Screen Burn (company)

Last updated
Screen Burn Interactive Limited
FormerlyNo Code Limited (2015–2025)
Industry Video games
Founded2015
FounderJon McKellan
Headquarters,
Website http://www.screenburn.com/

Screen Burn Interactive Limited (formerly No Code Limited) is a British video game developer based in Glasgow, Scotland. The company was founded in August 2015 by Jon McKellan and Omar Khan. They are best known for creating Stories Untold (2017) and Observation (2019). [1]

Contents

History

No Code was founded in 2015 by Jon McKellan and Omar Khan. McKellan previously worked on titles such as Alien: Isolation and Red Dead Redemption 2. After spending time directing the Alien: Isolation DLC packs and getting a taste for working with smaller teams, Jon looked to form No Code and brought in long time friend Omar as a collaborator.

No Code's first order of business was porting the iOS game, Lub vs Dub, to Android platforms. The game was originally released under the name "Futuro", also the name of the band that Jon, Omar and designer (and Jon's brother) Graeme were in together. One year later, they created Super Arc Light for Android and iOS with publisher All 4 Games, a branch of UK TV Channel 4. Super Arc Light was nominated for two TIGA awards. [2] [3]

Later that year, No Code released a short game jam title called The House Abandon on itch.io, build originally for Ludum Dare 36 in a weekend, where it received positive reviews and became viral. According to McKellan, "Fast forward another 64 hours (after development started) and we submitted the final game with 15 seconds to spare before the cut off deadline." [4] The same year, No Code received a deal with Devolver Digital, who then published Stories Untold - of which The House Abandon is the first chapter - which received very positive reviews.

That year, work began on a sci-fi thriller title called Observation, again with Devolver Digital and partnered with Playstation. In 2019, Observation was released to critical acclaim, and winning both the Best Game BAFTA in Scotland, as well as the Best British Game at the 2020 BAFTA Game Awards.

In 2020, No Code released the 'Console Edition' of Stories Untold for Xbox, PS4, and Switch - the first version of the game to be playable in multiple languages due to the keyboard-less text entry system.

After a few years of radio silence during the Covid-19 pandemic, in October 2022 it was announced that No Code were developing a Silent Hill game called Silent Hill: Townfall, with the help of Annapurna Interactive. [5] [6]

In July 2025, No Code rebranded to Screen Burn Interactive, and confirmed the continuation of Silent Hill: Townfall's development with Annapurna Interactive and Konami. [7]

Games

YearTitlePlatform(s)PublisherRef.
2015Lub vs Dub Android Self-published [8]
2016Super Arc LightAndroidIndie Champions / All 4 Games [9]
2016House Abandon macOS, Windows Self-published [4]
2017 Stories Untold macOS, Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One Devolver Digital [10]
2019 Observation Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox OneDevolver Digital [11]
TBA Silent Hill: Townfall TBA Annapurna Interactive
Konami Digital Entertainment
[12] [13]

References

  1. Richter, Jon (18 December 2021). "Observation and Stories Untold Developer's Mysterious New Game Has Plenty of Potential". GameRant . Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  2. "No Code nominated for 2 (Two!) TIGA Awards". Screen Burn Interactive. 23 September 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  3. "2016 winners - TIGA". TIGA. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  4. 1 2 "The House Abandon". Screen Burn Interactive. 5 September 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  5. McWhertor, Michael (19 October 2022). "Silent Hill: Townfall is a mysterious new game from acclaimed developer No Code". Polygon . Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  6. Stewart, Jared (23 December 2024). "Silent Hill f and Townfall Should Be the Ying to Each Other's Yang". Screen Rant . Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  7. Romano, Sal (23 July 2025). "Silent Hill: Townfall developer No Code rebrands to Screen Burn Interactive". Gematsu. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  8. "...and so it begins". Screen Burn Interactive. 19 August 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  9. "Super Arc Light - out now!". Screen Burn Interactive. 24 March 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  10. "Observation Launch". Screen Burn Interactive. 23 September 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  11. Carpenter, Nicole (21 May 2019). "Review: 'Observation' Is a Space Station Thriller With One Clever Twist". Time . Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  12. "Announcing SILENT HILL: TOWNFALL". Screen Burn Interactive. 20 October 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
  13. Moore, Logan (1 October 2024). "Silent Hill: Townfall Gets First New Update in Nearly 2 Years". ComicBook.com . Retrieved 16 April 2025.