TL;DR
- Counter-Strike creator Minh Le and Astralis owner Nikolaj Nyholm registered Scattershot Ltd. in September
- Le later clarified he won’t continue with the project due to Pearl Abyss commitments
- The company structure suggests future expansion into competitive FPS game development
- Both founders bring complementary expertise from gaming and esports industries
- This venture represents potential new competition in the tactical shooter market
Update 10/10/20: Minh Le provided official clarification regarding his involvement with SCATTERSHOT Ltd. through WIN.gg.
“I initially explored the possibility of serving as technical advisor for an upcoming competitive first-person shooter with Nikolaj Nyholm. However, I misunderstood my ability to balance this role with my ongoing responsibilities at Pearl Abyss. The definitive outcome is that I remain employed by Pearl Abyss and intend to continue my work there going forward… I have decided against further collaboration with Nikolaj Nyholm on this initiative,” Le stated.
Investigative reporting by WIN.gg uncovered that Minh “Gooseman” Le, the original developer behind Counter-Strike, and Nikolaj Nyholm, principal owner of Astralis, established Scattershot Limited during September. This corporate entity potentially signals collaborative efforts toward creating a new gaming studio venture.
WIN.gg obtained official documentation confirming that Nyholm and Le formally incorporated a business named Scattershot Ltd. on September 25. The registration documentation indicates the company falls under UK business classification 62011, a category encompassing diverse entertainment activities with specific inclusion of video game design operations.
Corporate records demonstrate equal 50% ownership distribution between both principals, with initial capitalization recorded at merely 100 GBP. This modest funding level strongly suggests the partners plan substantial future development for Scattershot, using the September registration primarily to secure the corporate identity for subsequent utilization.
Le receives recognition for developing the pioneering Counter-Strike modification for Half-Life. He maintained employment with Valve Corporation between 2000 and 2006 before departing the renowned developer to pursue other gaming projects, including contributions to Rust and Black Desert Online. He additionally directed production of Tactical Intervention, a project he previously characterized as Counter-Strike’s evolutionary successor. This title launched in 2013 before terminating its online services soon after release. Le’s most recent public reference to game development activities occurred in 2019 when he tweeted about Plan 8, an ongoing development project from Pearl Abyss, the creators behind Black Desert Online.
New game that I’m working on at Pearl Abyss.. Really excited to be on this project.
Plan 8 Trailer – Pearl Abbys
https://t.co/OrI4ythWBN
via
@YouTube— Minh Le (@GoosemanCS)
November 14, 2019
Nyholm achieved election as Astralis’ board chairman during January, succeeding previous MTG executive Jette Nygaard-Andersen, who occupied the position since Astralis Group’s initial formation. The Danish investment specialist developed his expertise within Scandinavia’s technology landscape before acquiring Astralis through RFRSH Entertainment. In April 2019, RFRSH underwent corporate separation into BLAST Entertainment and Astralis Group following public scrutiny regarding potential conflicts between Astralis and RFRSH’s tournament organization, Blast Pro.
Considering Le’s iconic reputation within Counter-Strike circles and Nyholm’s accomplishments with both RFRSH and Astralis, Scattershot might represent Astralis Group’s initial movement toward diversification into new sectors like competitive-ready video game production. Alternatively, Nyholm’s Scattershot investment could represent personal portfolio diversification separate from Astralis Group activities. Regardless, the company’s establishment reconnects Le directly with the legendary franchise he originally conceived. For players exploring modern tactical shooters, our Complete Guide offers comprehensive insights into current market offerings.
Scattershot’s official incorporation documentation and capital declaration are accessible through provided links.
Action Checklist
- Monitor Scattershot Ltd. corporate filings for activity updates
- Research UK business code 62011 implications for gaming ventures
- Track Astralis Group’s corporate announcements for expansion plans
- Analyze competitive FPS market for potential new entrants
No reproduction without permission：Games Guides Website » CS 1.6 creator Minh Le creates new company with Astralis owner Counter-Strike creator Minh Le and Astralis owner Nikolaj Nyholm form Scattershot Ltd. for potential esports game development