Discover the Vision and Core Mission of NxtDev Studios
Explore an in-depth overview of NxtDev Studios’ mission, core values, and evolution. This insight highlights the essential beliefs and principles driving our dedication to groundbreaking game development and creating a lasting influence in the industry.
Introducing Our Expert Team
Discover the skilled professionals driving innovation at NxtDev Studios.
Jesse Mercer
Lead Gameplay Programmer
Jesse is the founder and lead gameplay programmer, with a focus on building tight, responsive gameplay systems and polished vertical slices that prioritize feel, clarity, and player experience. He is deeply involved in shaping gameplay from concept to implementation, ensuring ideas translate into something fun and playable.
He specializes in turning ideas into engaging mechanics through clear design, iteration, and thoughtful problem-solving, with a strong understanding of what makes games satisfying to play and enjoyable to build as a team.
Cody Jandes
Project Manager
Cody blends strategic leadership with a coder’s mindset, using logic, curiosity, and clear communication to help teams turn vision into momentum. He values collaboration and clarity, keeping teams aligned and focused as projects move forward.
With a passion for understanding how systems work — and how to make them better — Cody strives to know something about everything and everything about something, bringing thoughtful problem-solving to every project.
Aaron Goodwin
Lead Systems Engineer
Aaron is the lead systems engineer, bringing a diverse background and a people-first perspective to technical problem-solving. He approaches systems design with adaptability, empathy, and a strong sense of collaboration.
Passionate about storytelling and solving complex problems, Aaron enjoys building reliable, well-structured systems — and brings plenty of energy and enthusiasm to the team along the way.
Carter Hardrick
Gameplay Programmer
Carter is a gameplay-focused game developer who enjoys building clean, flexible systems and designing intuitive player experiences. He’s drawn to modular, data-driven approaches that make games easier to expand, iterate on, and maintain as they grow.
He brings a thoughtful, problem-solving mindset to his work, focusing on clarity, structure, and making sure gameplay ideas translate into something that feels good to play. Carter is currently completing his Bachelor of Science in Game Development at Full Sail University, with a planned graduation in March 2026.
Why NxtDev Studios Stands Apart
We prioritize core loops, engaging systems, and immersive feel that keep players returning—creating lightweight, stylized games grounded in precise controls and robust engineering, not merely attractive visuals.
Design Focused on Gameplay
We begin by refining movement, combat, and core gameplay loops, iterating until they feel just right—graphics and polish come only after the game is genuinely fun to play.
Compact Team, Powerful Collaboration
Developers who have delivered numerous projects together since our first C++ class. We uphold high standards, communicate swiftly, and set egos aside to ensure games are successfully completed.
Applied Contemporary Technology
We choose the tools that best suit each project—whether C++, C#, Unity, Unreal, or custom systems—to deliver robust performance and dependable builds, focusing on substance over flashy “cutting-edge” trends.
Now in Development
Our Methodology
Discover how we transform a rough concept into a fully playable experience.
Step One: Discover the “FUN”
We begin with the essentials: the core concept, the target platform, and the central gameplay loop designed to captivate players. No lore overloads or exhaustive feature lists—just the fundamental mechanic and the boundaries we’re crafting within.
Step Two: Develop Prototypes and Refine Through Iteration
Our team quickly develops focused vertical slices, playtests them thoroughly, and fine-tunes movement, timing, and overall feel until the experience is genuinely enjoyable. Systems are refactored as needed, never treated as untouchable, and anything that doesn’t contribute meaningfully is removed.
Step Three: Refine and Package
Once the slice feels polished, we finalize the visuals, UI, and polish, then stabilize the build. From there, we can continue expanding the game or deliver a clean, well-documented prototype ready for the next phase.
Collaborate with NxtDev Studios
Looking for a prototype, vertical slice, or additional gameplay support? We collaborate with small teams and indie projects to develop and refine core systems, enhance the gameplay experience, and bring your ideas to life efficiently.