Hello Games

Interactive Entertainment Softwarehellogames.org

Hello Games is a UK-based, self-funded independent video game studio best known for No Man's Sky, an infinite procedurally generated space exploration game continuously updated since 2016. It also develops The Last Campfire and the announced Light No Fire, distributing globally across PC, console, and mobile platforms.

Company typePrivate
Founded2008
HeadquartersGuildford, United Kingdom
Headcount1–10
GTM typeB2C
OfferingSoftware

What Hello Games does

Hello Games is a UK-based, privately held video game development and publishing studio founded in 2008 in Guildford, England, with a secondary office in Cambridge. The company builds and self-publishes games centered on its proprietary procedural content generation technology, most notably No Man's Sky, a continuously evolving space exploration title that launched in 2016 and has received more than 20 free major updates over a decade. Its product portfolio spans No Man's Sky (sci-fi exploration/survival), The Last Campfire (artistic puzzle adventure released in 2020 on Apple Arcade and other storefronts), the Joe Danger arcade series, and the announced Light No Fire (a fantasy exploration title revealed in December 2023). The studio also began third-party publishing with Ghost Town Games' 'Stage Fright' announced in December 2024.

The studio operates a one-time-purchase revenue model with all major content updates provided free, distributing games globally across PC (Steam, Epic), PlayStation, Xbox (including Game Pass), Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, Apple Arcade, and Mac, with Bandai Namco handling physical retail distribution for console editions. Hello Games' go-to-market combines product-led growth (continuous free updates that renew player engagement) with community-led engagement via Discord, Reddit, and an active social presence. The company describes itself as self-funded, self-published, and entirely independent, with no disclosed external investors. Leadership comprises founder Sean Murray (Managing Director/Founder & CEO) and directors David Ream (creative) and Ryan Doyle (technical).

Hello Games firmographics

Firmographics

Name: Hello Games
Legal name: Hello Games Ltd
Website: https://hellogames.org
Company type: Private
Founded year: 2008
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 1–10 employees
Short description: Hello Games is a UK-based, self-funded independent video game studio best known for No Man's Sky, an infinite procedurally generated space exploration game continuously updated since 2016. It also develops The Last Campfire and the announced Light No Fire, distributing globally across PC, console, and mobile platforms.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

Hello Games industry classification

Industry

Product category: Interactive Entertainment Software
NAICS: Software Publishers (5132)
SIC: Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
akta.pro primary industry: AAA & Premium Game Studios (PC/Console) (MPAFAAAA)
akta.pro secondary industries: Virtual Worlds & Social Sandbox Experiences (persistent social spaces) (MPAFAIAG), Gaming & Virtual World Social Platforms (MPACAJAG)

Keywords

Video game development
Procedural content generation
Open world exploration
Cross-platform gaming
Indie game studio

Where Hello Games is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Guildford
HQ country: United Kingdom
HQ region: Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

Hello Games business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Software
Cost components: Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

Game Sales: One-time purchase revenue from selling games across multiple platforms including PC (Steam), PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and Mac. No Man's Sky base game sales with all major updates provided for free.
Free-to-Play Base with Updates: No Man's Sky is sold as a base game purchase with all major updates provided free of charge, generating revenue through continued player base growth and platform sales.
Merchandise Store: Official Hello Games merchandise store selling apparel, accessories and collectibles including NMS branded hoodies, t-shirts, caps, mugs and The Last Campfire plushies.

Pricing tiers

Model	Billing	Price
One time/ perpetual license	Pay-as-you-go	No Man's Sky base game

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels5 records

Hello Games product offering

Product offering

Core offering

Hello Games is an independent video game development and self-publishing studio that designs and ships interactive entertainment software, most notably the procedurally generated space exploration title No Man's Sky. The studio develops, publishes, and continuously updates games across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and Mac platforms, and also operates a merchandise store for branded apparel and collectibles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

No Man's Sky: An ever-expanding science fiction epic where players explore and survive in an infinite procedurally generated universe.
The Last Campfire
Joe Danger
Light No Fire

Products and services

No Man's Sky
The Last Campfire
Joe Danger
Hello Games Merchandise Store

Companies that use Hello Games

Customer profile

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Hello Games technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Hello Games partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered strategic and core.

Ghost Town GamesstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 December 2024Hello Games announced they will be publishing the next game from Ghost Town Games ('Stage Fright'), helping with publishing and behind-the-scenes support for the Overcooked developer's new party game.
Bandai NamcocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 27 June 2022Bandai Namco serves as the physical retail distribution partner for No Man's Sky, bringing physical versions of the PlayStation 5 edition and handling retail distribution for console versions.
BioWare/EA (Mass Effect)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 May 2021Unique limited-time collaboration with BioWare/EA bringing the SSV Normandy SR1 starship from Mass Effect into No Man's Sky as an exclusive reward for players, celebrating Mass Effect's annual N7 Day.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Hello Games competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Broad incumbents

FromSoftware: FromSoftware is a major premium game studio (Elden Ring, Dark Souls) known for iterative, long-running franchises. Comparable to Hello Games in its expertise in crafting persistent, deep single-player/co-op open worlds and its award-winning post-launch content model.
id Software: id Software is an established premium game studio (DOOM, Quake) known for long-running franchises and post-launch support. Comparable to Hello Games in expertise with persistent, open-world and procedural-style game engines and multi-platform PC/console distribution.
CD Projekt Red: CD Projekt Red is a premium PC/console game studio behind The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077. Comparable as a high-profile, narrative-driven premium game studio that has invested heavily in post-launch updates (e.g., Cyberpunk 2077 turnaround) similar to No Man's Sky's redemption arc.

Direct peers

ConcernedApe: ConcernedApe is the solo developer of Stardew Valley, one of the most successful indie games of all time, and is now developing Haunted Chocolatier. Comparable to Hello Games as a small, independent, self-published developer with a single mega-hit IP driving long-term revenue and community engagement.
Mojang Studios: Mojang is a Swedish indie-turned-mega studio best known for Minecraft, a procedurally generated sandbox game with continuous updates. Highly comparable to Hello Games as a small, creative-led studio that built a global evergreen franchise on procedural generation and long-tail content updates.
Digital Extremes: Digital Extremes develops Warframe, a long-running free-to-play live-service title on PC and consoles with a dedicated community. Comparable to Hello Games for its multi-platform live-service model, community engagement, and continuous free major content updates over many years.
Supergiant Games: Supergiant is a small, independent, award-winning game studio (Bastion, Hades, Hades II) with a comparable team size and craft-focused, self-published model. Similarities to Hello Games include a small team producing critically acclaimed premium titles and strong post-launch content support.
Larian Studios: Larian is a privately held, independent PC/console RPG studio (Baldur's Gate 3) known for self-publishing ambitious premium titles. Comparable to Hello Games in being an independent, self-published developer that achieved breakout commercial success with a single ambitious title.

Regional players

Playground Games: Playground Games is a UK-based premium game studio (Forza Horizon, Fable) based in Leamington Spa. Comparable to Hello Games as a fellow Guildford/UK indie-to-premium game studio with multi-platform reach and a focus on large-scale, polished open-world titles.

Emerging players

Ghost Ship Games: Ghost Ship Games is a small, independent Danish studio behind Deep Rock Galactic, a cooperative multiplayer title with strong community engagement. Comparable to Hello Games as a small indie studio that built a sustainable franchise through community-led live-service support.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Hello Games financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Hello Games leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Hello Games funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

Hello Games M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Hello Games

What does Hello Games do?

Is Hello Games a public or private company?

Hello Games is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.

When was Hello Games founded?

Hello Games was founded in 2008. It employs 1 to 10 people.

Where is Hello Games based?

Hello Games is headquartered in Guildford, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.

How does Hello Games make money?

Three revenue lines are on record. Game Sales are the primary driver. The others are free-to-Play Base with Updates and merchandise Store.

Who are Hello Games's main competitors?

Broad incumbents on record are FromSoftware, id Software and CD Projekt Red. Direct peers are ConcernedApe, Mojang Studios, Digital Extremes, Supergiant Games and Larian Studios. Playground Games is listed as a regional player. Ghost Ship Games is listed as an emerging player.

Does Hello Games have an API?

No public API is recorded for Hello Games.

What industry is Hello Games in?

Hello Games's product category is Interactive Entertainment Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAAAA, AAA & Premium Game Studios (PC/Console), with a secondary code of MPAFAIAG, Virtual Worlds & Social Sandbox Experiences (persistent social spaces). Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 7990.