Ashborne Games
Ashborne Games is a Brno-based video game studio (founded 2020) developing strategy and management titles such as Last Train Home, distributed digitally via Steam under THQ Nordic / Embracer Group, serving global PC strategy-game enthusiasts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersBrno, Czechia
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Ashborne Games does
Ashborne Games s.r.o. is a private Czech video game development studio headquartered in Brno, founded in 2020 and operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary within the THQ Nordic family of Embracer Group. The studio specializes in the strategy and management genre, with a development team of 51-100 employees producing handcrafted, historically-grounded titles such as Last Train Home (2023), a survival strategy game following Czechoslovak Legionaries' post-WWI return via an armored train that combines real-time tactical missions with resource management. Its proprietary technology centers on industry-standard game engines augmented by custom tooling for mission design, including unique-per-mission handcrafted maps, tactical pause mechanics, Fog of War exploration, and stealth gameplay. The studio has additionally assumed publishing and development responsibility for the Comanche helicopter-combat franchise (originally by Nukklear) and is developing The Guild - Europa 1410, a medieval simulation sequel.
Revenue is generated almost exclusively through one-time-purchase digital game sales distributed primarily via Steam, with a secondary GOG presence and DLC expansions (e.g., Legion Tales at $14.99 SRP) extending core-title monetization. The company does not publish revenue figures; its operating model is anchored by intercompany funding from parent THQ Nordic, the only disclosed investor ($6.87M in April 2021). Go-to-market relies on Steam storefront listings, THQ Nordic Digital Showcase premieres, a multi-episode YouTube developer documentary series, dev diaries, Discord community engagement, and broad social media presence. Target customers are individual global PC strategy-game enthusiasts rather than enterprise clients, with a horizontal segmentation approach focused on genre rather than demographic.
The strategic posture is best characterized as a build-mode subsidiary: one self-developed flagship to date, a franchise take-over (Comanche), one DLC, and one announced sequel (The Guild - Europa 1410). Distribution and publishing leverage flow almost entirely from the THQ Nordic / Embracer Group relationship, and the studio's competitive position is grounded in genre specialization, developer tenure on prior AAA franchises (Arma, Mafia, UFO series), and accumulated IP rights rather than any disclosed technological breakthrough.
Ashborne Games firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ashborne Games
- Legal name
- Ashborne Games s.r.o.
- Website
- https://ashbornegames.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Ashborne Games is a Brno-based video game studio (founded 2020) developing strategy and management titles such as Last Train Home, distributed digitally via Steam under THQ Nordic / Embracer Group, serving global PC strategy-game enthusiasts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ashborne Games industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Video Game Development
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Strategy/4X/Management Game Studios (MPAFAAAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Serious Games & Simulation Studios (Training, Defense, Enterprise) (MPAFAAAH)
Keywords
Where Ashborne Games is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brno
- HQ country
- Czechia
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ashborne Games business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Game Sales: One-time purchase model for full game titles sold directly through digital distribution platforms like Steam. Includes both original releases and re-releases of acquired game IPs.
- DLC/Expansion Sales: Downloadable content expansions for existing games, such as Legion Tales DLC for Last Train Home. Sold at suggested retail prices with launch discounts.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Legion Tales DLC |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Ashborne Games product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ashborne Games is a video game development studio that develops and publishes strategy and management genre video games for PC. The studio's core offerings include the survival strategy title Last Train Home, the helicopter shooter Comanche, and the Legion Tales DLC expansion, all sold as one-time digital purchases through Steam and GOG. The studio operates as a subsidiary within the THQ Nordic family, leveraging the parent's publishing and distribution infrastructure.
Product overview
Ashborne Games is a game development studio that specializes in the Strategy/Management genre. Their portfolio consists of two primary games: Last Train Home (a survival strategy game combining real-time tactical missions with train management) and Comanche (a modern helicopter shooter). The company is also developing The Guild - Europa 1410, a medieval simulation game. Last Train Home has a DLC expansion called Legion Tales. All games are distributed digitally through Steam and the company operates as a member of the THQ Nordic family.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Last Train Home A survival strategy video game for PC where players command Czechoslovak soldiers attempting to return home after World War I on an armored train. The game combines real-time tactical missions with train management and resource allocation across 40+ hours of gameplay with nearly 40 handcrafted missions.
- Comanche A modern helicopter shooter video game set in an alternative future, featuring an evolving singleplayer campaign, Conflicts missions for skill mastery, and team-based multiplayer modes. Originally developed by Nukklear; Ashborne Games assumed publishing and development support in 2023.
- Legion Tales DLC A DLC expansion for the Last Train Home base game, adding 10 new missions with unique narratives, optional challenges, meta-currency rewards, and customizable pre-set squads for enhanced replayability. Sold as a one-time purchase on Steam.
Quantifiable outcome
- Last Train Home average playthrough spans 40+ hours with nearly 40 handcrafted missions
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Ashborne Games
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Ashborne Games technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Ashborne Games partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- THQ NordiccoreAshborne Games is a member of the THQ Nordic family, operating as an internal studio under the THQ Nordic publishing umbrella. This provides the studio with publishing infrastructure, marketing support, distribution channels, and access to the broader Embracer Group ecosystem. The studio develops games under the THQ Nordic banner.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ashborne Games competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Haemimont Games: Bulgarian strategy and simulation game studio known for the Tropico series and Surviving Mars. Directly comparable as a mid-sized Eastern European studio specializing in strategy/management titles, similar to Ashborne's Last Train Home and upcoming The Guild.
- Paradox Development Studio: Developer of grand strategy franchises including Europa Universalis, Crusader Kings, and Hearts of Iron. Directly comparable as a strategy-focused PC studio targeting dedicated strategy enthusiasts, the same niche Ashborne serves with Last Train Home.
- Creative Assembly: Developer of the Total War franchise, combining turn-based strategy with real-time tactical battles. Closely comparable to Ashborne's hybrid real-time tactical/management approach in Last Train Home and the historical strategy focus of The Guild.
- Amplitude Studios: French strategy developer behind Humankind and the Endless series. Comparable as a strategy-specialized studio with deep 4X and management game expertise, similar in scope and target audience to Ashborne's strategy portfolio.
- Firaxis Games: Developer of Civilization and XCOM franchises. Comparable as a long-established strategy game developer with deep historical and management gameplay, the same genre positioning Ashborne targets with The Guild - Europa 1410.
- Relic Entertainment: Developer of Age of Empires, Company of Heroes, and Dawn of War. Comparable as a real-time strategy specialist with focus on historical and military themes, paralleling Ashborne's historical strategy positioning.
- Limbic Entertainment: German developer of Tropico 6 and other strategy/simulation titles. Comparable as a European strategy specialist studio with similar headcount and genre focus to Ashborne.
Emerging players
- Owlcat Games: Developer of Pathfinder: Kingmaker and Wrath of the Righteous CRPGs with strategic elements. Comparable as an Eastern-originated mid-sized studio building strategy/RPG hybrids for PC, similar release cadence and target audience to Ashborne.
- Proxy Studios: Developer of Warhammer 40,000: Gladius, a turn-based 4X strategy game. Comparable as a small strategy-focused studio building historically-themed and licensed-IP strategy titles for PC, similar in scale and genre focus.
Broad incumbents
- THQ Nordic GmbH: Parent publisher of Ashborne Games and broader Embracer Group subsidiary. Comparable as the publishing infrastructure owner providing distribution, marketing, and funding leverage to Ashborne's development operations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ashborne Games social profiles
Digital presenceAshborne Games financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ashborne Games leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Ashborne Games funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ashborne 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 Ashborne Games
What does Ashborne Games do?
Ashborne Games is a video game development studio that develops and publishes strategy and management genre video games for PC. The studio's core offerings include the survival strategy title Last Train Home, the helicopter shooter Comanche, and the Legion Tales DLC expansion, all sold as one-time digital purchases through Steam and GOG. The studio operates as a subsidiary within the THQ Nordic family, leveraging the parent's publishing and distribution infrastructure.
Is Ashborne Games a public or private company?
Ashborne Games is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Ashborne Games founded?
Ashborne Games was founded in 2020. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Ashborne Games based?
Ashborne Games is headquartered in Brno, Czechia, in the Europe region.
How does Ashborne Games make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Game Sales are the primary driver. The others are DLC/Expansion Sales.
Who are Ashborne Games's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Haemimont Games, Paradox Development Studio, Creative Assembly, Amplitude Studios, Firaxis Games, Relic Entertainment and Limbic Entertainment. Emerging players are Owlcat Games and Proxy Studios. THQ Nordic GmbH is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Ashborne Games have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ashborne Games.
What industry is Ashborne Games in?
Ashborne Games's product category is Video Game Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAAAK, Strategy/4X/Management Game Studios, with a secondary code of MPAFAAAH, Serious Games & Simulation Studios (Training, Defense, Enterprise). Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 7371.