About the Role

Z House Studios is an independent game studio developing Ex World Online, an anime-inspired MMORPG built in Unreal Engine 5. We’re currently rebuilding our core development team as we push from Alpha to Beta by December and we’re looking for a Gameplay Programmer who can hit the ground running and help bring key MMORPG systems to life.

You’ll join a small, ambitious team where your code directly shapes the world thousands of players will explore. Every system you design and every optimization you ship will have visible impact in-game.

Who You Are

You’re the kind of developer who sees systems as living ecosystems — every mechanic, interaction, and animation loop contributing to a greater world. You thrive on challenge, think critically, and approach problem-solving with creativity and precision. You’re driven not just to write code, but to build worlds that feel alive. At Z House Studios, you’ll help shape the next generation of anime-inspired MMORPG gameplay systems from the ground up.

Your First 90 Days

Your first three months at Z House Studios will be fast-paced and hands-on. Ex World Online is pushing from Alpha to Beta by December, and we’re building essential MMORPG systems under tight deadlines. You’ll be joining a small, highly focused team where every line of code has visible impact — no filler work, just meaningful development.

By Day 30

Get fully onboarded into our custom Unreal Engine 5 architecture, Perforce setup, and development workflow.
Study the current Alpha build to understand gameplay systems, replication flow, and existing code patterns.
Begin contributing to mid-scale feature tasks (e.g., ability updates, hotbar integration, map data fixes).
Support performance profiling, bug triage, and optimization passes for Alpha One stability.

By Day 60

Take ownership of a core gameplay system — such as Guilds, Marriage, or Dungeon entry logic — and push it toward Beta-ready implementation.
Work closely with designers and player feedback to refine system behavior and UX flow.
Contribute to server-side logic and replication improvements for combat, movement, and UI sync.
Help with urgent gameplay debugging (lag, cooldown visuals, SE durations, etc.) identified through testing.

By Day 90

Deliver one or more fully functional, live-integrated systems ready for public Beta testing.
Demonstrate strong ownership and autonomy — capable of managing your own backlog and iteration cycles.
Collaborate with leads to prepare internal tools and gameplay hooks for the next major feature set.
Contribute to final Beta milestone preparations, ensuring key systems (Guilds, Socials, Marriage, Dungeon, Map/Hotbar polish) are stable and optimized.

Requirements

Strong C++ programming skills with a solid understanding of Unreal Engine 5 systems and architecture.
Excellent spoken and written English for clear, technical collaboration.
A deep appreciation for RPG and MMORPG design principles — progression, combat, exploration, and player-driven systems.
Curious, open-minded, and experimental — you’re not afraid to iterate, prototype, and challenge conventions.
A true team player who takes ownership of their work and drives features to completion.
Proactive communicator who engages with leads, designers, and artists to clarify requirements, provide feedback, and share ideas.
Self-organized with the ability to track tasks, document progress, and deliver under deadlines in a remote setting.
Passionate about online worlds — both developing and playing them.

Nice to Have

Previous professional game development experience (indie or studio).
Experience with multiplayer or MMO gameplay systems (replication, networking, optimization).
Familiarity with TDD (Test-Driven Development) or modular system design.
Understanding of ECS (Entity Component Systems) or scalable architecture approaches.
Experience designing, tuning, or balancing RPG gameplay features.
Shipped or contributed to a commercial or indie title (PC or console preferred).

UE5 Gameplay Programmer