Reforged Studios, a relatively new player in the developer/publisher hybrid game, is making some serious moves by acquiring not one but two talented studios: Ground Shatter and Extra Mile Studios.
Founded just last year, Reforged Studios has already set its sights on big things, and they’re not wasting any time getting there. The company, headed by industry heavyweights Peter van der Watt (Blazing Griffin), Colin Anderson (Denki, Rockstar Games, Epic Games), and Ross Laurie (emerging tech entrepreneur), is all about empowering the studios they bring into the fold. Think of them as the hype crew for game developers—pumping them up with the resources and business know-how they need to reach their full potential.
First up on the acquisition list is Ground Shatter, the brains behind the BAFTA-nominated Fights in Tight Spaces. Led by James Parker, this studio has been making waves with its innovative approach to strategy and action. Their upcoming project, Knights in Tight Spaces, has already got people buzzing, and with Reforged Studios backing them, it looks like they’re ready to take things to the next level.
Parker himself seems pretty chuffed about the whole thing: “Having built Ground Shatter up over the past decade, joining the Reforged Studios family presented a rare opportunity to join an experienced team with a clear and exciting approach that allows Ground Shatter to keep doing what it does best, and also providing the studio the potential to grow further and faster with the support and the resources of the Reforged Studios group.”
Next up is Extra Mile Studios, a team that’s been quietly chipping away at some of the biggest games out there, like the Broken Sword series. Bobby Farmer, the head honcho over at Extra Mile, admits that while they’ve been great at supporting others, their own self-published games haven’t quite hit the mark. But with Reforged Studios stepping in, they’re ready to take on bigger projects and, who knows, maybe even score a hit or two of their own.
Farmer’s pretty stoked about the partnership: “Since Extra Mile was founded in 2004, we are proud to have been a reliable outsourcing partner for many great companies on numerous high-profile games. We have also self-published a few of our own games – but not so well! So when we started talking to the guys at Reforged about their ambitions to take on bigger scale outsourcing projects and combine that with proven publishing talent, it seemed like the perfect fit for us. The team and I are looking forward to a successful future as part of the Reforged Studios group.”
Peter van der Watt, CEO of Reforged Studios, couldn’t be happier with the acquisitions. “I was already a big fan of the games the teams at Ground Shatter and Extra Mile had built, and yet I could see that both teams still had a lot of potential to grow their success even further with the right support around them. When we made the list of studios we wanted to become part of Reforged, Ground Shatter and Extra Mile were right at the very top. Fortunately, both studios were as excited about the possibilities as we were, and so we are thrilled that they are now joining us on our journey.”
Reforged Studios isn’t just about making games; they’re about building teams and supporting the people behind the games. With operations in the UK and Malta, they’re developing and publishing games across multiple platforms, including PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and mobile.
What’s Next?
This is just the beginning for Reforged Studios. With more acquisitions on the horizon and a strong focus on supporting creative talent, they’re definitely one to watch. Whether you’re into strategy games, action-packed adventures, or anything in between, keep an eye on what Reforged and their newly acquired studios are cooking up.
For more information on Reforged Studios, visit reforgedstudios.io/
