Space Ape
Space Ape Games is a London-based mobile game developer founded in 2012, specializing in free-to-play music rhythm games. Its hit title Beatstar surpassed $60 million in revenue and won 2022 Mobile Game of the Year. The studio is 75% owned by Supercell.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Space Ape does
Space Ape Games Ltd. is a London-based mobile game developer and publisher founded in 2012. The studio specializes in free-to-play mobile games distributed globally through the Apple App Store and Google Play, targeting general consumer mobile gaming audiences. Its flagship product is Beatstar, a music rhythm game where players tap beats in time with popular songs. Beatstar has become a major commercial success, surpassing $60 million in revenue and winning Game of the Year at the 2022 Mobile Game Awards. The studio operates with 51-100 employees and is led by co-founder and CEO John Earner, with Simon Hade as co-founder and COO, Simon Watmough as Technical Director, Amanda Brearley as Operations Director, and Oliver Barnes as Head of Music Strategy.
The company monetizes through a freemium model, offering free downloads with in-app purchases to generate revenue. Distribution is app-store based with organic discoverability, and there is no disclosed traditional marketing infrastructure. Space Ape is majority-owned by Supercell (75% stake), the Finnish mobile gaming company behind Clash of Clans, Clash Royale, Brawl Stars, and other hit titles. Supercell's total investment stands at $189 million including a line of credit, comprising an initial $56.6 million investment in 2017 and an additional $37 million follow-on in July 2022 at a $252 million post-money valuation. The ownership structure positions Space Ape as a strategic subsidiary within Supercell's broader portfolio rather than an independent company, with corresponding implications for strategic autonomy and capital allocation.
The company's go-to-market relies on app store ranking algorithms, organic discovery, and brand association with Supercell. Customer segments are horizontal, targeting the broad mobile gaming audience with a particular focus on music and rhythm game enthusiasts. The product portfolio is concentrated on Beatstar, with the broader company history showing earlier VC backing from Accel, Initial Capital, Northzone, Connect Ventures, and Sega Ventures prior to Supercell's entry as the dominant strategic investor.
Space Ape firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Space Ape
- Legal name
- Space Ape Games Ltd.
- Website
- https://spaceapegames.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Space Ape Games is a London-based mobile game developer founded in 2012, specializing in free-to-play music rhythm games. Its hit title Beatstar surpassed $60 million in revenue and won 2022 Mobile Game of the Year. The studio is 75% owned by Supercell.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Space Ape industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mobile Gaming
- NAICS
- Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (45912)
- SIC
- Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)
- akta.pro primary industry
- PC Digital Game Stores & Launchers (MPAFACAA)
Keywords
Where Space Ape is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Space Ape business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Mobile Game Publishing: Space Ape generates revenue through mobile game publishing, with their hit game Beatstar earning over $60 million in revenue. Revenue is generated through free-to-play model with in-app purchases.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels1 record
Space Ape product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Space Ape is a mobile game developer and publisher that creates free-to-play games for iOS and Android smartphones. Its flagship product is Beatstar, a music rhythm game where players tap beats in time with popular songs. The game has surpassed $60 million in revenue and won Game of the Year at the 2022 Mobile Game Awards, distributed globally through the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Product overview
Space Ape is a mobile game developer with a focused portfolio centered on Beatstar, a music rhythm game where players tap beats in time with popular songs. Beatstar has achieved significant commercial success, surpassing $60 million in revenue and earning Game of the Year recognition at the 2022 Mobile Game Awards. The company operates as a game studio under majority ownership by Supercell (75% stake), which has invested a total of $189 million in the company.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Beatstar: Hit music-based mobile game that surpassed $60 million in revenue and won Game of the Year at the 2022 Mobile Game Awards
Products and services
- Beatstar
Quantifiable outcome
- Beatstar surpassed $60 million in revenue
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Space Ape
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Space Ape technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Space Ape partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Space Ape competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Scopely: Mobile game publisher with hit titles (Monopoly GO, Stumble Guys, Marvel Strike Force). Closely comparable to Space Ape in studio size, hit-driven portfolio approach, and app-store distribution model.
- Rovio Entertainment: Finnish mobile game company behind the Angry Birds franchise, recently acquired by Sega. Strong functional peer on mobile hit publishing, single-IP scaling, and European (Nordic) studio origins adjacent to Supercell's region.
- Wooga (Playtika): Berlin-based mobile game studio (June's Journey, Pearl's Peril) acquired by Playtika. Comparable mid-sized European mobile studio with single-IP-led portfolio and freemium mechanics.
- Jam City: Mobile and social game studio (Cookie Jam, Disney Mirrorverse, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery). Comparable free-to-play mobile publisher with hit-driven portfolio and similar headcount scale.
- Wildlife Studios: Brazil-based mobile game developer (Tennis Clash, Zooba) backed by notable growth investors. Direct mobile free-to-play peer with comparable studio scale and global app-store distribution.
- Hutch Games: London-based mobile game developer (F1 Clash, Rebel Racing, Top Drives) backed by strategic investors. Similar mid-size UK mobile studio profile, free-to-play model, and Supercell-adjacent scale ambition.
- Playdemic (EA): UK-based mobile game studio behind Golf Clash, acquired by EA for $1.4B in 2021. Most direct UK-headquartered, mid-sized mobile studio peer to Space Ape by geography and scale.
- Outfit7 (Atomic Blaze / 1st Playable): Mobile game studio behind Talking Tom Gold Run and other evergreen mobile IPs, owned by Chinese group Zhejiang Jinke Peroxide. Similar mid-size mobile studio model reliant on hit IP and freemium monetization.
Broad incumbents
- Zynga: Large mobile and social free-to-play game publisher (FarmVille, Words With Friends, CSR Racing). Direct functional analogue to Space Ape's mobile publishing model, with broader portfolio scale and now part of Take-Two.
- King (Activision Blizzard): Mobile-first free-to-play publisher behind Candy Crush and a top-grossing mobile games portfolio. Closest large-scale comparator to Space Ape on revenue scale, live-ops mechanics, and IAP-driven monetization.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Space Ape social profiles
Digital presenceSpace Ape financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Space Ape leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Space Ape funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds10 records
Investors8 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Space Ape M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Space Ape
What does Space Ape do?
Space Ape is a mobile game developer and publisher that creates free-to-play games for iOS and Android smartphones. Its flagship product is Beatstar, a music rhythm game where players tap beats in time with popular songs. The game has surpassed $60 million in revenue and won Game of the Year at the 2022 Mobile Game Awards, distributed globally through the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Is Space Ape a public or private company?
Space Ape is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Space Ape founded?
Space Ape was founded in 2012. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Space Ape based?
Space Ape is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Space Ape make money?
One revenue line is on record: mobile Game Publishing.
Who are Space Ape's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Scopely, Rovio Entertainment, Wooga (Playtika), Jam City, Wildlife Studios, Hutch Games, Playdemic (EA) and Outfit7 (Atomic Blaze / 1st Playable). Broad incumbents are Zynga and King (Activision Blizzard).
Does Space Ape have an API?
No public API is recorded for Space Ape.
What industry is Space Ape in?
Space Ape's product category is Mobile Gaming. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFACAA, PC Digital Game Stores & Launchers. Its NAICS code is 45912 and its SIC code is 5945.