Phoenix Labs
Phoenix Labs is an independent Canadian game studio developing cross-platform multiplayer titles, led by Dauntless (free-to-play action RPG with 30M+ accounts) and Fae Farm (cozy multiplayer farm-sim), distributed globally across all major gaming platforms.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersVancouver, Canada
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Phoenix Labs does
Phoenix Labs is an independent, privately-held video game development studio headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, with a secondary studio in Montreal. The company designs and operates multiplayer video games built primarily on Unreal Engine, with proprietary 3D asset pipelines built around Blender (which the studio has customized using Python and C). Its commercial portfolio centers on two titles: Dauntless, a free-to-play cross-platform action RPG launched in 2019 that has reached over 30 million player accounts, and Fae Farm, a premium cozy farm-sim RPG for 1-4 players launched in 2023.
Phoenix Labs generates revenue through a hybrid model combining free-to-play in-game purchases (cosmetics, skins, and in-game currency in Dauntless) and one-time premium game sales (Fae Farm). Distribution is operated through all major digital storefronts — Steam, Epic Games, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Nintendo eShop, Microsoft Store, Google Play, and Apple App Store — with a unified cross-platform account system that enables player identity persistence and friend discovery across platforms. The studio is venture-backed, with disclosed funding activity including a 2023 round of $2.928M and prior Series B/C participation from Sapphire Ventures, GGV Capital, Modern Times Group, and others. Leadership comprises co-founder and CEO Jesse Houston, co-founder and CPO Sean Bender, co-founder and VP of Development Robin Mayne, and Creative Director Katie De Sousa who led Fae Farm's development from a 3-person incubation project into a full production title.
Phoenix Labs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Phoenix Labs
- Legal name
- Phoenix Labs, Inc.
- Website
- https://phxlabs.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Phoenix Labs is an independent Canadian game studio developing cross-platform multiplayer titles, led by Dauntless (free-to-play action RPG with 30M+ accounts) and Fae Farm (cozy multiplayer farm-sim), distributed globally across all major gaming platforms.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Phoenix Labs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Multiplayer Video Games
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (513210)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cloud Gaming Platforms (BPAMAKAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Game Server Hosting & Community Infrastructure (private servers, matchmaking communities) (MPAFAIAF), Cloud Gaming Billing, Identity & Entitlement Services (SSO, account linking, DRM) (MPAFAHAK)
Keywords
Where Phoenix Labs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vancouver
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Phoenix Labs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Game Sales (Digital Downloads): Phoenix Labs sells games through digital distribution via app stores and their own platforms. Games like Dauntless and Fae Farm are available for purchase/download through Steam, Epic Games, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Nintendo eShop, Microsoft Store, Google Play Store, and Apple App Store.
- Virtual Goods and Game Currency: Phoenix Labs offers in-game purchases including character skins, gear customizations, and other virtual goods that enhance the game experience. Dauntless features various cosmetic and gameplay customization options available for purchase. Virtual Goods and Game Currency have no monetary value and cannot be redeemed for cash.
- In-Game Currency (Game Currency): Dauntless and Fae Farm feature in-game currencies that players can acquire through gameplay or purchase. These currencies are used to unlock various in-game items, customizations, and features.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free-to-Play with In-Game Purchases (Dauntless) |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | Premium Game Purchase (Fae Farm) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels6 records
Phoenix Labs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Phoenix Labs is a video game development studio that designs, develops, and operates multiplayer games including Dauntless (a free-to-play massively multiplayer action RPG focused on hunting Behemoths) and Fae Farm (a premium cozy farm-sim RPG for 1-4 players). The studio also operates a unified Phoenix Labs Account system that links player identities across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and mobile platforms for cross-platform play.
Product overview
Phoenix Labs is a game development studio that operates two primary game products: Dauntless, a massively multiplayer action RPG focused on hunting Behemoths with full cross-platform support, and Fae Farm, a cozy multiplayer farming RPG. Both games share a unified Phoenix Labs Account system for player identity and cross-platform progression. The studio has approximately 10 projects in development spanning various genres from early R&D to full production.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Dauntless: A massively multiplayer RPG where players hunt powerful Behemoth creatures in the Shattered Isles.
- Fae Farm
Products and services
- Dauntless A massively multiplayer action RPG where players become Slayers and team up to hunt powerful creatures known as Behemoths across the Shattered Isles. Features full cross-play across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch with regular content updates and in-game cosmetic purchases.
- Fae Farm A cozy farm-sim RPG for 1-4 players set in the enchanted island of Azoria. Players craft, cultivate, decorate their shared homestead, and use spellbinding magic to explore together in cooperative multiplayer. Sold as a premium game on multiple platforms.
- Phoenix Labs Account A unified account management system at account.phxlabs.ca that supports display name settings, social settings, and linked third-party platform accounts (PlayStation Network, Xbox, Epic Games, Steam, and Nintendo Switch) for cross-platform multiplayer gameplay and friend discovery.
Quantifiable outcome
- 30 million+ player accounts across platforms
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Phoenix Labs
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Phoenix Labs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature4 records
Phoenix Labs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- NintendocorePhoenix Labs distributes Dauntless and Fae Farm through the Nintendo eShop. The partnership enables access to the Nintendo Switch player base with cross-platform multiplayer capabilities.
- Sony Interactive Entertainment (PlayStation)corePhoenix Labs distributes games through PlayStation Store on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 platforms, enabling access to Sony's gaming ecosystem with cross-play support.
- Microsoft (Xbox)corePhoenix Labs distributes Dauntless through Xbox Store, enabling access to Microsoft Xbox platforms with full cross-platform multiplayer support.
- Valve Corporation (Steam)corePhoenix Labs distributes Dauntless and Fae Farm through Steam, providing access to the largest PC gaming platform with cross-platform play capabilities.
- Epic GamescorePhoenix Labs distributes Dauntless through the Epic Games Store on PC, enabling access to Epic's gaming platform and ecosystem.
- Blender FoundationcorePhoenix Labs uses Blender, an open-source 3D creation tool, as a core part of their game development pipeline. The studio has internally modified Blender using Python and C programming to meet their specific production needs and may contribute improvements back to the community.
- Apple (App Store)minorPhoenix Labs distributes games through Apple App Store for iOS devices.
- Google (Google Play)minorPhoenix Labs distributes games through Google Play Store for Android mobile devices.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Phoenix Labs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- miHoYo (HoYoverse): Developer of Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail, free-to-play cross-platform live-service ARPGs with cosmetic and gameplay monetization. Comparable live-service, cross-platform, free-to-play ARPG with a global distribution footprint.
- Behaviour Interactive: Developer of Dead by Daylight, a live-service multiplayer title with continuous content updates and cross-platform play. Similar mid-sized studio operating a flagship live-service multiplayer game.
- Riot Games: Developer and publisher of major live-service multiplayer titles (League of Legends, Valorant). Operates cross-platform free-to-play multiplayer games with in-game purchases, the same core model Phoenix Labs runs with Dauntless.
- Supergiant Games: Independent game studio known for critically acclaimed titles like Hades, Bastion, and Pyre. Comparable as an independent, privately-held, multi-genre game developer operating at a similar size and creative scope.
- Digital Extremes: Developer of Warframe, a free-to-play live-service multiplayer action game with cross-platform play and continuous content updates. Highly comparable live-service, free-to-play, cross-platform ARPG model.
- Bungie: Developer of Destiny 2, a long-running live-service multiplayer action game with cross-platform play and ongoing content updates. Closely comparable in live-service ARPG operations and multi-platform support.
- Grinding Gear Games: Developer of Path of Exile and Path of Exile 2, free-to-play multiplayer ARPGs with live-service content updates and cross-platform support. Direct competitor to Dauntless in the multiplayer action-RPG category.
Emerging players
- Stunlock Studios: Developer of V Rising, a multiplayer survival ARPG with cross-platform play and live-service updates. Comparable in size and category as an emerging multiplayer ARPG developer pursuing live-service operations.
Broad incumbents
- Niantic: Developer of Pokémon GO and other live-service multiplayer games with cross-platform play and ongoing content updates. Comparable live-service, cross-platform multiplayer game operations, though at significantly larger scale.
- Capcom: Publisher of the Monster Hunter franchise, the dominant incumbent in the multiplayer monster-hunting ARPG category where Dauntless competes. Not a direct head-to-head at studio level, but the most relevant incumbent competitor for Phoenix Labs' flagship product.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Phoenix Labs social profiles
Digital presencePhoenix Labs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Phoenix Labs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Phoenix Labs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors10 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Phoenix Labs M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Phoenix Labs
What does Phoenix Labs do?
Phoenix Labs is a video game development studio that designs, develops, and operates multiplayer games including Dauntless (a free-to-play massively multiplayer action RPG focused on hunting Behemoths) and Fae Farm (a premium cozy farm-sim RPG for 1-4 players). The studio also operates a unified Phoenix Labs Account system that links player identities across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and mobile platforms for cross-platform play.
Is Phoenix Labs a public or private company?
Phoenix Labs is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Phoenix Labs founded?
Phoenix Labs was founded in 2017. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Phoenix Labs based?
Phoenix Labs is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Phoenix Labs make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Game Sales (Digital Downloads) is the primary driver. The others are virtual Goods and Game Currency and in-Game Currency (Game Currency).
Who are Phoenix Labs's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are miHoYo (HoYoverse), Behaviour Interactive, Riot Games, Supergiant Games, Digital Extremes, Bungie and Grinding Gear Games. Stunlock Studios is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Niantic and Capcom.
Does Phoenix Labs have an API?
No public API is recorded for Phoenix Labs.
What industry is Phoenix Labs in?
Phoenix Labs's product category is Multiplayer Video Games. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMAKAC, Cloud Gaming Platforms, with a secondary code of MPAFAIAF, Game Server Hosting & Community Infrastructure (private servers, matchmaking communities). Its NAICS code is 513210 and its SIC code is 7372.