What Celsius Online does

Celsius Online is a Paris-based video game development studio founded in 2004, operating as a subsidiary of Plug In Digital since 2023. The studio builds and operates cross-platform games spanning browser, mobile (iOS/Android), Facebook, and Apple Arcade, with a portfolio anchored by long-running live titles including Renaissance Kingdoms (a 21+ year-old MMO translated into 26 languages), Mutants: Genetic Gladiators (12+ years live, 25M+ downloads), Mutants: Genesis (cross-platform collectible card game), The Werewolves of Millers Hollow Online (social deduction game for 16 players), and MasterChef: Let's Cook! (Apple Arcade exclusive with 1.3M+ downloads). The company also offers B2B development services to game studios, publishers, and enterprise clients in regulated industries, with 40+ people dedicated to that arm under the Plug-In Digital Studio brand.

Name

Celsius Online

Legal name

Celsius-Online

Website

https://celsius-online.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Paris-based game studio developing and operating cross-platform video games (browser, mobile, Apple Arcade) including long-running MMOs and mobile titles, while also providing B2B development services to studios and enterprise clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Video Game Development

NAICS

Software Publishers (513210)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Mobile & F2P Game Studios (MPAFAAAB)

Keywords

• Cross-platform game development
• Mobile game studio
• Browser MMO games
• B2B game development services
• Free-to-play mobile games

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Free-to-play with in-game purchases: The studio's primary revenue comes from free-to-play games that monetize through in-game purchases, cosmetics, and premium content. Games like Renaissance Kingdoms, Mutants: Genetic Gladiators, and Mutants: Genesis operate on this model.
2. Apple Arcade subscription: MasterChef: Let's Cook! is an Apple Arcade exclusive title, generating revenue through Apple's subscription service.
3. B2B development services: The studio offers development services to other studios and publishers, including development from scratch, adaptation and platform transition, co-development and team scaling, and serious games and gamification.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Celsius Online is a French game development studio that designs, develops, and operates cross-platform video games for web, mobile, Facebook, and Apple Arcade, with flagship titles including Renaissance Kingdoms (browser/web MMO), Mutants: Genetic Gladiators, Mutants: Genesis, The Werewolves of Millers Hollow Online, and MasterChef: Let's Cook!. In parallel, the studio provides B2B game development services (development from scratch, adaptation and platform transitions, co-development and team scaling, and serious games/gamification) to other game studios, publishers, and enterprise clients in gaming, telecom, betting, and utilities sectors.

Product overview

Celsius Online is a video game studio (part of Plug In Digital since 2023) that crafts games across multiple platforms. The portfolio consists of cross-platform MMO and social games, including persistent-world RPGs (Renaissance Kingdoms), collectible card games (Mutants: Genesis), social deduction games (The Werewolves of Millers Hollow Online), competitive mobile games (Mutants: Genetic Gladiators), and exclusive mobile titles (MasterChef: Let's Cook! on Apple Arcade). The company also provides B2B development services for other studios and publishers. The product lineup ranges from long-running live games with 12-21+ years of operation to new titles in development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Renaissance Kingdoms: Cross-platform Web & Mobile MMO role-playing and management game set in 15th-century Europe
• Mutants: Genetic Gladiators
• The Werewolves of Millers Hollow Online
• Mutants: Genesis
• MasterChef: Let's Cook!

Products and services

• Renaissance Kingdoms Cross-platform Web & Mobile MMO role-playing and management game set in 15th-century Europe. Players participate in the economic, political, and social life of villages, counties, and kingdoms. Live for 21+ years.
• Mutants: Genetic Gladiators Cross-platform Facebook and mobile competitive game where players become psy captains, compete against players worldwide, climb ladders, and build rosters of mutant allies. Live for 12+ years, 25M+ downloads.
• The Werewolves of Millers Hollow Online Official mobile adaptation of the cult social deduction board game for 16 players, where players investigate, debate, and manipulate each other in hidden-role matches.
• Mutants: Genesis Cross-platform collectible card game with MMO depth. Features multi-choice narrative campaigns, 300+ collectible mutants, solo PvE, three-player co-op dungeons and raids, and 3v3 PvP/guild battles.
• MasterChef: Let's Cook! Apple Arcade exclusive cooking competition game for mobile. Players pick ingredients, prep and cook dishes in fast-paced mini-games, plate with style and serve to judges. Features 120+ recipes, chef customization, and kitchen gear upgrades.
• B2B Game Development Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 50M+ total downloads across all games
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Plug In DigitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Parent company acquisition in 2023. Celsius Online is part of Plug In Digital group, combining indie passion with institutional backing and access to complementary studio expertise.
• FDJ UnitedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerB2B client - leading European gaming and betting operator offering lottery, sports betting, and digital gaming services.
• PMUminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerB2B client - French betting operator specializing in horse racing, both online and through a wide retail network.
• MovistarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerB2B client - major telecommunications brand of Telefónica providing mobile, broadband, and digital services across Spain and Latin America.
• OrangeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerB2B client - leading global telecommunications operator delivering mobile, fixed-line, internet, and digital services.
• EDFminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerB2B client - major French multinational utility company focused on electricity generation, distribution, and energy services.
• Apple ArcadecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive distribution partner for MasterChef: Let's Cook! on Apple Arcade subscription service.
• ZeptoLabminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerB2B client in games and interactive entertainment industry.
• AsmodeecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIP licensing partnership for The Werewolves of Miller's Hollow - official mobile adaptation of the cult social deduction board game.
• Tilting PointminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerB2B client in games and interactive entertainment industry.
• ZygomaticminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerB2B client in games and interactive entertainment industry.
• Loups-Garous En LignecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcquired in 2018 - the online version of Werewolves game that became The Werewolves of Millers Hollow Online.
• KobojocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcquired in 2017 - game studio whose IP (Mutants) became a core part of Celsius Online's portfolio.
• Ouat EntertainmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcquired in 2017 - entertainment studio contributing to the group's creative capabilities.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Gameloft: French-founded mobile game studio with a long-running portfolio of F2P and licensed-IP mobile titles (including Disney and MasterChef franchise-adjacent games). Highly comparable to Celsius in cross-platform mobile/F2P catalog strategy and French origin.
• ZeptoLab: Cross-platform mobile/casual game studio known for the Cut the Rope franchise and developer of mobile titles. Comparable as a mid-size mobile-first studio with B2B and consumer offerings in the same genre space as Celsius's Mutants titles.
• Tilting Point: Mobile game publisher and live-operations specialist that partners with developers to scale and operate F2P titles. Comparable to Celsius's B2B and co-development arm and overlapping mid-core mobile portfolio.
• Playrix: Mobile casual/mid-core F2P studio behind Homescapes and Gardenscapes with hundreds of millions of downloads. Comparable in F2P mobile mechanics, live-ops execution, and cross-platform reach to Celsius's Mutants and MasterChef titles.
• Scopely: Mobile game developer and publisher with a portfolio of F2P titles including Monopoly GO and Stumble Guys. Comparable to Celsius as a multi-title mobile F2P operator with strong live-ops culture.
• Asmodee: Board game publisher and rights holder of The Werewolves of Miller's Hollow, partner to Celsius for the official mobile adaptation. Highly comparable given direct commercial and IP relationship on the Werewolves franchise.

Broad incumbents

• Zynga: One of the largest mobile F2P game publishers, now under Take-Two, with a broad portfolio of social, casual and mid-core titles. Comparable to Celsius's F2P mobile model but at vastly greater scale and with broader genre coverage.
• King: Mobile casual gaming giant (Candy Crush, Farm Heroes) under Activision Blizzard. Comparable to Celsius in cross-platform mobile F2P approach, though at dramatically larger scale and with deeper live-ops infrastructure.
• Ubisoft: Major French-headquartered game publisher with mobile, PC and console titles. Comparable as a French game publisher with cross-platform ambitions, though operating at vastly larger scale and broader genre coverage than Celsius.
• Voodoo: Major mobile game publisher specializing in casual and hyper-casual titles with strong UA capabilities. Comparable as a mobile game ecosystem participant with B2B publishing support for developers in adjacent segments to Celsius's mobile portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/celsiusonline
• Facebookfacebook.com/celsiusonlinestudio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/celsius-online

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Celsius Online