Recently mentioned alongside rumors of Crackdown 2, Ruffian Games has officially been formed. Develop reports that several former developers on projects such as Fable II, Grand Theft Auto, Crackdown and MotoGP have gathered to form the studio, which is based in Dundee, Scotland. Heading the studio is Gaz Liddon, who most recently worked on titles including Fable II, Crackdown, Project Gotham Racing and Too Human. The studio aims to create "the best in action gaming" on the current crop on consoles. Creative director Billy Thompson -- formerly the lead designer of Crackdown -- stated that Ruffian's "highest priority is gameplay" and that the company aims for "tight intuitive controls, well-balanced goals, game changing rewards, and player progression that will make you feel like a god!" Sounds like a good set of priorities to us.

Thompson also stressed Ruffians committment to online "co-operative and competitive multiplayer gaming," and said that it is "the future of gaming." According to the company's website, the team is already signed with "one of the world's biggest and most successful publishers" for its first game. Is Ruffian working on Crackdown 2 after all? You'll know when we do.

Source - Develop: Ruffian officially opens its doors
Source - Ruffian Games Website