Technology studio Hidden Door has opened its bookish roleplaying platform of the same name to early access, according to an announcement.
Hidden Door promises fans of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz, James O’Barr’s comic book series The Crow, and other titles an “immersive entertainment” experience through choose-your-own-adventure-style storytelling within the worlds of their favorite books, per the announcement. Inspired by tabletop roleplaying games, the studio said it uses a mix of machine-learning technology and collaboration with publishers to give fans the power to “explore, expand, and remix” fictional canons.
Hidden Door plans to add more public domain titles by popular demand, a spokesperson said in a statement to PW, as well as the worlds of such living creators as sci-fi novelist Alan Dean Foster and romance author Alexandra Romanoff. In the announcement, Hidden Door emphasized its commitment to working closely with authors and publishers.
“Just as fans bond over new book releases and gather together for movie opening weekend and TV season premieres, we are building a home for fans of books, films and shows to socialize, obsess over and remix their favorite storylines,” said Hilary Mason, CEO and cofounder of Hidden Door.
For works outside of the public domain, Hidden Door’s licensing agreements—which are “as narrow as possible,” according to a spokesperson— will involve a revenue-sharing component. The platform plans to “eventually charge people money to access individual worlds,” the spokesperson said, though they added that certain worlds will always be free to play.