Cole Wehrle and Kyle Ferrin are leaving Leder Games to form Buried Giant Studios. You can read Wehrle’s post on the matter by clicking here. To me, this is one of those announcements that lands with mixed feelings; mostly excitement for them, and a little unease about what it means for the place they’re leaving behind. I make no secret of the fact that I am a big fan of both Wehrle and Leder.
This is a big step for Cole and Kyle, and it’s hard not to feel genuinely happy for them. They’re stepping into a studio built around their own creative rhythm, with full ownership of Oath and Arcs, and the freedom to shape those worlds without compromise. For designers who’ve always worked like independent voices inside a larger company, this move makes sense. It’s a chance to grow on their own terms.
They’re not leaving under a cloud. They’re leaving to build something.
It feels like a moment of Uncertainty for Leder, though. Leder Games isn’t collapsing, but it is losing the two people most associated with its identity. Root stays, and Leder still has a strong team, but the shift is real. The studio will need to redefine itself – visually, mechanically, and culturally – without the duo who helped define its last decade. There’s no reason to assume disaster, but there’s also no pretending this is a small change.
So, where do things stand now?
- Buried Giant takes Oath and Arcs forward.
- Leder keeps Root and begins a new chapter with new voices.
- Fans get to watch two creative paths unfold instead of one.
It’s a good day for Cole and Kyle. It’s a hopeful but slightly anxious day for Leder. And it’s an interesting moment for anyone who cares about the future of weird, ambitious tabletop design.
No Rerolls 