Karl and Jean-Denis: for the love of games at Montréal Cowork
Turn a corner at Montréal Cowork, and it is not unusual to find them sitting side by side at a table along a corridor. With their eyes glued to their screens, speaking a language only they understand, their work sparks enough curiosity that some people come over to see them.
“They look without looking,” Karl says with a laugh. “We make connections, and it’s beneficial: we invite them to test the game. We’ve even made adjustments because some mechanics weren’t clear, so we fix them.”
These exchanges are essential: they feed what Karl calls “microdecisions,” useful to the game’s development and balance.
When playing builds connections
“Games let you break down all sorts of barriers,” says Jean-Denis. We may not realize it, but games create social bonds. Playing is an experience: laughing, having fun, losing track of time.
“Whether it’s between strangers or enthusiasts getting together, it also creates genuine exchanges between generations,” he continues.
Originally from Rennes, Karl has lived in Quebec for 21 years and has worked in IT for many years. Jean-Denis, born in Avignon, began as a mobile app developer and then a game developer before settling in Montréal nearly five years ago.
Long before developing digital worlds, these outstanding technicians were board game players. That shared passion brought them together by chance at Le Valet d'Coeur, where Jean-Denis played every Thursday evening with a mutual friend. They quickly connected and became inseparable.
Both have shared the same desire since meeting. “We wanted to work together,” they confide.
Since September, the two friends have settled into Montréal Cowork. Before moving in, they had explored their options.
“There’s a friendly atmosphere: people stop, chat, and that feeds our creativity. It also exposes us, in a way, to part of our audience,” Jean-Denis observes. Here, interactions are spontaneous, and a genuine sense of community takes hold.
Both technical and creative, they move forward with a complementary approach. “We have a fairly similar level of commitment to the work,” Karl sums up.
The first thrills of playing
Even before video games, their passion was rooted in the simple pleasure of playing. A true Proustian madeleine.
Karl remembers: “I have incredible memories with my grandmother, in their camper or at their home, spending the afternoon, having a snack, then playing rummy. Then, when I discovered video games, I was immediately drawn to them.”
“It goes beyond video games—it’s games as a whole, regardless of the medium,” Jean-Denis adds.
Today, their motto is simple: “Moving forward through uncertainty,” says Karl.
This project is proving to be a wonderful adventure for the two friends, where the need to create comes before everything else, along with a desire to give meaning and express something that reflects who they are.
“We’ve packaged the game in a particular form: instead of cards, there are game cartridges. But the mechanics remain the same,” Karl explains.
It is an experience combining logic, emotion and sharing that they are seeking to convey through Burn Station, immersing players in a cyberpunk universe. Karl and Jean-Denis are its creators.
Burn Station is scheduled for release in July 2026. A demo is already available on Steam. The starting signal has been given.
Article credit: Hélène Lequitte