Company type | Public |
---|---|
LSE: TBLD | |
ISIN | USU8884H1033 |
Industry | Video games |
Founded | 2011 | in the Netherlands
Founders |
|
Headquarters | , US |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Alex Nichiporchik (CEO) |
Owner | Alex Nichiporchik (57.9%) [1] Atari SA (7.9%) NetEase (3.2%) |
Number of employees | 150 (2020) |
Website | tinybuild.com |
tinyBuild Inc. is an American publisher of indie games based in Bellevue, Washington. [2] The company was established by Alex Nichiporchik and Tom Brien in 2011 to expand Brien's game No Time to Explain into a commercial release. Building from the success of the game's Steam release in 2013, tinyBuild partnered with DoubleDutch Games for the development and release of SpeedRunners , which landed tinyBuild further publishing deals. Since March 2020, the company has been founding or acquiring new studios to expand. It became a public company on the Alternative Investment Market in March 2021.
tinyBuild was founded in 2011 by Alex Nichiporchik (Latvian : Aleksandrs Ņičiporčiks) and Tom Brien. [3] [4] Nichiporchik came from Latvia and had been a professional Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos player in the early 2000s, which made him enough money to drop out of high school and pursue a career in video game journalism. [5] While an employee of Spil Games in the Netherlands in 2010, he became interested in Flash games. He came across Super Meat Boy , which led to him to want to get into the business. Nichiporchik discovered No Time to Explain , a Flash game by Tom Brien, which he thought could be as successful as Super Meat Boy. Nichiporchik and Brien established tinyBuild in 2011 as a developer to expand No Time to Explain into a commercial release. The company headquarters were based in the Netherlands with Nichiporchik until both relocated to Seattle later on. [3]
tinyBuild launched a crowdfunding campaign for the game via Kickstarter and raised US$26,000 from a $7,000 target. [3] tinyBuild had agreed with the Russian publisher Buka Entertainment that the latter would publish retail versions of No Time to Explain in Russia, get the game released on Steam, and grant tinyBuild $24,500 in royalties in advance. However, Buka Entertainment failed to communicate with tinyBuild until stating that it was forced to cancel the project, withholding the royalties. [6] [7] As No Time to Explain could not be launched via Steam, tinyBuild released it independently. The game recouped its development cost but did not turn a significant profit. tinyBuild went into hiatus for nearly a year thereafter until Steam introduced the Greenlight process for game approval. No Time to Explain became one of the first games to be greenlit for Steam in 2013 and had a successful release on the platform. Nichiporchik stated this experience burnt out tinyBuild, which was no longer interested in pursuing development but did not want to waste the newfound success. The company invested in, co-developed, and published the game SpeedRunners , which led to more developers pitching their games to tinyBuild, incrementally turning the company into a publisher. [3] To expand its publishing operations, it hired the video game journalist Mike Rose in December 2014. [8]
tinyBuild obtained $3.75 million in seed funding from Makers Fund in April 2018, followed by $15 million in series A funding from an undisclosed investor in February 2019. [9] The company established its first internal studio, HakJak Studios, with Guts and Glory developer Jed "HakJak" Steen in Boise, Idaho, in March 2020. [10] Nichiporchik believed that indie game publishers like tinyBuild would have to move away from "transactional relationships"—wherein the developer and publisher would work on one game and then move on—and instead build long-term relationships with the developers. [11] At this time, tinyBuild had 150 employees. [12] tinyBuild acquired the development team behind Hello Neighbor from Dynamic Pixels in July 2020 for an undisclosed sum to establish the studio Eerie Guest Studios in Hilversum. The company invested more than US$15 million into the Hello Neighbor franchise. [13] tinyBuild invested US$3 million into Hologryph, the team behind the Hello Neighbor multi-player spin-off, Secret Neighbor in November 2020. [14] In February 2021, tinyBuild acquired three studios it had previously worked with: We're Five Games, Hungry Couch, and Moon Moose. [15]
tinyBuild announced in February 2021 that it was to pursue an initial public offering on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange with the ticker symbol "TBLD". At the time, Nichiporchik owned 61.1% of the company, while the Chinese company NetEase owned 14.3%. [4] The company's shares began trading on March 9, 2021, with an initial market capitalization of £340 million. [16]
tinyBuild acquired the studio Animal in August 2021 for $10.2 million; Animal had been working on publishing their upcoming game Rawmen through tinyBuild. [17]
tinyBuild acquired Versus Evil and Red Cerberus in November 2021. [18]
The company acquired the intellectual property rights to the bulk of Bossa Studios' games including Surgeon Simulator and I Am Bread , for US$3 million in August 2022. [19]
Name | Location | Founded | Acquired |
---|---|---|---|
Animal | Pasadena, California, United States | 2015 | August 2021 |
Eerie Guest Studios | Hilversum, Netherlands | July 2020 | — |
Hologryph | Lviv, Ukraine | 2016 | November 2020 |
Hungry Couch Games | Moscow, Russia | 2019 | February 2021 |
DogHelm | Los Angeles, California, United States | 2015 | June 2021 |
Bad Pixel | Voronezh, Russia | 2008 | September 2021 |
Konfa Games | St. Petersburg, Russia | 2017 | August 2022 |
Red Cerberus | São Paulo, Brazil | July 2017 | November 2021 |
Name | Location | Founded | Acquired | Closed |
---|---|---|---|---|
HakJak Studios | Boise, Idaho, United States | March 2020 | — | December 2023 [20] |
Versus Evil | Baltimore, Maryland, United States | 2013 | November 2021 | December 2023 [21] |
We're Five Games | Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States | April 2012 | February 2021 | - 2023 [ citation needed ] |
Moon Moose | St. Petersburg, Russia | 2019 | February 2021 | February 2024 [22] |
DeMagic Games | Ukraine, Europe | 2019 | April 2022 | March 2024 [23] |
Year | Title | Platform(s) |
---|---|---|
2011 | No Time to Explain | Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows |
2015 | No Time to Explain Remastered | Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
2023 | Hello Engineer | Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch |
Year | Title | Developer(s) | Platform(s) |
---|---|---|---|
2013 | Not the Robots | 2DArray | Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows |
2014 | Fearless Fantasy | Enter Skies Entertainment | Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows |
Spoiler Alert | Megafuzz | Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows | |
Lovely Planet | Quicktequila | Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Wii U | |
2015 | Divide by Sheep | Bread Team | Android, iOS, macOS, Microsoft Windows |
Party Hard | Pinokl Games | Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | |
Snail Bob 2 | Hunter Hamster | Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows | |
2016 | Punch Club | Lazy Bear Games | Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
Dungelot: Shattered Lands | Red Winter | Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows | |
SpeedRunners | DoubleDutch Games | iOS, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | |
One Troll Army | FlyAnvil | macOS, Microsoft Windows | |
Boid | Mokus Games | Microsoft Windows | |
Lovely Planet Arcade | Quicktequila | Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows | |
Road to Ballhalla | Torched Hill | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | |
The Final Station | Do My Best Games | Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | |
Diaries of a Spaceport Janitor | Sundae Month | macOS, Microsoft Windows | |
Clustertruck | Landfall Games | Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | |
Party Hard Go | Pinokl Games | Android, iOS, Fire OS | |
2017 | Stage Presence | Sea Green Games | Microsoft Windows |
Mr. Shifty | Team Shifty | Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | |
Community Inc | T4 Interactive | macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch | |
Phantom Trigger | Bread Team | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | |
Party Hard Tycoon (early access) |
| Microsoft Windows | |
Hello Neighbor | Dynamic Pixels | Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Stadia, Xbox One | |
2018 | Garage: Bad Trip | Zombie Dynamics | macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch |
Outpost Zero (early access) | Symmetric Games | Microsoft Windows | |
Guts and Glory | HakJak Studios | Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | |
Graveyard Keeper | Lazy Bear Games | Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | |
Party Hard 2 |
| Microsoft Windows | |
Rapture Rejects (early access) |
| Microsoft Windows | |
Hello Neighbor: Hide and Seek | Dynamic Pixels | iOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Stadia, Xbox One | |
2019 | Pandemic Express | Tall Boys Team | Microsoft Windows |
Swag and Sorcery |
| iOS, Microsoft Windows | |
Pathologic 2 | Ice-Pick Lodge | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | |
Lovely Planet 2: April Skies | Quicktequila | Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows | |
Streets of Rogue | Matt Dabrowski | Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | |
Totally Reliable Delivery Service | We're Five Games | Android, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | |
Waking | Jason Oda | Microsoft Windows | |
Secret Neighbor |
| Microsoft Windows, Stadia, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch | |
2020 | Not For Broadcast | NotGames | Microsoft Windows |
Hello Puppets! | Otherworld Interactive | Microsoft Windows (VR Exclusive) | |
Hellpoint | Cradle Games | Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S | |
Kill It with Fire | Casey Donnellan Games LLC | Microsoft Windows | |
Punch Club 2: Fast Forward | Lazy Bear Games | Microsoft Windows | |
Startup Panic | Algorocks | Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows | |
Waking | Jason Oda | Microsoft Windows, Xbox One | |
2021 | Black Skylands (early access) | Hungry Couch | Microsoft Windows |
Cartel Tycoon (early access) | Moon Moose | ||
Happy's Humble Burger Farm | Scythe Dev Team | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch | |
Mayhem in Single Valley | Fluxscopic Ltd. | Microsoft Windows | |
Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator (early access) | niceplay games | Microsoft Windows | |
Undungeon | Laughing Machines | Microsoft Windows, Xbox One | |
2022 | Not for Broadcast | NotGames | Microsoft Windows |
Expedition Zero | Enigmatic Machines | ||
Hello Neighbor 2 | Eerie Guest Studios | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch | |
Tinykin | Splashteam | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | |
Asterigos: Curse of the Stars | Acme Gamestudio | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | |
Despot's Game | Konfa Games | Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | |
2023 | RHYTHM SPROUT | SURT | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
Farworld Pioneers | Igloosoft | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | |
Black Skylands | Hungry Couch | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | |
The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales [24] | DO MY BEST | macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | |
Punch Club 2: Fast Forward | Lazy Bear Games | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | |
I Am Future: Cozy Apocalypse Survival | Mandragora | Microsoft Windows | |
Hello Neighbor: Search & Rescue | Steel Wool Studios | Microsoft Windows, Meta Quest, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 | |
Hello Neighbor: Nicky's Diaries | DeMagic Games | Android, iOS | |
2024 | Kingmakers | Redemption Road Games | Microsoft Windows |
SAND | Hologryph, Towerhaus | Microsoft Windows | |
Level Zero: Extraction | DOGHOWL Games | Microsoft Windows, Xbox, PlayStation | |
Rawmen | Animal | Microsoft Windows | |
Train Valley World | Flazm | Microsoft Windows, macOS | |
2025 | Of Ash and Steel | Fire & Frost | Microsoft Windows |
TBA | Trash Sailors | fluckyMachine | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch |
Pigeon Simulator | HakJak Studios | Microsoft Windows |
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. is an American video game holding company based in New York City founded by Ryan Brant in September 1993.
Paradox Interactive AB is a video game publisher based in Stockholm, Sweden. The company started out as the video game division of Target Games and then Paradox Entertainment before being spun out into an independent company in 2004. Through a combination of expanding internal studios, founding new studios and purchasing independent developers, the company has grown to comprise nine first-party development studios, including their flagship Paradox Development Studio, and acts as publisher for games from other developers.
An indie video game or indie game, short for independent video game, is a video game created by individuals or smaller development teams without the financial and technical support of a large game publisher, in contrast to most "AAA" (triple-A) games. Because of their independence and freedom to develop, indie games often focus on innovation, experimental gameplay, and taking risks not usually afforded in AAA games. Indie games tend to be sold through digital distribution channels rather than at retail due to a lack of publisher support. The term is analogous to independent music or independent film in those respective mediums.
Atari SA, also known under the Atari Group moniker, is a French holding company headquartered in Paris that owns mainly video gaming related interactive entertainment properties. Atari SA's core subsidiaries include the publisher and marketer Atari, Inc., developers Nightdive Studios and Digital Eclipse, and publisher Infogrames, It also has a blockchain division, Atari X, and additionally owns the websites MobyGames and AtariAge. Through these divisions, the company owns the rights to many video game properties that originated from Accolade, Atari, Inc., Atari Corporation, GT Interactive, M Network, Intellivision and others. It is the sole owner of the Atari brand since 2001, through its subsidiary Atari Interactive Inc. which licenses the brand to other entities in the group.
Focus Entertainment is a French video game developer and publisher based in Paris. Founded in 1996, Focus has published and distributed original titles such as Sherlock Holmes, TrackMania, Runaway, and sports games like Cycling Manager and Virtual Skipper.
Team17 Group plc is a British video game developer and publisher based in Wakefield, England. The venture was created in December 1990 through the merger of British publisher 17-Bit Software and Swedish developer Team 7. At the time, the two companies consisted of and were led by Michael Robinson, Martyn Brown and Debbie Bestwick, and Andreas Tadic, Rico Holmes and Peter Tuleby, respectively. Bestwick later became Team17's chief executive officer until 1 January 2024. After their first game, Full Contact (1991) for the Amiga, the studio followed up with multiple number-one releases on that platform and saw major success with Andy Davidson's Worms in 1995, the resulting franchise of which still remains as the company's primary development output, having developed over 20 entries in it.
Devolver Digital, Inc. is an American video game publisher based in Austin, Texas, specializing in the publishing of indie games. The company was founded in June 2009 by Nigel Lowrie, Harry Miller, Graeme Struthers, Rick Stults, and Mike Wilson, five executives who had been involved with Gathering of Developers and Gamecock Media Group, which published games on developer-friendly terms, but due to the high cost associated with releasing retail games saw themselves acquired and dissolved by larger companies. To avoid this, Devolver Digital instead turned to digital distribution channels.
Coffee Stain Studios AB is a Swedish video game developer based in Skövde. Founded in 2010 by nine University of Skövde students, the company is best known for Goat Simulator, which was released in April 2014, and Satisfactory, released in September 2024. Their parent holding company also operates Coffee Stain Publishing, a publisher, and majority-owns developers Coffee Stain North and Lavapotion. In November 2018, the Coffee Stain group was acquired by THQ Nordic AB.
Maximum Games, Inc. is an American video game publisher based in Walnut Creek, California. Originally founded in 2009 as a publisher of family-oriented titles for the Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii, the company shifted to publishing games of all genres for all ages across all platforms shortly after inception.
Bossa Studios Limited is a British video game developer based in London. It is known for its comedic, physics-based games Surgeon Simulator and I Am Bread.
Versus Evil LLC was an American video game publisher founded by former ZeniMax Online Studios marketing director Steve Escalante to focus on the independent video game market. Versus Evil was bought by another publisher, tinyBuild, in November 2021. On December 22, 2023, all Versus Evil staff were laid off and the company was shut down.
Hello Neighbor is a survival horror stealth game developed by Dynamic Pixels and published by tinyBuild. Initially released as public alphas from 2016 to 2017, it received a full release for Windows and Xbox One on December 8, 2017, and later for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android on July 26, 2018.
Private Division is an American video game publisher based in New York City. The company was founded by Take-Two Interactive and announced in December 2017. Private Division funds and publishes indie games developed by small to mid-sized studios. This includes taking over Kerbal Space Program publishing and releasing titles from Obsidian Entertainment, Panache Digital Games, and V1 Interactive.
Thunderful Group AB is a Swedish video game holding company based in Gothenburg. It was founded in December 2019 through a merger between Thunderful AB and Bergsala Holding's distribution business, consisting of Bergsala, Amo Toys, and Nordic Game Supply.
Embracer Group AB is a Swedish video game and media holding company based in Karlstad. The company comprises 9 operative groups: Amplifier Game Invest, Asmodee, CDE Entertainment, Coffee Stain, Dark Horse Media, Deca Games, Freemode, Plaion, and THQ Nordic.
Voodoo SAS is a French developer and publisher of mobile apps and games based in Paris. The company was founded in 2013 by Alexandre Yazdi and Laurent Ritter. Voodoo's games began predominantly as free-to-play "hyper-casual games", which they helped popularize. Since then, the company has shifted to developing and publishing casual games and apps. Voodoo’s games and apps have surpassed 7 billion downloads as of 2024. The company has been criticised for cloning other games.
Neon Giant AB is a Swedish video game developer headquartered in Uppsala, Sweden. It was founded by Tor Frick, Arcade Berg, Jonathan Heckley and Erik Gloersen in 2018.