Ripstone
Ripstone is an independent Liverpool-based video game developer and publisher founded in 2011, specializing in high-fidelity chess, pool, and poker simulation games distributed globally across consoles, PC, mobile, and VR platforms.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersLiverpool, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Ripstone does
Ripstone is an independent UK-based video game developer and publisher founded in 2011 and headquartered in Liverpool, England. The company specializes in digitally distributed simulation games across niche genres, primarily chess, pool, and poker, distributed globally through major gaming platforms. Through its wholly-owned internal development subsidiary Rockwater Games, Ripstone maintains a portfolio that includes Chess Ultra, Chess Infinity, The Queen's Gambit Chess (Netflix IP), Pure Pool Pro, and Poker Club.
The company's technical foundation centers on high-fidelity visual rendering (including 4K and 8K output), hyper-realistic physics simulation for cue sports, adaptive AI systems for chess gameplay, and cross-platform multiplayer with Elo-based matchmaking. The studio uses an iterative, feedback-driven design methodology with a film-style collaborative art direction approach. Ripstone's games are deployed across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X, PC (Steam, Epic Games Store), Nintendo Switch, mobile (iOS/Android), and VR platforms (Oculus, HTC Vive, PlayStation VR, Steam VR).
Ripstone generates revenue through one-time game purchases on digital storefronts (DTC) and through licensing/royalty arrangements with IP partners, most notably Netflix for The Queen's Gambit Chess. The business operates with 11–50 employees, has no disclosed external institutional ownership, and reports a cumulative funding history of approximately $1.78M across a 2011 founding round and a 2024 working-capital round led by NatWest. The customer base is broadly distributed across individual consumers globally, with concentration in chess enthusiasts, pool/sports simulation fans, VR gamers, and Netflix subscribers (via the mobile chess partnership).
Ripstone firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ripstone
- Legal name
- Ripstone Ltd.
- Website
- https://ripstone.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Ripstone is an independent Liverpool-based video game developer and publisher founded in 2011, specializing in high-fidelity chess, pool, and poker simulation games distributed globally across consoles, PC, mobile, and VR platforms.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ripstone industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Video Game Publishing
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132), Software Publishers (513210)
- SIC
- Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944)
- akta.pro primary industry
- AAA & Premium Game Studios (PC/Console) (MPAFAAAA)
Keywords
Where Ripstone is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Liverpool
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ripstone business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Game Sales (Direct-to-Consumer): Ripstone develops and publishes games sold as one-time purchases through digital storefronts (PlayStation Store, Steam, Xbox Store, Epic Games Store). Games like Pure Pool Pro, Chess Infinity, Chess Ultra, and Poker Club are sold directly to consumers at retail prices.
- Licensing Royalties (IP Partnerships): Ripstone develops licensed games based on third-party IP, such as The Queen's Gambit Chess developed in partnership with Netflix. This generates revenue through licensing agreements and potentially revenue sharing.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels9 records
Marketing channels7 records
Ripstone product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ripstone is an independent UK-based video game developer and publisher specializing in digitally distributed simulation games across chess, pool, and poker genres. The company develops and publishes its own titles through internal studios (including Rockwater Games) and partner studios, distributing games as one-time purchases on PlayStation, Xbox, PC, Nintendo Switch, mobile, and VR platforms.
Product overview
Ripstone is an independent video game developer and publisher offering a portfolio of titles across simulation genres (chess, pool, poker). The portfolio includes internally developed products such as Chess Ultra (4K chess with VR support), Chess Infinity (adaptive AI mentor with cross-platform play), and Pure Pool Pro (8K pool simulation with career mode). Ripstone also publishes partner titles including Poker Club and, through its Rockwater Studios subsidiary, The Queen's Gambit Chess (a Netflix IP partnership). Games are available across all major platforms including PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PC, and VR headsets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Pure Pool Pro: Hyper-realistic pool simulation game with 8K visuals, featuring 8-Ball and 9-Ball career modes, cross-play multiplayer.
- Chess Infinity
- The Queen's Gambit Chess
- Chess Ultra
Products and services
- Chess Infinity A chess game featuring an adaptive AI that serves as a personal mentor helping players learn and improve at any skill level, with grandmaster-approved intelligence, cross-platform multiplayer, and refined Elo matchmaking. Available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X, and PC.
- Chess Ultra A modern chess game with 4K visuals, Grandmaster-approved AI opponents, and full VR compatibility for Oculus Rift, HTC Vive, and PlayStation VR. Supports PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
- The Queen's Gambit Chess A mobile chess game based on Netflix's 'The Queen's Gambit' limited series, featuring faithfully recreated locations from the show, lessons, puzzles, and matches against characters including Beth Harmon and Mr Shaibel. Free for Netflix subscribers on iOS and Android.
- Pure Pool Pro A hyper-realistic pool simulation sequel featuring native 8K visuals, lifelike physics, 8-Ball and 9-Ball career modes, 20 uniquely skilled AI opponents, cross-play multiplayer, and two immersive venues (Tetradome and Rackhaus).
- Poker Club An immersive poker simulation game published by Ripstone, playable across multiple platforms with online multiplayer functionality.
- Rockwater Studios Ripstone's internal development studio that developed The Queen's Gambit Chess in partnership with Netflix and is working on new IP projects, taking a collaborative, film-crew approach to game art and development.
Quantifiable outcome
- Best Places to Work Award - second consecutive year
Companies that use Ripstone
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Ripstone technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature6 records
Ripstone partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- NetflixcoreRipstone developed The Queen's Gambit Chess mobile game in partnership with Netflix, based on the award-winning Netflix limited series. The game is free for Netflix subscribers on Android and iOS. This is a flagship licensed IP partnership that leverages Netflix's popular show with Ripstone's chess game development expertise.
- LFC FoundationminorRipstone participates in the LFC Foundation's Creative Works Programme, which introduces young people to creative industries in Liverpool. Ripstone has hired interns through this programme and supports the foundation's mission to create positive change in local communities.
- Women In GamesminorRipstone is a corporate ambassador for Women In Games, supporting efforts to create pathways for women and girls in the gaming industry through policy, education, industry, and community initiatives.
- Safe In Our WorldminorRipstone is a partner challenging the industry to #LevelUpMentalHealth, supporting positive business practices and safer working environments for emotional wellbeing.
- SpecialEffectminorRipstone supports SpecialEffect, a charity that transforms lives of people with severe physical disabilities by enabling them to play games through adaptive technology.
- Liverpool Pride FoundationminorRipstone has made a long-term commitment to sponsoring and supporting Liverpool Pride Foundation, which aims to position Liverpool City Region as the most LGBT+ friendly region in the UK.
- #RaiseTheGameminorRipstone is a #RaiseTheGame pledge partner committed to three pillars: creating a diverse workforce, shaping inclusive workplaces, and reflecting greater diversity in their work.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Ripstone competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Chess.com: Dominant digital chess platform with mobile and PC clients. Competes with Ripstone's chess titles for player attention in the same genre, though Chess.com operates a freemium community/utility model rather than premium game sales.
Direct peers
- Devolver Digital: Independent premium game publisher known for distinctive, high-fidelity indie titles. Closest publicly-traded analog to Ripstone's positioning as a boutique publisher of visually premium games.
- Chucklefish: UK-based indie game developer and publisher (Starbound, Wargroove). Comparable in size, dev-plus-publisher model, and emphasis on distinctive, niche-genre titles.
- Merge Games: UK-based independent publisher of premium console and PC games. Comparable in indie publishing scale and multi-platform distribution focus.
- Team17: UK-based independent game developer and publisher (Worms franchise). Comparable in geography, business model (dev+publisher), and target of premium indie and family-friendly titles.
- Raw Fury: Independent games publisher focused on premium indie titles across PC and console. Comparable in publishing model and emphasis on artistically distinct, smaller-audience games.
- Curve Digital (Curve Games): UK-based independent games publisher focused on premium digital-only console and PC titles. Direct comparable in publisher scale, geographic footprint, and digital distribution strategy.
- Sold Out Ltd: UK-based video game publisher specializing in premium indie and mid-market titles. Comparable in size, geography, and focus on physical-plus-digital distribution of premium games.
- VooFoo Studios: UK-based game developer that created the original Pure Pool franchise. Direct collaborator with Ripstone on pool simulation titles and most comparable on technology, genre, and studio scale.
Broad incumbents
- 505 Games: Mid-to-large Italian publisher (owned by Digital Bros) publishing premium console and PC games. Comparable in multi-platform publishing and focus on simulation/lifestyle genres but at materially larger scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ripstone social profiles
Digital presenceRipstone financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ripstone leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Ripstone subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Ripstone funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ripstone 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 Ripstone
What does Ripstone do?
Ripstone is an independent UK-based video game developer and publisher specializing in digitally distributed simulation games across chess, pool, and poker genres. The company develops and publishes its own titles through internal studios (including Rockwater Games) and partner studios, distributing games as one-time purchases on PlayStation, Xbox, PC, Nintendo Switch, mobile, and VR platforms.
Is Ripstone a public or private company?
Ripstone is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Ripstone founded?
Ripstone was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Ripstone based?
Ripstone is headquartered in Liverpool, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Ripstone make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Game Sales (Direct-to-Consumer) is the primary driver. The others are licensing Royalties (IP Partnerships).
Who are Ripstone's main competitors?
Chess.com is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Devolver Digital, Chucklefish, Merge Games, Team17, Raw Fury, Curve Digital (Curve Games), Sold Out Ltd and VooFoo Studios. 505 Games is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Ripstone have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ripstone.
What industry is Ripstone in?
Ripstone's product category is Video Game Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAAAA, AAA & Premium Game Studios (PC/Console). Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 3944.