In production · A feature documentary
The Rise of Multiplayer
It’s all the rage and nobody knows it.
Full trailer with sound. Nothing loads until you press play.
Synopsis
In a world that has grown increasingly cold, artificial and disconnected, video games are the technology that keeps us human. These virtual worlds have quietly become the invisible thread connecting billions of people across the globe.
The Rise of Multiplayer is a feature documentary with intimate access to the developers building the systems behind these worlds and the players who live inside them. As these spaces scale to millions, developers and players confront familiar human problems at an unfamiliar scale: trust, moderation, toxicity and care, around the clock. The film reveals the technical ingenuity and human stewardship required to keep connection alive when the room gets massive.
- Format
- Feature documentary
- Acquisition
- 4K · 24 fps
- Trailer
- 03:08
- Company
- The Rise of Multiplayer Movie LLC
- Status
- In production
Director’s statement
Multiplayer video games aren’t just entertainment anymore. They’re one of the biggest social inventions of our lifetime, and most of us barely notice how much they’re reshaping how people connect, compete and belong. Underneath the noise, people still want to play together. That’s a very human experience.
Production excerpts
Shot for the film
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01LAN party, Puyallup
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02UW Esports at their stations
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03GameWorks Seattle
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04Smash Bros. tournament, UW Esports
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05Before the match
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06Press start
The room
Industry access and the people on camera
The companies
- Studio access
Opened the Bellevue studio to the crew, put senior leadership on camera and granted Guild Wars 2 IP at no cost. Editorially independent; not a sponsor. - Production partner
South Korean producer of Unbowed, National Security and Black Money. Letter of intent signed; co-production for Korea-based shooting, outreach and interviews. - Joining the film
- Joining the film
- Joining the film
- Studio
Digital DNA GamesThe independent studio behind CastleMiner Z. Founder Thomas Stone is on camera. - Location partner
The arcade floor where the family and competitive sequences were shot. - Location partner
Opened the store and its collection for the retro sequences. - Collegiate program
Players and staff at their stations for the competitive pillar. - Press
First long-form coverage of the film.
The people
- JoiningPatrick WyattCo-founder, ArenaNet · former VP of R&D, BlizzardSigned on to appear. Blizzard’s second employee; built the studio that made Guild Wars.
- Colin JohansonStudio head, ArenaNetInstrumental in shaping the direction of popular MMORPGs.
- Bobby SteinNarrative director, ArenaNetStories that engage players worldwide; why narrative matters in multiplayer.
- Aaron CoberlyArt director, Guild Wars 2A painter who brings an expressive form of art to game worlds.
- Thomas StoneFounder, Digital DNA Games20+ games, 5M+ units sold, known for CastleMiner Z.
- Christian AllenGame designer · Red Storm, BungieThe challenges and triumphs of designing multiplayer features.
- Tony ChambersGame designer · formerly 343 IndustriesBridging technical systems with interactive storytelling.
- Nicole WashingtonProduct designer, XboxHuman-centered design for players.
- Andy MontgomerySenior technical manager, AzureThe back-end logistics that power online play.
- Sean BoyleEsports coach, OverwatchCoaching and strategy at the top of competitive play.
- Ahmad BennettLicensed marriage and family therapistSeven years in mental health; trauma-focused CBT.
- JoiningScott CrabtreeHappy Brain ScienceHas expressed interest in contributing the academic perspective.
Individual voices from Microsoft, Epic Games and 343 Industries appear as themselves. Their employers are not partners of the film.
The team
Made by two people who booked every room
- DirectorMichael HoansheltWashington filmmaker, camera operator and DP, with a growing focus on story-driven films about people and technology. Co-owner of The Rise of Multiplayer Movie LLC.
- Head producerGarrett WoodsGuides the project from planning through production: partnerships, interviews, budget and logistics.
Why now
People aren’t just playing. They’re watching the culture around it.
- 3.6BPeople play video games worldwide (Newzoo, 2025)
- $197BGlobal games market in 2025 (Newzoo)
- 113MAmericans play games with each other every week (ESA, 2025)
- 21MPlayers in a single world: ArenaNet’s Guild Wars 2
Film and TV about gaming culture is landing with mainstream audiences.
Partnerships, press and distribution cinemawithgarrett@gmail.com