Pierre-André Déry

Pierre-André Déry is a Quebec-based video game developer, creative director, and illustrator. He is co-founder of Gearbox Studio Quebec and Gearbox Studio Montreal (2021), two subsidiaries of Gearbox Software that he co-led until 2024, and co-founder of Studio Ricochet (2026), an independent game development studio. Prior to moving into studio leadership, he worked as a comic book illustrator for major American publishers and as an art director at several Quebec video game studios.

Career

Comics illustration (1990s–2005)

Before transitioning to the video game industry, Pierre-André Déry established himself as a comic book artist. He began by working as an inker and colorist for toy companies Hasbro and Mattel, as well as for publishers Marvel Comics and Image Comics.

In 2002, he co-founded the illustration studio Grafiksismik, based in Quebec City, specializing in comics artwork. He worked there until 2005, contributing to series published by the major American comics publishers: Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Devil's Due Publishing, Dreamwave, and CrossGen.

Art director at Sarbakan (2006–2007)

In 2006, Déry joined Sarbakan, a Quebec City video game development studio, as art director. He worked on projects for clients including Disney, RealNetworks, Warner Bros., Playfirst, National Geographic, MTV, and Nickelodeon.

Alongside his work at Volta, Déry is credited as associate producer on Saints Row: The Third (2011), developed by Volition and published by THQ.

Art director at Beenox / Activision (2011–2014)

Déry also served as art director at Beenox, a Quebec City studio and subsidiary of Activision. He contributed to the Skylanders franchise and to The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014).

Gearbox Software in Quebec

Gearbox Studio Quebec — Co-founder and co-studio head (2015–2024)

In 2015, Déry and Sébastien Caisse, who were both considering starting their own company, approached Gearbox Software, whose leadership was looking to expand beyond Texas. A meeting was arranged in Quebec City with support from Quebec International, allowing Gearbox executives to explore the city and its game development ecosystem.

Gearbox Studio Montreal — Co-founder and co-studio head (2021–2024)

On August 26, 2021, Gearbox Entertainment announced the creation of Gearbox Studio Montreal, a second Quebec studio representing a CAD $200 million investment, intended to add 250 jobs to Montreal's technology sector and bring Gearbox's total headcount to more than 850 people.

Caisse and Déry were again appointed to co-lead the new studio. Déry oversaw creative development and recruitment for Gearbox's Quebec operations. In the official announcement, he stated: "Building on Gearbox's long tradition of creative freedom, we are excited to bring together a new development team to work on the Borderlands franchise and create new IPs in Montreal."

Departure from Gearbox (2024)

In March 2024, Take-Two Interactive acquired Gearbox Entertainment from Embracer Group for approximately US$460 million, a transaction accompanied by waves of layoffs across the affected studios. Caisse and Déry both departed Gearbox that same year.

Studio Ricochet (2026–present)

On May 7, 2026, Pierre-André Déry announced the co-founding of Studio Ricochet, an independent game development studio based in Quebec. He is joined by Sébastien Caisse, Maxime Babin (former creative director of the Borderlands series), Yanick Piché (former director of creative development at Gearbox), and veteran developers from the Call of Duty and Assassin's Creed franchises.

In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Déry described the studio's founding philosophy and the deliberate choice to begin self-funded, without a publisher mandate or investor timeline: "After years of building within large organizations, we wanted to create a studio that moves faster, stays focused, and takes creative risks." He explained that self-funding was a deliberate way to preserve decision-making freedom during the foundational creative phase, while noting that the team is in "active conversations" regarding medium-term financing.

When asked about the struggles faced by other veteran-led AAA studios, Déry outlined Ricochet's approach: a small senior team, low overhead, clear creative ownership, no external mandates — an ethos he summarized as "prove the vision first, then grow around it."

Studio Ricochet is in development on an unannounced debut title: an original co-op action-adventure game for PC and consoles, positioned as a premium, buy-to-play experience without a live service or games-as-a-service (GaaS) model.

Selected video game credits

Title Year Role Studio / Employer Various titles (Far Cry, Deus Ex, World of Warcraft, etc.) 2008–2014 Executive producer (visual development) Volta Creations Saints Row: The Third 2011 Associate producer Volta Creations (contractor) Skylanders (series) 2011–2014 Art director Beenox / Activision The Amazing Spider-Man 2 2014 Art director Beenox / Activision Borderlands 3 2019 Co-studio head Gearbox Studio Quebec Tiny Tina's Wonderlands 2022 Co-studio head Gearbox Studio Quebec New Tales from the Borderlands 2022 Co-studio head Gearbox Studio Quebec Borderlands 4 2025 Co-studio head Gearbox Studio Quebec

Sources: Gearbox official press release (2015), Game Informer (2015), MobyGames.

Selected comics bibliography

Title Publisher Role Star Wars Dark Horse Comics Illustrator Batman, Gen 13, Thundercats DC Comics Illustrator G.I. Joe Devil's Due Publishing Illustrator Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Dreamwave Productions Illustrator Vampirella Harris Comics Illustrator Spider-Man, Captain America, Iron Man, New Mutants, X-Men Unlimited, Human Torch, Sleepwalker Marvel Comics Illustrator / inker / colorist

Sources: Bedetheque, Marvel.com.