Gun Interactive
Gun Interactive is a privately held Kentucky-based video game publisher specializing in asymmetrical and psychological horror games built on licensed film franchises (Friday the 13th, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Halloween, Layers of Fear), distributed across console and PC storefronts including Xbox Game Pass for horror gaming enthusiasts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersLexington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Gun Interactive does
Gun Interactive (legal entity Gun Media Holdings, Inc.) is a privately held concept design studio and video game publisher founded in 2012 and headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky. The company specializes in horror-themed interactive entertainment, with a portfolio centered on asymmetrical multiplayer experiences built from licensed film franchises. Its core products include Friday the 13th: The Game (1v8 counselor-vs-Jason survival horror), The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (3v4 asymmetric horror developed with Sumo Nottingham and released Day One on Xbox Game Pass in August 2023, reaching 4.5 million players within six months), Layers of Fear 2 (first-person psychological horror co-published with Bloober Team in 2019), and the upcoming Halloween game (1v4 asymmetric stealth horror co-published with IllFonic, planned 2026). An older franchise, Breach & Clear, is no longer supported.
Underlying technology consists of third-person and first-person asymmetric multiplayer game engines supporting variable player configurations (1v8, 3v4, 1v4), with level design specialized for horror sightlines, chokepoints, and hiding spots. The company does not develop its own engine in-house but acts as publisher and creative lead, partnering with external developers (IllFonic, Sumo Nottingham, Bloober Team) for production. Proprietary elements are concentrated in franchise lore, licensed IP rights, and creative direction including original cast involvement (Kane Hodder, Sean Whalen, Ed Neil) and contributions from horror-industry figures such as Greg Nicotero.
The business model combines one-time game license sales (digital and physical, across Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Steam, and Epic Games Store), DLC expansion packs, subscription revenue through Xbox Game Pass, and merchandise sales via shop.guninteractive.com. Pricing is set per title — for example, Friday the 13th: The Game Ultimate Slasher Switch Edition at $39.99 and Layers of Fear 2 at $29.99 at launch. Go-to-market is product-led, leveraging platform-holder distribution, event-based marketing (PAX East, Gamescom, AEW crossover events), and a dedicated community team for ongoing player engagement. The primary customer segment is horror gaming enthusiasts seeking authentic franchise experiences, with a secondary segment of franchise collectors purchasing branded merchandise.
Gun Interactive firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Gun Interactive
- Legal name
- Gun Media Holdings, Inc.
- Website
- https://guninteractive.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Gun Interactive is a privately held Kentucky-based video game publisher specializing in asymmetrical and psychological horror games built on licensed film franchises (Friday the 13th, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Halloween, Layers of Fear), distributed across console and PC storefronts including Xbox Game Pass for horror gaming enthusiasts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Gun Interactive industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Video Games
- NAICS
- Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries (713)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Narrative/Adventure & RPG Game Studios (MPAFAAAL)
Keywords
Where Gun Interactive is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lexington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Gun Interactive business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Video Game Sales: One-time purchase of full games through digital storefronts and physical retail. Games released on multiple platforms including PC (Steam, Epic), Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch.
- DLC and Expansion Packs: Additional content including Jason Kill Packs, Counselor Clothing Packs, Emote Party Packs, and character DLC (e.g., Virginia DLC voiced by Barbara Crampton).
- Game Pass / Subscription Revenue: Day One release on Xbox Game Pass enabled rapid player acquisition with 4.5 million players within six months for The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Friday the 13th: The Game Ultimate Slasher Switch Edition - Complete package with all DLC |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Layers of Fear 2 Launch Price |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Gun Interactive product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Gun Interactive is a video game developer and publisher that creates and distributes horror-themed video games based on iconic film franchises. The company's core offerings include asymmetrical multiplayer horror games such as Friday the 13th: The Game, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Layers of Fear 2, and Halloween, available across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms. They also operate an official merchandise store for branded collectibles.
Product overview
Gun Interactive is a video game developer and publisher specializing in horror-themed interactive entertainment. The company develops and publishes asymmetrical horror games, with its core portfolio including Friday the 13th: The Game (asymmetric 1v8 survival horror), The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (3v4 asymmetric horror based on the 1974 film, developed with Sumo Nottingham), Layers of Fear 2 (first-person psychological horror published in partnership with Bloober Team), Halloween (asymmetric stealth horror co-published with IllFonic), and the Breach & Clear tactical simulation franchise (no longer supported). Gun Interactive focuses on franchise-driven horror experiences with authentic storytelling and multiplayer asymmetric gameplay mechanics.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Friday the 13th: The Game Third-person asymmetrical survival horror game where players take on the role of either a teen counselor or Jason Voorhees. Counselors must escape from Jason while Jason players track down and eliminate counselors.
- Friday the 13th: The Game Ultimate Slasher Switch Edition Nintendo Switch edition of Friday the 13th: The Game bundled with all DLC content, supporting online play via Nintendo Switch Online and Vivox voice chat, plus offline Bots and Single Player Challenges modes.
- Layers of Fear 2 First-person psychological horror game with emphasis on exploration and story where players control a Hollywood actor who takes on a lead role in a film shot aboard an ocean liner.
- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Third-person asymmetrical horror experience based on the 1974 horror film, featuring 3 vs 4 gameplay with players taking on roles of the Slaughter Family or their victims.
- Halloween Asymmetric stealth horror game with single and multiplayer modes. 1v4 horror showdown where players can be Michael Myers or Hero of Haddonfield, with a cinematic single-player story mode.
Quantifiable outcome
- 4.5 million players on Xbox Game Pass within 6 months of launch
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Gun Interactive
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Gun Interactive technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Gun Interactive partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- IllFoniccoreDeveloper of Halloween game. IllFonic is developing the Halloween asymmetric horror game (2026 release) with Gun Interactive as co-publisher. Gun Interactive stated they are 'proud of our friends at IllFonic' and 'happy to lend a hand to their team as needed to see their vision come to light.'
- Compass International PicturescoreRights holder and producer for the Halloween franchise. Partnered with IllFonic and Gun Interactive as co-publishers for the Halloween video game. Malek Akkad, President of Compass International Pictures, stated excitement about 'finally bringing the definitive digital version of Halloween and Michael Myers to video game fans everywhere.'
- Further FrontmajorProducer on the Halloween video game project, working alongside Compass International Pictures and IllFonic.
- All Elite Wrestling (AEW)minorProfessional wrestling promotion partnered with Gun for The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Death Match crossover event on AEW Dynamite. The event featured a deathmatch wrestling contest with TCSM branding and crowned a TCSM Death Match Champion, with proceeds going to Maui Food Bank.
- Sumo Digital / Sumo NottinghammajorDeveloper partner for The Texas Chain Saw Massacre game. Sumo Digital Ltd is part of Sumo Group plc. The game credits Sumo Digital for development alongside Gun Interactive as publisher.
- Black TowerminorPartner for bringing Friday the 13th: The Game to Nintendo Switch, working alongside Nighthawk.
- NighthawkminorPartner for bringing Friday the 13th: The Game to Nintendo Switch, working alongside Black Tower.
- Bloober TeammajorCritically acclaimed developer of cyberpunk-horror game observer_. Gun Media and Bloober Team partnered to publish Layers of Fear 2, with Wes Keltner stating 'This collaboration between Gun and Bloober team is a perfect pairing. Our collective passion for crafting memorable and terrifying experiences lines up so well.'
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Gun Interactive competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- IllFonic: Developer of Friday the 13th: The Game (with Gun), Predator: Hunting Grounds, and the upcoming Halloween asymmetric horror game. Closest direct peer in horror asymmetric multiplayer and an active co-dev partner of Gun.
- Behaviour Interactive: Developer of Dead by Daylight, the benchmark asymmetric multiplayer horror game that pioneered the 1v4 structure Gun Interactive also operates in. Directly comparable as the leading asymmetric-horror competitor.
- Red Barrels: Independent studio behind the Outlast series. Comparable as a private, independent horror-focused developer with a tightly niched catalog.
- Supermassive Games: Developer of Until Dawn and The Dark Pictures Anthology. Comparable as a studio focused on narrative horror experiences with branching outcomes and cinematic production.
- Sumo Digital: Co-developer of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre with Gun. Comparable as a multi-project game studio working with major publishers and IP holders.
- Frictional Games: Developer of Amnesia: The Dark Descent and SOMA. Comparable as a small independent studio specializing in atmospheric psychological horror.
- Bloober Team: Polish developer of Layers of Fear, Observer, and the Silent Hill 2 remake. Comparable as a narrative/psychological horror developer that partnered with Gun on Layers of Fear 2.
Broad incumbents
- Devolver Digital: Indie-focused publisher with a horror-adjacent catalog (e.g., Cult of the Lamb, Inscryption). Comparable as a privately-held indie publisher that monetizes via partnership and publishing models similar to Gun's co-publishing approach.
- Capcom: Major incumbent publisher behind Resident Evil and Dead by Daylight-adjacent horror franchises. Comparable as a broad horror incumbent competing for horror gamer mindshare.
Emerging players
- Motion Twin: Independent developer of Dead Cells with a small, founder-led team structure. Comparable as a small, privately-held, multi-title indie studio navigating the same publishing platform-relations dynamics as Gun.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Gun Interactive social profiles
Digital presenceGun Interactive compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Gun Interactive financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Gun Interactive leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
Gun Interactive funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Gun Interactive 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 Gun Interactive
What does Gun Interactive do?
Gun Interactive is a video game developer and publisher that creates and distributes horror-themed video games based on iconic film franchises. The company's core offerings include asymmetrical multiplayer horror games such as Friday the 13th: The Game, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Layers of Fear 2, and Halloween, available across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms. They also operate an official merchandise store for branded collectibles.
Is Gun Interactive a public or private company?
Gun Interactive is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Gun Interactive founded?
Gun Interactive was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Gun Interactive based?
Gun Interactive is headquartered in Lexington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Gun Interactive make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Video Game Sales are the primary driver. The others are DLC and Expansion Packs and game Pass / Subscription Revenue.
Who are Gun Interactive's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are IllFonic, Behaviour Interactive, Red Barrels, Supermassive Games, Sumo Digital, Frictional Games and Bloober Team. Broad incumbents are Devolver Digital and Capcom. Motion Twin is listed as an emerging player.
Does Gun Interactive have an API?
No public API is recorded for Gun Interactive.
What industry is Gun Interactive in?
Gun Interactive's product category is Video Games. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAAAL, Narrative/Adventure & RPG Game Studios. Its NAICS code is 713 and its SIC code is 7900.