E-Line Media
E-Line Media is a privately held video game developer and publisher founded in 2008, creating award-winning impact games with cultural and scientific partners. It serves consumers, schools, and foundations across titles including Never Alone, Beyond Blue, and Gamestar Mechanic.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What E-Line Media does
E-Line Media is a privately held video game developer and publisher, founded in 2008 and operating as a subsidiary of E-Line Ventures, LLC, headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. The studio develops and publishes games "with meaningful themes and authentic voices," employing an inclusive development methodology where cultural and scientific partners serve as co-creators—exemplified by collaborations with the Cook Inlet Tribal Council on Never Alone, OceanX and BBC on Beyond Blue, and the Joan Ganz Cooney Center on educational initiatives. Its product portfolio spans commercial entertainment titles (Never Alone franchise, Beyond Blue, upcoming Never Alone 2 and Neighborhoods), VR experiences (Beyond Blue: After the Storm on Meta Quest), and the Gamestar Mechanic game-based learning platform used by over one million students globally.
The studio operates three revenue streams: one-time-license commercial game sales via Steam and VR platforms, educational licensing to schools and institutions, and impact partnerships funded through grants from foundations and government agencies (USAID, DARPA, NSF, Gates, MacArthur, Ford). Distribution channels span digital marketplaces, educational institutions, and dedicated game-specific websites. Games have reached over 25 million players cumulatively, won BAFTA, Peabody, and Jackson-Wild awards, and been featured in the Smithsonian and the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. The company is led by CEO Steve Arnold (ex-Meta/Oculus Studios, EA) and co-founders Alan Gershenfeld (ex-Activision SVP) and Michael Angst, with Executive Chair Gloria O'Neill (President/CEO of Cook Inlet Tribal Council) anchoring the studio's cultural-impact mission.
E-Line Media firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- E-Line Media
- Legal name
- E-Line Ventures, LLC
- Website
- https://elinemedia.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- E-Line Media is a privately held video game developer and publisher founded in 2008, creating award-winning impact games with cultural and scientific partners. It serves consumers, schools, and foundations across titles including Never Alone, Beyond Blue, and Gamestar Mechanic.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
E-Line Media industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Video Game Development & Publishing
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- VR/AR Game Publishing & Distribution (MPAFABAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Multimedia Learning Production (Video, Animation, Interactive) (EDAGAKAG), Children’s & Youth Educational Entertainment (Edutainment) (EDAGALAK), Gaming & Virtual World Social Platforms (MPACAJAG)
Keywords
Where E-Line Media is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
E-Line Media business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Video Game Sales: Development and publishing of commercial video games across multiple platforms including PC, VR, and mobile, generating revenue through direct consumer sales and platform distribution.
- Educational Licensing: Licensing of educational games and game-based learning platforms to schools and educational institutions, including MinecraftEdu which was developed with Teacher Gaming and sold to Microsoft in 2015.
- Impact Partnerships and Grants: Collaborative projects with foundations, universities, government agencies, and nonprofits to create games for social impact, funded through grants and strategic partnerships.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
E-Line Media product offering
Product offeringCore offering
E-Line Media is a video game developer and publisher that creates games with meaningful themes and authentic voices through inclusive development partnerships with cultural, scientific, and civic organizations. The company develops and publishes commercial games across PC, VR, and mobile platforms (e.g., Never Alone, Beyond Blue, Neighborhoods) and game-based learning platforms for educational institutions (e.g., Gamestar Mechanic). Its titles pair entertainment with educational content, including unlockable "insights" videos connecting players to the real-world partners who inspired the gameplay.
Product overview
E-Line Media is a video game developer and publisher with a portfolio of games focused on meaningful themes and authentic voices. The company's current product slate includes Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna) and its Foxtales DLC expansion; the upcoming Never Alone 2 sequel; Beyond Blue and its VR spin-off Beyond Blue: After the Storm; Gamestar Mechanic (a game-based learning platform); and the upcoming Neighborhoods simulation game. E-Line also developed past projects including The Endless Mission sandbox game, MinecraftEdu (sold to Microsoft), qCraft, Fab: The Game, Our City, eleMental, Atlantis Remixed, Historia, and The Odyssey of Sergeant Jack Brennan graphic novel. The company also runs the National STEM Video Game Challenge and partnered with ASU on the Center for Games and Impact.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna) Atmospheric puzzle platformer developed in collaboration with the Iñupiat community, drawn from a traditional Iñupiaq story. Available in 16 languages, it connects players worldwide with Alaska Native culture and has won BAFTA and Peabody awards.
- Never Alone 2 Upcoming sequel to the BAFTA-winning Never Alone, featuring Nuna and Fox in a new 3D co-op adventure exploring the Arctic as they unearth an epic mystery threatening their village.
- Beyond Blue Ocean exploration game set in the near future where players experience the mysteries of the ocean through Mirai, a deep-sea explorer and scientist, using groundbreaking technologies.
- Beyond Blue: After the Storm VR adventure game where Mirai and her crew repair an underwater research station damaged by a tropical storm and uncover a dangerous mystery.
- Gamestar Mechanic Game-based learning platform and online community designed for youth. Over a million students in thousands of classrooms worldwide have created original games through this platform.
- Neighborhoods Cozy city-builder simulation game described as 'reimagining the city builder as a city fixer.' Currently available for wishlist on Steam.
- The Endless Mission Community-driven sandbox creation game where players use hacking as a superpower to manipulate the game down to the code itself, creating games to share with the world.
- qCraft Minecraft modification that introduces quantum physics concepts to the Minecraft world. Released in 2014 with over 1 million downloads, developed in partnership with Google, Teacher Gaming, and Caltech.
- Atlantis Remixed 3D adventure/role-playing platform for game-based learning, funded through Gates Foundation and developed with ASU Center for Games and Impact. Modules include science, language arts, and math curriculum.
- Never Alone: Foxtales First expansion to Never Alone, featuring Nuna and Fox returning in spring in the Arctic.
Quantifiable outcome
- 25+ million players reached across game portfolio
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use E-Line Media
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
E-Line Media technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
E-Line Media partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, major and minor.
- Cook Inlet Tribal CouncilcoreCollaborative partner for Never Alone game development, drawing from Iñupiat (Inupiaq) cultural storytelling traditions. The game is developed WITH the community, not about them, ensuring authentic cultural representation.
- SmithsonianflagshipE-Line games featured in Smithsonian exhibitions, bringing cultural and educational gaming experiences to museum visitors.
- BBCcoreStrategic partnership for developing games with meaningful themes, with BBC involved in content collaboration.
- OceanXcorePartner for Beyond Blue ocean exploration game, providing marine science expertise and content for authentic underwater experiences.
- GooglemajorStrategic partner for impact game projects, including involvement in qCraft quantum physics Minecraft mod.
- USAIDmajorFunding partner for civic engagement games like Our City, which used Facebook city-building to foster community participation in Jordan.
- DARPAmajorFunded research projects including Fab: The Game (digital fabrication) and The Odyssey of Sergeant Jack Brennan graphic novel for veteran reintegration.
- National Science Foundation (NSF)majorFunded neuro-research project eleMental, investigating how video games can improve learning and brain plasticity.
- MIT Center for Bits and AtomscoreResearch partner for Fab: The Game, exploring digital fabrication concepts in gaming.
- Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame WorkshopcorePartner for National STEM Video Game Challenge and eleMental game development, focusing on games for learning and child development.
- Endless StudioscoreSubsidiary of E-Line Ventures; youth-centered game studio and learning community where next generation creators apprentice with professionals.
- Experimental DesigncoreAffiliate of E-Line Ventures; co-founded by Alan Gershenfeld, focusing on design innovation.
- Teacher GamingmajorCollaborated to develop and publish MinecraftEdu, a school-ready remix of Minecraft sold to Microsoft in 2015.
- ASU Center for Games and ImpactcoreE-Line partnered with Arizona State University to establish the Center for Games and Impact to support research, design and publishing of impact games.
- CaltechcorePartner for qCraft mod with Institute for Quantum Information and Matter at Caltech introducing quantum physics concepts to Minecraft.
- NethopeminorPartner for Our City Facebook game project funded by USAID for civic engagement.
- Theater of War ProductionsminorPartner for The Odyssey of Sergeant Jack Brennan graphic novel connecting Homer's Odyssey to veteran reintegration issues.
- HistrionixminorPartner for Historia digital version, a middle school history curriculum designed by history teachers.
- Microsoft/MojangmajorMinecraftEdu was sold to Microsoft in 2015; developed through collaboration with Teacher Gaming.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
E-Line Media competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Games for Change: Non-profit organization supporting social impact games and the creator network behind them. Comparable to E-Line's mission-driven positioning and category-defining role in impact gaming.
- Schell Games: Pittsburgh-based studio specializing in educational and entertainment games with a strong focus on VR titles and learning experiences. Closely comparable to E-Line's blended VR/educational product mix.
- ThatGameCompany: Independent studio behind Journey, Flower, and Sky: Children of the Light - emotionally resonant, culturally meaningful games with cross-platform reach. Closely aligns with E-Line's mission-driven, artistic development approach.
- Filament Games: Madison-based educational game studio producing game-based learning experiences for K-12 and museum clients. Direct peer to E-Line's Gamestar Mechanic and Atlantis Remixed efforts, with shared B2B education and impact focus.
Broad incumbents
- Electronic Arts: Major publisher where CEO Steve Arnold previously held leadership. Provides industry context and a potential partnership / acquirer path for E-Line's impact-focused IP.
- Ubisoft: Major publisher with significant educational initiatives (Assassin's Creed Discovery Tour). Overlaps with E-Line on culturally rich, educational game experiences but at much larger production scale.
- Take-Two Interactive: Major publisher with broad gaming portfolio and growing interest in edutainment titles. Represents the kind of strategic acquirer or partner that could scale E-Line's IPs.
- Microsoft (Minecraft Education): Acquired MinecraftEdu (co-developed by E-Line) and operates Minecraft Education Edition for schools. Direct competitor in the K-12 game-based learning space E-Line pioneered.
Emerging players
- Innerloop Studios / Impact Game Alliance: Coalition of impact game studios and resources for socially conscious game development. Represents the broader ecosystem of mission-aligned studios operating in E-Line's space.
- Niantic: AR gaming company behind Pokémon GO and educational initiatives. Comparable in blending location-based AR with educational/mission-driven content, particularly relevant to E-Line's VR work.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
E-Line Media social profiles
Digital presenceE-Line Media financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
E-Line Media leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
E-Line Media funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
E-Line Media 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 E-Line Media
What does E-Line Media do?
E-Line Media is a video game developer and publisher that creates games with meaningful themes and authentic voices through inclusive development partnerships with cultural, scientific, and civic organizations. The company develops and publishes commercial games across PC, VR, and mobile platforms (e.g., Never Alone, Beyond Blue, Neighborhoods) and game-based learning platforms for educational institutions (e.g., Gamestar Mechanic). Its titles pair entertainment with educational content, including unlockable "insights" videos connecting players to the real-world partners who inspired the gameplay.
Is E-Line Media a public or private company?
E-Line Media is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was E-Line Media founded?
E-Line Media was founded in 2008. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is E-Line Media based?
E-Line Media is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does E-Line Media make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Video Game Sales are the primary driver. The others are educational Licensing and impact Partnerships and Grants.
Who are E-Line Media's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Games for Change, Schell Games, ThatGameCompany and Filament Games. Broad incumbents are Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, Take-Two Interactive and Microsoft (Minecraft Education). Emerging players are Innerloop Studios / Impact Game Alliance and Niantic.
Does E-Line Media have an API?
No public API is recorded for E-Line Media.
What industry is E-Line Media in?
E-Line Media's product category is Video Game Development & Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFABAK, VR/AR Game Publishing & Distribution, with a secondary code of EDAGAKAG, Multimedia Learning Production (Video, Animation, Interactive). Its NAICS code is 5121 and its SIC code is 7900.