Meet the Gameloft Saigon Team behind Carmen Sandiego

We’re thrilled to introduce Carmen Sandiego, our latest game developed in collaboration between Gameloft Brisbane and Gameloft Saigon!

The iconic franchise, known for its thrilling heists, globe-trotting adventures, and detective work, has captivated generations of players. Now, Carmen Sandiego is expanding to even more platforms, including Netflix Games, PC, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4 & 5!

As the game is now available for PC and Console players from March 04, 2025, we sat down with Nguyen Ngoc Anh Tuan, our Game Producer for Carmen Sandiego, along with key people involved in the project. In this exclusive interview, they share insights into the studio’s contributions, the challenges they’ve tackled, and what’s next for the game.

Let’s dive in!

1. Can you share Gameloft Saigon’s role in Carmen Sandiego so far?

[Anh Tuan] Carmen Sandiego was created by our colleagues at Gameloft Brisbane. At Gameloft Saigon, our team has been responsible for bringing the game to PC and consoles, ensuring a smooth and successful launch on these platforms in sync.

It’s a challenging yet exciting opportunity that allows us to play a key role in enhancing the experience for Carmen Sandiego players worldwide.

2. Can you briefly describe the game and where players can play it?

[Anh Tuan] The new Carmen Sandiego game takes players on a thrilling adventure across different countries, where they must gather clues, solve puzzles, and prevent high-profile heists. Players can use a range of high-tech gadgets, like gliders and grappling hooks, to navigate obstacles and outsmart adversaries.

The game's visuals and storyline are inspired by the Carmen Sandiego animated series that aired on Netflix from 2019 to 2021. Additionally, the game features The ACME Files, a "Classic Mode" that pays homage to the original Carmen Sandiego games from the 1980s.

Players can experience the game on Netflix Games, PC, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4 & 5!

3. What challenges did the Gameloft Saigon team face, and what key achievements are you most proud of?

[Anh Tuan] Working on Carmen Sandiego has been an exciting milestone in our journey of PC and console game development. This project has further strengthened our expertise in Unreal Engine (UE), reinforcing our commitment to industry-standard technology and innovation.

While every engine presents its own unique challenges, Unreal Engine’s advanced capabilities, multi-platform support, and high-performance tools required us to refine our approach to optimization and resource management. Our team’s deep technical expertise, adaptability, and collaborative efforts allowed us to maximize the engine’s potential, ensuring a seamless experience for players. This project has not only expanded our skill set but also positioned us strongly for future developments.

Beyond the technical challenges, Carmen Sandiego also marks a milestone in collaboration. This is our first co-development project with Gameloft Brisbane, requiring seamless communication across studios. Agile development played a crucial role, and some team members even took the initiative to improve their language skills to enhance collaboration. Despite the challenges, this partnership has been a success—strengthening our cross-studio connections and streamlining workflows.

4. What has it been like working with Gameloft Brisbane on this title?

[Anh Tuan] The Gameloft Brisbane team is incredibly knowledgeable, dynamic, and highly creative. Working with them has been an inspiring and enriching experience.

Our team at Gameloft Saigon got the chance to visit Gameloft Brisbane and meet the team there. It was a great trip with lots of memorable moments, but the best part was getting a hand-painted picture from Bob Jones, Concept Artist at Gameloft Brisbane.

We also had the chance to meet with Chris Murphy (from Epic Team) and discuss the engine for our project, which was incredibly insightful. 

Visiting South Bank in real life—one of the locations from the game—was an incredible experience. Instead of taking a quick ferry ride, we chose to walk for over an hour, soaking in the atmosphere and making it a memorable way to wrap up our trip.

5. As Gameloft Saigon has been working with industry standard engines like Unreal and Unity to release games in PC and consoles besides mobile, how does this impact developers’ career growth?

[Nguyen Ngoc Anh Tuan] Working with industry-leading engines like Unreal and Unity is both a challenge and an opportunity. These technologies push developers to continuously expand their skill sets, master new tools, and stay competitive in the fast-evolving gaming industry. At Gameloft Saigon, we embrace this environment, knowing that it strengthens our expertise and opens up vast career growth opportunities.

[Van Hen - Programmer Lead] One of the biggest advantages of using standard engines is the access to a global developer community and official support channels. This allows our team to learn from industry best practices, exchange knowledge with peers, and refine their craft. It also broadens career paths beyond a single studio, as these skills are in demand worldwide. However, working with such powerful tools requires adaptability and a commitment to continuous learning.

[Nguyen Anh Tuan - Programmer Division Lead] Beyond technical benefits, collaborating with major industry players is an exciting part of the journey. At Gameloft, our developers have the opportunity to connect with experts from Unreal Engine, Unity, and Google, gaining first hand insights that drive innovation. These interactions not only enhance our projects but also inspire us to push the boundaries of what’s possible in game development.

By embracing cutting-edge technology and global collaboration, Gameloft Saigon continues to grow as a key player in PC and console game development.

6. What updates or new features can players look forward to?

[Anh Tuan] In addition to continuing the thrilling detective journey, players can look forward to new capers and locations to explore. We’re also enhancing the console experience with features like haptic feedback and considering social features such as Twitch Drops to increase player engagement and make the game even more immersive.

8. Do you have any words for the Gamelofters who contributed to this project?

[Anh Tuan] It’s been an absolute honor to work with such a talented and dedicated team. Your hard work, passion, and commitment have made this project possible.

Every challenge we’ve faced has brought us closer, and it’s inspiring to see how each of you contributes to our growth. More challenges lie ahead, but I’m confident that together, we’ll continue to create something truly outstanding. Let’s keep pushing forward!

A big thank you to Gameloft Brisbane for creating the game and to Gameloft Saigon for bringing it to PlayStation, Xbox, and PC! Huge shoutout to Nguyen Ngoc Anh Tuan and the key people who joined us for this great interview.

Thanks to the amazing teamwork, the game launched smoothly on all platforms at the same time. On behalf of the game teams, we hope you have an awesome time playing and diving into the world of Carmen Sandiego!