What emptyvessel does

emptyvessel is an independent game development studio founded in 2023 and headquartered in Austin, Texas (15600 Ellinger Drive), operating with a distributed team of approximately 30 employees across the US, Australia, and Europe. The studio's core product is DEFECT, a cyberpunk-themed, squad-based immersive objective shooter supporting both PvP and Co-Op modes with squads of four and multiple mission types including data collection, gun smuggling, and assassination. DEFECT is built on Unreal Engine 5 with technology integrations across AWS (distributed development pipeline), Nvidia (DLSS/RTX), Havok (physics), XSens (motion capture), and Pragma (backend engine), and features an original soundtrack by Mick Gordon (composer for DOOM and Killer Instinct). The studio is staffed by veterans from id Software, Activision, Naughty Dog, Bioware, and Splash Damage, with Game Director Emanuel Palalic and General Manager Garrett Young anchoring the leadership team.

The business model is a one-time-purchase premium game sale distributed digitally through Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG, with potential DLC or post-launch content layered on as the shooter genre typically supports. Go-to-market is community-led and marketplace-driven: a Content Creator Program, YouTube channel (@emptyvesselplay), newsletter signups, playtests via FirstLook.gg, and wishlist campaigns build pre-launch demand, while NC America was brought on as publishing partner in March 2026 to provide global distribution, marketing support, and financial stability. Target customers are individual PC gamers seeking fresh multiplayer shooter experiences, specifically those drawn to cyberpunk aesthetics and objective-driven squad gameplay. The company is venture-backed, with a ~$6.25M seed round closed in May 2025 (co-led by 1AM Gaming and NCSOFT) and recognized as a 2025 VentureBeat Game Changer.

As of the available data, DEFECT has not yet been commercially launched and the company is pre-revenue, with all forward economics dependent on launch-day sell-through, DLC cadence, and the effectiveness of the NC America publishing arrangement. The single-product, single-genre concentration of the studio's commercial thesis is the dominant business risk, partially mitigated by the publishing partnership, multi-storefront distribution, and the experience profile of the team.

Name

emptyvessel

Legal name

EmptyVessel, Inc.

Website

https://emptyvessel.io

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

emptyvessel is an Austin-based independent game studio developing DEFECT, a cyberpunk squad-based objective shooter for PC, built on Unreal Engine 5 by a veteran team from id Software, Activision, and Naughty Dog, and published by NC America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Video game development

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Cloud & Distributed Real-Time Production (Remote ICVFX, Multi-site) (MPAHADAJ)

Keywords

• Indie game studio
• Multiplayer shooter development
• Cyberpunk shooter game
• Squad-based objective shooter
• AAA game development

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Game Sales: DEFECT is sold as a one-time purchase game through digital distribution platforms (Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG). No subscription or recurring revenue model indicated.
2. Potential DLC/Additional Content: Game monetization beyond initial purchase not explicitly disclosed but common for shooter games.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

emptyvessel is an independent game development studio that builds and sells DEFECT, a cyberpunk-themed, squad-based immersive objective shooter for PC. The game features 4-player squads engaging in PvP and Co-Op modes with multiple mission types including data collection, gun smuggling, and assassination objectives, plus multiple finales for replayability. The studio sells DEFECT as a one-time-purchase digital title through Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG with NC America as publishing partner.

Product overview

emptyvessel operates as a single-product independent game studio focused on developing DEFECT, a cyberpunk squad-based immersive objective shooter. The studio was founded in 2023 by industry veterans from id Software, Activision, and Naughty Dog. In March 2026, emptyvessel partnered with NC America for publishing support. DEFECT is being developed with publishing partnerships across Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG distribution platforms, featuring music composed by Mick Gordon and built using Unreal Engine 5.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DEFECT DEFECT is a cyberpunk, squad-based immersive objective shooter built on Unreal Engine 5, pitting police and gang factions against one another in PvP and Co-Op modes in squads of 4, featuring multiple objectives with multiple finales including data collection, gun smuggling, and assassination missions, with soundtrack composed by Mick Gordon.

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NC AmericacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 11 March 2026NC America partnered with emptyvessel in March 2026 to publish DEFECT. The agreement provides publishing support and stability for developing both multiplayer and single-player gameplay modes.
• AWS (Amazon Web Services)coreTechnology or Integrationemptyvessel built a global game development pipeline with AWS, enabling distributed team collaboration across multiple regions.
• Epic GamescoreTechnology or IntegrationDEFECT is built on Unreal Engine 5 with Epic Games technology integration.
• 1AM GamingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as key partner with 1AM Gaming, a game development studio.
• Black Phoenix GamesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as key partner, Black Phoenix Games is a game development studio.
• Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & SelzminorOthersLegal services firm listed as key partner for legal counsel.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Arkane Studios: Developer of immersive shooters (Dishonored, Prey, Deathloop, Redfall) with a focus on player-driven gameplay and atmospheric worlds. Directly comparable to emptyvessel's immersive shooter DNA and squad-based objectives approach, though now owned by Microsoft/Bethesda.
• 4A Games: Developer of the Metro series (Metro 2033, Last Light, Exodus), an immersive shooter franchise with a smaller core team and atmospheric, objective-driven gameplay. Closely comparable studio size and creative philosophy to emptyvessel's DEFECT ambitions.
• Splash Damage: Multiplayer-focused studio known for Dirty Bomb, Gears Tactics, and co-development on AAA multiplayer titles. Comparable to emptyvessel's multiplayer-first, squad-based approach; notably, emptyvessel team member Kane Thompson-Hall previously built gameplay/AI systems at Splash Damage for 5 years.
• 10 Chambers: Independent Swedish studio developing GTFO, a cooperative immersive shooter with strong atmosphere and squad mechanics. Closely comparable in scale, creative independence, and immersive squad-based shooter focus.
• Illfonic: Developer of multiplayer asymmetric and cooperative games including Friday the 13th, Predator Hunting Grounds, and Ghostbusters. Comparable in multiplayer design philosophy and indie-studio scale; emptyvessel engineer Taylor Saunders worked with Illfonic on the recent Ghostbusters title.

Emerging players

• Embark Studios: Independent studio founded by former DICE/EA executives developing ARC Raiders and other shooter experiences. Comparable as a venture-backed independent shooter studio leveraging veteran leadership to disrupt the genre.
• Studio Wildcard: Independent developer of ARK: Survival Evolved, a multiplayer survival title. Comparable as an independently operated studio building ambitious multiplayer experiences with strong community engagement.

Broad incumbents

• Respawn Entertainment: EA-owned developer of Titanfall, Apex Legends, and Medal of Honor. Relevant as a broader incumbent in immersive multiplayer shooters whose design philosophies (movement, squad combat) overlap with DEFECT's direction.

Others

• NCSOFT: Korean publisher and lead investor in emptyvessel's Series A, also serving through NC America as publishing partner for DEFECT. Relevant as a strategic/financial partner shaping emptyvessel's commercial path, not a direct peer.
• 1AM Gaming: Game development studio and co-lead investor in emptyvessel's Series A. Relevant as a strategic co-investor and indie studio peer within the same funding ecosystem, though portfolio and product focus differs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@emptyvesselplay
• Xx.com/emptyvesselplay
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/emptyvesselplay

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors6 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about emptyvessel