KIXEYE
KIXEYE is an independent San Francisco-based game developer founded in 2007 that builds and operates mid-core free-to-play strategy and combat titles such as Battle Pirates, War Commander, and Backyard Monsters for mobile and browser-based gamers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What KIXEYE does
KIXEYE is an independent game developer founded in 2007 and headquartered in San Francisco, California. The company builds and operates mid-core real-time strategy and combat-themed games targeted at the hardcore and mid-core segments of the mobile and browser-based gaming market. Its portfolio includes established titles such as Battle Pirates, War Commander, Backyard Monsters, and Desktop Defender, with the company having expanded its IP holdings through the December 2021 acquisition of Iron Throne.
The company's business model is consistent with the free-to-play (F2P) mid-core gaming model — titles are distributed at no upfront cost with revenue generated through in-app purchases, virtual goods, and live operations. The studio operates with a headcount in the 51-100 range, supported by a lean executive structure led by CEO Clayton Stark and Chief Strategy Officer Tyler Black. KIXEYE has no disclosed public API or external developer platform, indicating a closed, vertically integrated development and publishing operation rather than a platform or middleware business.
Since 2008, KIXEYE has raised approximately $42.1 million across five disclosed funding rounds from investors including Icon Ventures (lead on both 2011 and 2018 rounds), Lightspeed Venture Partners, Trinity Ventures, and Ridge Ventures. The company has been private throughout its operating history, and the most recent equity event was a $20M Series 3 in March 2018 — a five-year gap that suggests the company is either self-funding operations or has had limited capital-raising activity in the recent period.
KIXEYE firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- KIXEYE
- Website
- https://kixeye.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- KIXEYE is an independent San Francisco-based game developer founded in 2007 that builds and operates mid-core free-to-play strategy and combat titles such as Battle Pirates, War Commander, and Backyard Monsters for mobile and browser-based gamers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
KIXEYE industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Online and Mobile Strategy Gaming
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Strategy/4X/Management Game Studios (MPAFAAAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Live-Service & MMO Game Studios (MPAFAAAD)
Keywords
Where KIXEYE is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
KIXEYE business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
KIXEYE product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KIXEYE develops and publishes free-to-play online multiplayer strategy games for web and mobile platforms. Its portfolio includes War Commander, Battle Pirates, Backyard Monsters, Desktop Defender, and Iron Throne, targeting strategy game players globally. The studio operates titles as live services with ongoing content updates and in-game monetization.
Product overview
No product information available in the source data.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- War Commander
Companies that use KIXEYE
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles1 record
KIXEYE technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
KIXEYE partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
KIXEYE competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Storm8: Storm8 is a mobile/social game studio known for mid-core strategy and simulation titles — directly comparable to KIXEYE in genre focus (strategy, mid-core) and live-service business model.
- Machine Zone (MZ): Machine Zone pioneered mobile mid-core strategy with Game of War and Mobile Strike, competing head-to-head with KIXEYE's War Commander. Highly comparable in target audience and monetization model.
- Plarium: Plarium develops mid-core mobile strategy games such as Raid: Shadow Legends and Vikings, directly overlapping with KIXEYE in the strategy genre and live-service model.
- Deca Games: Deca Games acquires and operates live-service mobile and browser games — directly comparable to KIXEYE's portfolio of long-running titles and its Iron Throne acquisition strategy.
- Social Point: Social Point develops mid-core mobile strategy and simulation games, making it a directly comparable peer in genre and live-service operations.
- Big Fish Games: Big Fish Games operates a portfolio of casual-to-mid-core live-service games, comparable to KIXEYE's portfolio approach across multiple long-running live-service titles.
Broad incumbents
- Supercell: Supercell is the global leader in mobile strategy with Clash of Clans and Clash Royale. While much larger and owned by Tencent, it operates in the same mid-core strategy genre and sets the bar KIXEYE competes against.
- Scopely: Scopely operates multiple mid-core and casual live-service mobile titles including strategy-adjacent games. Comparable to KIXEYE in live-service mobile gaming, though at larger scale post-Savvy Games acquisition.
- Playrix: Playrix is a top-grossing mobile game publisher with mid-core strategy-adjacent titles. Comparable in scale and genre focus though with significantly larger resources.
- FunPlus: FunPlus is a major mobile strategy publisher (King of Avalon, State of Survival). Operates in the same mid-core strategy genre as KIXEYE and competes for the same player cohort.
Market position
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights4 records
Customer concentration
KIXEYE social profiles
Digital presenceKIXEYE financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
KIXEYE leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
KIXEYE funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
KIXEYE M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about KIXEYE
What does KIXEYE do?
KIXEYE develops and publishes free-to-play online multiplayer strategy games for web and mobile platforms. Its portfolio includes War Commander, Battle Pirates, Backyard Monsters, Desktop Defender, and Iron Throne, targeting strategy game players globally. The studio operates titles as live services with ongoing content updates and in-game monetization.
When was KIXEYE founded?
KIXEYE was founded in 2007. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is KIXEYE based?
KIXEYE is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
Who are KIXEYE's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Storm8, Machine Zone (MZ), Plarium, Deca Games, Social Point and Big Fish Games. Broad incumbents are Supercell, Scopely, Playrix and FunPlus.
Does KIXEYE have an API?
No public API is recorded for KIXEYE.
What industry is KIXEYE in?
KIXEYE's product category is Online and Mobile Strategy Gaming. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAAAK, Strategy/4X/Management Game Studios, with a secondary code of MPAFAAAD, Live-Service & MMO Game Studios. Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 7371.