Shiro Games
Shiro Games is a French independent video game studio founded in 2012 in Bordeaux, developing and publishing strategy, RPG, survival, and simulation games across PC and consoles, while also operating Shiro Unlimited, a third-party indie game publishing label.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersBordeaux, France
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Shiro Games does
Shiro Games is a French independent video game development studio founded in 2012 and headquartered at 104bis Quai des Chartrons, Bordeaux, France. The company develops and self-publishes original game titles spanning strategy (Northgard, Dune: Spice Wars, Wartales, Northgard Battlegrounds), RPGs (Wartales, Farever), survival (Frostrail), simulation and tycoon games (Ale Abbey, Block Factory), co-op roguelites (Darksburg), and adventure/puzzle games (Evoland, Decarnation). Distribution follows a PC-first model anchored on Steam as the primary platform, with secondary reach across PlayStation, Xbox (including Game Pass for select titles), Nintendo Switch, Epic Games Store, and GOG, supplemented by auxiliary digital retailers (Fanatical, Humble Bundle, Gamesplanet, Genba Digital). The company's stated quality target is 90%+ positive reviews on Steam at release, and its portfolio has collectively sold millions of units worldwide.
The studio employs over 100 people and is led by co-founders Nicolas Cannasse and Sebastien Vidal (both serving as CEOs), with Julien Wera as COO, Stephane Bonazza heading business development, Fanny Desgranges overseeing finance, and Adrien Dugué representing the Shiro Unlimited publishing arm. Game technology is built on an unspecified engine stack; no proprietary AI, ML, or data platform is disclosed. The studio operates Early Access as a core go-to-market mechanism (used for SpaceCraft and Farever, among others) to validate demand and build communities before 1.0 launch, while shipping multiple expansion packs and major content updates per year for live titles such as Wartales and Northgard.
Revenue is generated primarily through one-time game license sales (self-published and via the Shiro Unlimited publishing label) and recurring revenue from additional content packs. The Shiro Unlimited label adds a B2B publishing services revenue stream serving third-party indie developers, offering financing, marketing, distribution, porting, QA, and localization. The studio is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors or parent company, indicating a founder/management-owned structure consistent with its independent positioning. Recent recognized achievements include the 2012 Ludum Dare award (Evoland), a 2019 Dice Award Strategy Game of the Year Finalist (Northgard), the 2023 Pégases Best Technological Innovation award (Dune: Spice Wars), and the 2024 Dice Award Best Strategy Game (Wartales).
Shiro Games firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Shiro Games
- Legal name
- Shiro Games
- Website
- https://shirogames.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Shiro Games is a French independent video game studio founded in 2012 in Bordeaux, developing and publishing strategy, RPG, survival, and simulation games across PC and consoles, while also operating Shiro Unlimited, a third-party indie game publishing label.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Shiro Games industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Indie Video Games
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (51321)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Strategy/4X/Management Game Studios (MPAFAAAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Co-Development, Porting & Remaster Studios (MPAFAAAM)
Keywords
Where Shiro Games is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bordeaux
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Shiro Games 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 Sales: One-time purchase revenue from selling completed game titles across PC and console platforms. Games are sold at standard retail prices with occasional discounts during sales events.
- Additional Content: Revenue from releasing expansion packs, downloadable content, and major updates that expand gameplay. The company releases 'Additional content per year' according to their metrics.
- Shiro Unlimited Publishing: Publishing third-party indie game titles through the Shiro Unlimited label, providing financing, marketing, distribution, and development support services.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels10 records
Shiro Games product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Shiro Games develops, self-publishes, and ports original indie video games across PC and console platforms, with a portfolio spanning strategy, RPG, survival, simulation, and adventure genres. Through its Shiro Unlimited sub-brand, it also provides publishing services — including financing, marketing, QA, localization, and distribution — to third-party indie game developers.
Product overview
Shiro Games is a French independent video game development and publishing studio based in Bordeaux, founded in 2012. The company operates as both a game developer creating original titles and a publisher through its Shiro Unlimited division. Their portfolio spans multiple genres including strategy games (Northgard, Northgard Battlegrounds, Dune: Spice Wars, Wartales), action RPGs (Farever), survival games (Frostrail), simulation/tycoon games (Ale Abbey, Block Factory), and horror/puzzle games (Decarnation). Shiro Unlimited publishes both internally developed titles and games from external indie developers. The studio publishes primarily on PC/Steam, with games also distributed through Epic Games Store, GOG, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch platforms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Shiro Unlimited: Publishing label operated by Shiro Games for publishing games from external developers. Shiro Unlimited provides financing, publishing support, and development assistance to indie game creators.
Products and services
- Northgard Battlegrounds A city-building auto-battler set in the Viking world of Northgard where every building placed shapes the clan's fate. Players develop their village, claim the Gods' blessings, and send their warband to battle against rival players.
- Farever An online co-op action RPG set in a vast fantasy open world. Players explore wild landscapes and epic dungeons, build their playstyle, craft powerful equipment, and carve their path through dynamic combat and playful platforming.
- Frostrail A ruthless open world survival FPS, playable solo or co-op. Players explore, scavenge, craft and fight to endure a frozen, corrupted world while operating and upgrading their steam-powered train through an unforgiving wasteland.
- SpaceCraft An online space exploration and building game. Players explore a vast galaxy of solar systems and planets, mine and craft resources, design and build ships, automate planetary bases and interplanetary logistics, trade and cooperate.
- Block Factory A production and automation game focusing on creating 3D figurines from building blocks in a factory. Players shape models, design and optimize assembly lines to bring their creations to life.
- Ale Abbey A brewery tycoon game where players build and expand their monastery, craft recipes and brew holy ales. Features a canvas for beer alchemists with no pre-made recipes.
- Wartales An open world RPG in which players lead a group of mercenaries in their search for wealth across a massive medieval universe. Players explore the world, recruit companions, collect bounties, and unravel the secrets of the tombs of the ancients.
- Dune: Spice Wars A 4X real-time strategy game set in Frank Herbert's Dune universe. Players lead their faction and battle for control and dominance over the harsh desert planet of Arrakis.
- Northgard A critically acclaimed strategy game based on Norse mythology. Players lead their clan, uncover the secrets of a mysterious newfound continent, and defeat their enemies to conquer the Throne.
- Darksburg A co-op roguelite in which players must escape a procedurally generated medieval city overwhelmed by undead forces. Fight alongside up to 3 friends and overcome the revenants.
- Evoland A journey through the history of action/adventure gaming. Players unlock new technologies, gameplay systems and graphic upgrades as they progress through the game.
- Decarnation A pixel art adventure/action puzzle game with a horrific story inspired by influential films and novels in the genre. Players dive into a breathtaking thriller where nightmares and dreams intertwine.
- Shiro Unlimited (Publishing Label) Publishing label operated by Shiro Games that finances, markets, distributes, ports, QA-tests, and localizes games from external indie developers. Published titles include Frostrail, Northgard Battlegrounds, Ale Abbey, Block Factory, and Decarnation.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90%+ positive reviews on Steam upon release
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Shiro Games
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Shiro Games technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Shiro Games partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary, major and minor.
- SteamcorePrimary distribution platform partner for PC game sales, Early Access releases, and community features. Shiro Games uses Steam as the main channel for launching games with 90%+ positive review targets.
- Epic Games StoresecondaryDistribution partner for PC games on the Epic Games Store platform.
- GOGsecondaryDistribution partner offering DRM-free game distribution options.
- PlayStationsecondaryConsole distribution partner for PlayStation platform, part of multi-platform strategy.
- Xbox / Xbox Game PasssecondaryConsole distribution partner with Xbox Game Pass integration opportunities for select titles. Business development partner.
- Nintendo SwitchsecondaryConsole distribution partner for Nintendo Switch platform, part of multi-platform strategy.
- Steam Next FestcoreParticipation in Steam Next Fest promotional event for game reveals and demo availability to build wishlists and community engagement.
- PC Gaming ShowmajorPromotional show participation for game announcements and showcase events.
- Future Game ShowmajorPromotional show participation for game reveals and industry visibility.
- Game AwardsmajorIndustry event participation for major game announcements and industry recognition.
- Triple-I InitiativemajorPromotional showcase initiative for indie game visibility.
- FanaticalminorDigital distribution partner offering discounted game bundles and sales.
- GamesplanetminorDigital distribution partner for game sales in European markets.
- Genba DigitalminorDigital distribution partner for game sales.
- Humble BundleminorDistribution partner offering game bundles with charity component and subscriber store.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Shiro Games competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Shiro Games social profiles
Digital presenceShiro Games financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Shiro Games leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Shiro Games funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Shiro Games 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 Shiro Games
What does Shiro Games do?
Shiro Games develops, self-publishes, and ports original indie video games across PC and console platforms, with a portfolio spanning strategy, RPG, survival, simulation, and adventure genres. Through its Shiro Unlimited sub-brand, it also provides publishing services — including financing, marketing, QA, localization, and distribution — to third-party indie game developers.
Is Shiro Games a public or private company?
Shiro Games is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Shiro Games founded?
Shiro Games was founded in 2012. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Shiro Games based?
Shiro Games is headquartered in Bordeaux, France, in the Europe region.
How does Shiro Games make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Game Sales are the primary driver. The others are additional Content and shiro Unlimited Publishing.
Does Shiro Games have an API?
No public API is recorded for Shiro Games.
What industry is Shiro Games in?
Shiro Games's product category is Indie Video Games. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAAAK, Strategy/4X/Management Game Studios, with a secondary code of MPAFAAAM, Co-Development, Porting & Remaster Studios. Its NAICS code is 51321 and its SIC code is 7371.