How It All Began
Pathos Interactive was founded back in 2015 by three Swedish students: brothers Christoffer and Alexander Andersson, along with their childhood friend Accel Sjöström. Everything began (as usual?) in a basement – specifically, at the home of the Andersson brothers' parents.
Fuelled by a shared passion for gaming, we initially dabbled in creating small video games as a hobby. It didn’t take long for us to realize the potential for something greater. The hobby turned into a full-time business in 2016 during the development of Bannermen — a fast-paced, real-time strategy game set in a fantasy medieval world. Bannermen was released on PC via Steam in 2019. Soon thereafter, we began prototyping a new game with an expanded team. This prototype evolved into what is now Hotel Architect!
Photo - Pathos Interactive Founders (from left to right) Christoffer, Alexander & Accel in 2018 at Gamescom!
Why Hotel Architect?
For many years, we had discussed creating a management/simulation (tycoon) game, as everyone on the team is a fan of the genre. But the idea of a hotel theme actually sparked when Christoffer was away on holiday with his family. They stayed at a hotel where many strange things happened, to say the least... (the stories he told are wild!). This made us realize that so many things can go wrong in the hotel business! A lot of interesting gameplay mechanics and fun challenges immediately popped into our heads!
At the same time, a hotel environment is very relatable — everyone has their own experiences from hotels, whether from their own stays or from watching Fawlty Towers on the telly! This made us believe a hotel setting would engage people, perhaps inspiring some to build their dream hotel, while others might create the sleaziest inn imaginable. Essentially, the theme opened many doors for us in our creative process!
Our Ambition with the Game
Hotel Architect redefines the boundaries of simulation and tycoon games by blending multi-layered architectural design with amusing operational challenges. One of the game's standout features is the dynamic building system that allows real-time construction across multiple floors, adding more depth to the building phase compared to other games within the genre. Imagine a game where every brick laid or wall demolished has the potential to unleash a whirlwind of unexpected consequences — all carried out by a colourful cast of characters who bring the hotel to life.
This intertwines with another factor that sets our game apart: how it reacts to your playstyle. Each choice you make influences not just your hotel’s design and structure but may also trigger side effects and interactions among characters. Both guests and staff react to the changing environment and to each other, creating a cascade of events that can turn your well-oiled operation into a delightful circus of hotel mishaps.
Then there’s the economic aspect: In Hotel Architect, maintaining financial stability while satisfying guest demands requires careful strategy. Creating a five-star enterprise on a small budget demands flawless logistical chains, including managing supplies, maintaining your amenities, and hiring the right staff. And just when you think you've mastered the art of financial gymnastics, along comes Mrs. Doe, who insists her room is too close to the dance floor, and suddenly you’re offering big discounts to keep the peace — while watching your beautifully balanced books start to wobble.
With Hotel Architect, our ambition is to unleash the full spectrum of player creativity, offering structured scenarios with specific objectives, as well as a sandbox mode where every hotel can be a unique masterpiece. We've designed the game to serve as a canvas for players to experiment, innovate, and express their personal vision of the perfect hotel.
Our Perfect Match & Looking Forward
As Pathos is a small studio, we knew we would need a great partner to realize the full potential of Hotel Architect. In 2021, we presented our prototype to Wired Productions, and it was mutual love at first sight! Thanks to Wired, we have been able to expand the scope by adding more content and cool features! With Wired taking the lead in marketing, QA, and everything outside of actual development, we at Pathos have more time to focus on what we do best: creating games!
And now, a few years down the line, we’re excited to be approaching the beta stage of Hotel Architect! But there’s still a lot of work left to be done, so stay tuned for more updates including our regular blogs which are incoming shortly!
Thanks for joining us on the Hotel Architect journey, you can keep up with smaller updates on our socials: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Tiktok | Discord
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