Filmmaker Sebastian Sommer Shifts to Video Games
Filmmaker Sebastian Sommer Shifts to Video Games
Sebastian Sommer, best known for the AI-driven feature film Dragon, is retiring from the movie industry and shifting his focus to video games. The announcement marks a significant moment in his career, as he leaves behind filmmaking to fully pursue work in a medium that has been steadily expanding in cultural influence and creative scope.
Sommer’s move into interactive media represents a continuation of themes that have long defined his work. Throughout his time in film, he consistently engaged with questions about technology, perception, and the boundaries of traditional storytelling. Video games, as a medium built on interactivity, provide a new framework for extending those explorations. Rather than presenting a fixed, linear narrative as in film, games operate on systems that allow players to directly shape their experiences. This structural difference opens possibilities for immersion and experimentation that are distinct from cinema.
The first project to emerge from this new direction is Eclipse Town. The title is currently in early development under Sommer’s production company, Infinity Lens. While specifics remain limited, the project has been positioned as an exploration of broad themes such as consciousness, perception, and the afterlife. By working within an interactive format, Sommer is able to engage with these ideas in a different way than film allowed. The concept reflects an interest in using games not just as entertainment, but as environments for abstract and layered storytelling.
No release window has been announced, and concrete details about gameplay, platforms, or distribution have not been disclosed. What is clear is that Sommer intends Eclipse Town to serve as the foundation of his work in the medium, establishing a new phase of his career under Infinity Lens. The studio’s focus has shifted away from film production entirely and toward the possibilities of interactive projects, with Eclipse Town as the central initiative.
Sommer’s pivot underscores a broader trend of creators from various artistic backgrounds moving into video games. The medium has become an increasingly common destination for artists interested in combining narrative, technology, and immersion. Video games offer a malleable structure in which concepts can be tested, iterated, and presented to audiences in ways that differ from the fixed form of film. For creators working with abstract themes or experimental approaches, this flexibility can be especially appealing.
The transition also highlights how gaming has evolved from a niche hobby into a dominant cultural force. The global games industry now rivals or surpasses film in both scale and influence, and its reach continues to expand. In this context, Sommer’s decision to retire from film and focus on interactive work reflects the growing recognition of games as a primary arena for contemporary storytelling.
While details about Eclipse Town remain sparse, the announcement itself signals the beginning of a new creative trajectory. Sommer has moved away from film production and reoriented his company toward video game development. With Eclipse Town in progress, his career is now firmly set within the interactive medium, marking a clear departure from his previous work in cinema.
