New Tales
New Tales is an independent French game publisher and developer that publishes third-party titles such as Terrinoth: Heroes of Descent, Kalanoro, and Waven while developing original IP Fading Echo through its internal studio Emeteria, selling games globally on PC and console storefronts and via regional publishing partners in Asia and Latin America.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What New Tales does
New Tales SAS is an independent French game publisher and developer founded in 2021 by industry veterans from Activision Blizzard and Vivendi. The company operates a hybrid model: third-party publishing for partner game studios worldwide, and internal game development through Emeteria, its wholly-owned studio established in December 2023 in Lyon. Its published portfolio includes Terrinoth: Heroes of Descent (a cooperative tactical RPG launched June 2026 in partnership with Artefacts Studio, adapted from asmodee's Descent tabletop IP and priced at $34.99), Kalanoro (an action-adventure co-developed with Madagascar-based Red Raketa Studio, planned for Summer 2026 across consoles and PC), and Waven (a free-to-play multiplayer tactical RPG from Ankama Games). The company is also developing Fading Echo, its first major original IP, on Unreal Engine 5 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, with regional publishing handled by Com2us Holdings across Asia and CriticalLeap/Nuuvem across Latin America.
The business model combines revenue-sharing co-publishing arrangements, one-time license sales to consumers on Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, and Nintendo Switch eShop, and licensing royalties from partner studios. Marketing is community-led across Discord, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn, supplemented by presence at gaming showcases such as Future Games Show and earned media through gaming press. Headquarters are in Versailles (32 rue Pasteur, 78000 Versailles, France; company registration 909 289 977 RCS Versailles) with operational offices in Lyon and Paris and approximately 30 employees. The company has raised an estimated $10.7 million across two venture rounds (2022 seed and 2024 round) from Aglaé Ventures, Kima Ventures, Motier Ventures, Sisu Game Ventures, and BITKRAFT Ventures, and receives non-dilutive support from the French State through the France 2030 / La Grande Fabrique de l'Image program.
Technologically, New Tales is a content company rather than a platform or infrastructure company: there is no public API, no SDK, no proprietary engine, and no disclosed AI/ML capabilities. Core development relies on Unreal Engine 5, and the company has integrated third-party tooling such as Bodyguard for community moderation. President and CEO Cédric Maréchal leads alongside co-founders Benoit Dufour (COO), Emmanuel Obert (CCO), and Delphine Le Corre (CGO), with CTO Jean-Michel Courivaud and CMO Claire Barlet rounding out the executive bench — all drawn from Blizzard, Ubisoft, Vivendi, or related majors.
New Tales firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- New Tales
- Legal name
- New Tales SAS
- Website
- https://newtales.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- New Tales is an independent French game publisher and developer that publishes third-party titles such as Terrinoth: Heroes of Descent, Kalanoro, and Waven while developing original IP Fading Echo through its internal studio Emeteria, selling games globally on PC and console storefronts and via regional publishing partners in Asia and Latin America.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
New Tales industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Video Game Publishing
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (51321), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Full-Service Game Publishers (1st/2nd/3rd-Party Publishing) (MPAFABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Indie Game Studios (MPAFAAAC)
Keywords
Where New Tales is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
New Tales business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Game Publishing: New Tales publishes games from partner studios, providing go-to-market services, community marketing, and global distribution. They partner with studios wanting an ambitious, values-driven publisher relationship.
- Self-Developed Game IP: Company develops and publishes their own game IPs, such as Fading Echo developed by their internal studio Emeteria.
- Co-Publishing Partnerships: Long-term partnerships with studios like Ankama for global publication of games like Waven and DOFUS Unity, and Mainframe Industries for Pax Dei.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Terrinoth: Heroes of Descent - Standard Edition |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels10 records
New Tales product offering
Product offeringCore offering
New Tales develops and publishes video games, both its own original IPs (Fading Echo via internal studio Emeteria) and titles from partner studios (Waven, Terrinoth: Heroes of Descent, Kalanoro). The company provides end-to-end publishing services including community marketing, localization, regional partnerships, and global distribution across PC, console, and mobile platforms. As a developer, it operates an internal studio building Action-Adventure RPGs on Unreal Engine 5.
Product overview
New Tales operates as both a game publisher and developer. As a publisher, they offer go-to-market services including marketing, localization, community management, and regional publishing partnerships to partner studios. Their published games portfolio includes Fading Echo (a systemic action-adventure in a multiverse setting), Kalanoro (a music-driven action-adventure based on Malagasy folklore), Terrinoth: Heroes of Descent (a tactical RPG adaptation of the Descent tabletop universe), and Waven (a multiplayer tactical RPG from Ankama Games). As a developer, they operate Emeteria, an internal studio in Lyon creating an Action-Adventure RPG powered by Unreal Engine 5. The company focuses on games with strong player communities and service-oriented approaches.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Fading Echo A systemic action-adventure game set across a sprawling multiverse called the Echoverse, featuring fluid, expressive gameplay, a surreal comic-inspired art style, and a fluid elemental combat system (Æther Powers) where players harness water/æther. Powered by Unreal Engine 5 and being developed by New Tales' internal studio Emeteria. Targeted at action-adventure and RPG players on PC and consoles.
- Kalanoro A colorful action-adventure game inspired by Malagasy folklore that blends platforming, combat, and music-driven storytelling. Players build a band with rescued lemur artists, manage band happiness, and grow popularity through performances across the game world. Targeted at action-adventure players on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.
- Terrinoth: Heroes of Descent
Quantifiable outcome
- Terrinoth: Heroes of Descent demo achieved over 87% positive reviews on Steam
Companies that use New Tales
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
New Tales technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
New Tales partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Com2us HoldingsflagshipRegional publishing partnership for Fading Echo across Asia including South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Com2us provides local partnerships, creator programs, market-specific communications, and localization.
- CriticalLeap / NuuvemflagshipRegional publishing partnership for Fading Echo in Latin America. Nuuvem is the Official Game Store of Latin America since 2011. CriticalLeap handles localization in Brazilian Portuguese and Latin American Spanish.
- Artefacts StudioflagshipPartnership to bring Descent universe to video games for the first time with Terrinoth: Heroes of Descent. Artefacts Studio, founded in 2003 in Lyon, is known for The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk and Space Hulk: Tactics. asmodee/Fantasy Flight Games holds the IP.
- AnkamaflagshipLong-term global publishing partnership for Ankama's games including Waven (tactical RPG) and DOFUS Unity. New Tales handles global distribution and publishing for these titles.
- DreamhavencorePartnership with game studio company founded on shared values and passion for meaningful player experiences. Dreamhaven houses multiple game studios.
- France 2030 / La Grande Fabrique de l'ImagecoreNew Tales is supported by the French State as part of 'La Grande Fabrique de l'Image' France 2030 initiative, operated by Caisse des Dépôts in association with CNC. Part of 68 winners of the call for projects.
- Red Raketa StudiocoreDynamic collective of game development talents creating Kalanoro, a colorful action-adventure inspired by Malagasy folklore. Based in Madagascar, founded in 2021.
- Projet Ony (ONY)minorAssociation aimed at developing projects in music, cinema, 3D animation, and video games in Madagascar. New Tales partnered to help develop next generation of game developers.
- Bonfire StudiosminorIndependent game studio creating their debut game Arkheron. New Tales is supporting their debut title development.
- Boiler InteractivecoreGame publisher powered by passion, tech and data. Partner for Kalanoro publishing alongside Red Raketa Studio.
- Mainframe IndustriescoreCo-publishing partnership for Pax Dei, a vast MMO/social sandbox game. Mainframe Industries is the developer.
- NeocraftcoreCo-publishing partnership for Guardians of Cloudia in EMEA, LATAM, and North America. Available on iOS and other platforms.
- A List GamesminorPartnership to support release of two independent games in EMEA: Hell is Others and Kingshunt.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
New Tales competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Devolver Digital: Devolver Digital is a leading independent game publisher known for selective, value-driven publishing partnerships and a strong portfolio of indie hits. Comparable to New Tales as both run selective, content-led publishing models targeting premium PC and console indie releases.
- Focus Entertainment: Focus Entertainment (PulluP Entertainment group) is a French-headquartered mid-market publisher of premium and AA games on PC and consoles. Comparable as a larger French/European publisher operating at higher scale than New Tales.
- Nacon: Nacon is a French video game publisher and accessories maker with both first-party and third-party publishing. Comparable as a broader French/European publisher operating across multiple genres and platforms, though at substantially larger scale.
Direct peers
- Annapurna Interactive: Annapurna Interactive is a high-profile indie publisher with a curated slate of narrative and adventure-led games across PC and consoles. Closely comparable to New Tales' publishing-plus-development model and emphasis on games with strong creative DNA.
- Raw Fury: Raw Fury is a Stockholm-based indie publisher partnering with studios globally to release premium indie games on PC and consoles. Directly comparable as a boutique, values-driven publisher with a similar selective pitch and partnership model.
- Kepler Interactive: Kepler Interactive is a global multi-partner indie game publisher investing in and co-developing with independent studios. Comparable in structure and scale to New Tales as an emerging, partnership-led publisher.
- Modus Games: Modus Games is a US-based indie publisher partnering with studios worldwide to release premium games on PC and consoles. Comparable as a similarly sized boutique publisher running a selective, multi-platform model.
Regional players
- Microids: Microids is a French video game publisher specializing in licensed IPs (Asterix, Garfield, Agatha Christie) and adventure titles. Comparable as a French-headquartered publisher leveraging licensed and adventure IP, similar to New Tales' Terrinoth licensed adaptation play.
- Plug In Digital: Plug In Digital is a French indie publisher and distributor handling game publishing, distribution, and back-office services for developers globally. Comparable as a French-headquartered publisher operating across PC, console, and mobile distribution channels.
Emerging players
- Secret Mode (Sumo Digital): Secret Mode is the publishing label of Sumo Digital, focused on indie and mid-market game releases on PC and consoles. Comparable as an emerging publisher with a selective slate and partner-studio model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
New Tales social profiles
Digital presenceNew Tales financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
New Tales leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
New Tales subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
New Tales funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
New Tales 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 New Tales
What does New Tales do?
New Tales develops and publishes video games, both its own original IPs (Fading Echo via internal studio Emeteria) and titles from partner studios (Waven, Terrinoth: Heroes of Descent, Kalanoro). The company provides end-to-end publishing services including community marketing, localization, regional partnerships, and global distribution across PC, console, and mobile platforms. As a developer, it operates an internal studio building Action-Adventure RPGs on Unreal Engine 5.
Is New Tales a public or private company?
New Tales is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was New Tales founded?
New Tales was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is New Tales based?
New Tales is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does New Tales make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Game Publishing is the primary driver. The others are self-Developed Game IP and co-Publishing Partnerships.
Who are New Tales's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Devolver Digital, Focus Entertainment and Nacon. Direct peers are Annapurna Interactive, Raw Fury, Kepler Interactive and Modus Games. Regional players are Microids and Plug In Digital. Secret Mode (Sumo Digital) is listed as an emerging player.
Does New Tales have an API?
No public API is recorded for New Tales.
What industry is New Tales in?
New Tales's product category is Video Game Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFABAA, Full-Service Game Publishers (1st/2nd/3rd-Party Publishing), with a secondary code of MPAFAAAC, Indie Game Studios. Its NAICS code is 51321 and its SIC code is 7812.