The Polish game development studio Sundog has secured nearly 17 million złoty (approximately $3.9 million USD) in funding for its ambitious role-playing game, Ibru, inspired by the work of Nobel laureate Olga Tokarczuk. The funding, awarded by the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP), is intended to support the development of technology for creating psychologically coherent characters, according to reports from October 7, 2024.
Sundog Navigates Development and Public Communication Challenges
The game, Ibru, is based on Tokarczuk’s 2006 novel, “Anna In in the Tombs of the World,” and is set in a science-fantasy world blending ancient Sumerian mythology and cyberpunk elements, as detailed on Sundog Games’ website. Tokarczuk co-founded Sundog in 2022 and initially held a position on the company’s supervisory board, as well as investing her own capital in the project.
Recent reports indicate a degree of opacity surrounding the game’s development. Despite the significant funding and high-profile involvement of Tokarczuk, information regarding the project’s progress has been limited. The company has been largely unresponsive to inquiries from the press, prompting questions about its communication strategy. According to a report published on February 8, 2026, Tokarczuk has since stepped down from her role on the company’s supervisory board, though she remains a shareholder and continues to provide creative oversight.
The situation has attracted attention from Polish politicians, with some alleging undue influence in the reporting surrounding the project. These claims have been met with counter-arguments from other media outlets, leading to a public debate about the economic benefits of the video game industry and the role of public funding. The debate included references to successful Polish game developers CD Projekt RED, and Techland.
Sundog Initiates Communication Offensive
Following initial reporting, Sundog Games has begun to share more information about the project. In a recent LinkedIn post, the company announced that work on its “InteGra” system – a core component of Ibru focused on dynamic character development – is progressing well and has moved into full production. The company stated that 25 people are currently employed on the project.
Progress in work on our dynamic system of shaping the personality of the player character has allowed us to start full production of the first game using the InteGra system.
Ibru, a Sumerpunk RPG combining the mythology of ancient Sumer and a cyberpunk dystopia, will bypass the limitations of classic narrative forms, offering a game that changes and reacts in real time to player decisions
Sundog also reported that, as of early 2026, it had utilized approximately 16% of the funding received from PARP, suggesting a measured approach to resource allocation. The company has also launched a new press blog to provide updates on the game’s development.
2025 was an extremely intense period for Sundog Games, in which we focused on the implementation of the “InteGra” research and development project, which is the heart of “Ibru”. Thanks to the progress of work, we were able to start full production of our Sumerpunk RPG
According to the company, since the end of 2024, development has centered on the InteGra system, which leverages research in psychology to create more immersive and responsive gameplay.
Thanks to this, games using InteGra will not be based solely on a strictly defined scenario and plot paths, but will comprehensively react to player actions in real time.
Key milestones include the integration of the InteGra system, with the company stating that Ibru will be completed and released regardless of the success of this integration, though the level of immersion may be affected.
Key milestone will be the integration of the InteGra system after the completion of the first stage of research and development work. Regardless of the effects of integration, we plan to complete and release Ibru.
The company also disclosed financial details, stating that 16% of the PARP grant had been disbursed by early 2026, and that additional funding is being provided by external investors.
The total budget allocated by PARP is scheduled for completion in the spring of 2028, which is likely the earliest timeframe for the game’s release.
Sundog confirmed that, despite stepping down from the supervisory board, Olga Tokarczuk remains a shareholder and continues to provide creative oversight for the project.
In the coming weeks, we plan to share more details about the game being created and its unique world.
Communication Remains a Challenge
Despite this recent increase in communication, the company remains largely unresponsive to direct inquiries from the press. Attempts to contact Sundog representatives for further clarification have been unsuccessful. The company’s representatives did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
The company’s approach to communication suggests a focus on controlling the narrative, but may hinder its ability to build anticipation and engage with potential customers. The development of Ibru, and the level of public funding it has received, warrants greater transparency, according to industry observers.
The company’s stated goal is to revolutionize the RPG genre and promote Polish culture on a global scale. Whether Sundog can deliver on this ambition remains to be seen, but increased communication and transparency will be crucial to building trust and generating excitement for Ibru.
The future of Ibru remains uncertain, but the project continues to attract attention as a unique collaboration between a Nobel laureate and a burgeoning game development studio.
