The PC Dilemma: Most mobile-to-PC ports feel like "stretched" phone apps. If Goodgame wants to capture the Civilization or Manor Lords audience on PC, a simple HUD resize won't work.
• The Speculation: They are likely building a Unified UI System that adapts based on input (touch vs. mouse). If they pull this off, they could solve the "clutter" problem that currently plagues Empire: Four Kingdoms, making the game feel premium rather than "cheap mobile."

8. The "Empire Classic" Paradox: Why Breor is Right (and Why GGS is Scared)

The community call for "Empire Classic" is essentially a request for a Skill-Based Reset. * The Core Issue: Modern 4X games are "infinite treadmills." "Classic" implies an ending or a balanced ceiling.

• The Speculation: There is a slim chance GGS might include a "Classic League" or "Seasonal Reset" servers within the new game to appease the old guard. However, corporate reality usually dictates that "Classic" doesn't monetize as well as "Power Creep." The most likely scenario is a "Legacy Event" skin or a "Classic Mode" that is actually just the new engine with restricted units.

9. The "RoK UI" Benchmark: Seamless vs. Static

When the job listing mentions Rise of Kingdoms as a benchmark, it isn't just talking about gameplay—it's talking about the Seamless Zoom and Non-Modal UI.

• The Speculation: In the old Empire games, you switch between "Castle View" and "World Map" via a loading screen or a hard transition. A "RoK-style" unified UI would mean a single, fluid world where you pinch-to-zoom from a single soldier all the way out to the entire Kingdom.
• The "Safety" of the Bet: This is a "safe" move for Goodgame because it’s what modern players expect. However, for the Empire brand, it changes the fundamental "soul" of the game from a city-builder to a map-painter.

10. The Risk of "Mobile-First" on PC

The biggest danger of a unified UI—one that we see in many cross-platform titles in 2026—is the "Chunky Button" Syndrome.

• The Conflict: To make a game playable on a phone, buttons need to be large enough for a thumb (the "Fat Finger" rule). When that same UI is "unified" onto a PC client, it often feels empty and oversized, wasting the precision of a mouse and the space of a 4K monitor.
• The Speculation: If Goodgame truly aims for "world-class clarity," they won't just stretch the mobile UI. They are likely developing Adaptive HUDs that detect the platform and increase information density for PC players (more shortcut keys, hover-over tooltips, and smaller, sleeker menus) while keeping the core "logic" identical.

The "Wildcard" Theories: What else could it be?

• The "AI Commander" Hook: By 2026, the big trend is AI-driven NPCs. Imagine an Empire game where your Castellan actually "learns" your defence style or where diplomacy with NPCs isn't just a menu, but a chat.
• The "Extraction" Pivot: Some 4X games are experimenting with "Extraction" mechanics (losing everything if you fail a raid). It would be a bold, risky move for a franchise built on permanent castle building.

My outlook: Hopeful Skepticism

It’s a fascinating time to be watching the franchise. On one hand, you have the "Empire Family"—a decade-long legacy of 200 million players—and on the other, a job listing that essentially admits they are looking at the competition (Rise of Kingdoms) for the blueprint.

I’m genuinely hopeful to see how this plays out. If they can capture the social grit and tactical depth of the original Goodgame Empire and translate it into a modern, 2026-standard engine that doesn't feel like a predatory cash-grab, it could be the "Renaissance" the fans have been waiting for. Whether they listen to the "Empire Classic" crowd or lean into the "RoK-clone" future remains the billion-euro question.

One thing is certain: with a "FTUE-Strike Team" already in place, we likely won't have to wait much longer for the first Alpha/Beta leaks.

Final Verdict: Good vs. Bad Outcomes:

The "Good" Outcome (Success)

They leverage the "Empire" IP to create a Cross-Platform bridge. If a player can manage their massive 4X kingdom on a PC with the depth of Civilization but the social speed of RoK on their phone, they could carve out a "Grand Strategy Lite" niche that RoK currently ignores.

The "Bad" Outcome (Failure)

They release a "Me-Too" game that is technically functional but emotionally hollow.

• The "Dated" Factor: If the UI feels like a 2016 mobile game, it will be dead on arrival.
• The Stillfront Shadow: If the parent company pushes for immediate ROI to cover revenue declines, the monetization will be too "loud," killing the "First Time User Experience" (FTUE) mentioned in the job ad.

The Speculation: They are likely building an "Empire: World War" style 4X that tries to capitalize on the "Successful Strategy IP" claim. If they don't innovate on the combat loop, they aren't launching a game—they're launching a museum of 2023 mobile trends in 2026.