Bitmap Bureau
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersSouthampton, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
Bitmap Bureau firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Bitmap Bureau
- Legal name
- Bitmap Bureau Ltd
- Website
- https://bitmapbureau.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Bitmap Bureau industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Video Games
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (51321)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mobile & F2P Game Studios (MPAFAAAB)
Keywords
Where Bitmap Bureau is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Southampton
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Bitmap Bureau business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Operations
Revenue model
- Game Sales: One-time purchase sales of video games through digital storefronts and physical retail. Games are sold as perpetual licenses with no subscription component.
- Licensed IP Development: Development of games based on licensed intellectual properties such as Terminator 2 and He-Man, likely receiving licensing fees or development contracts from IP holders.
- Physical Merchandise: Sale of physical game editions, collectors items, arcade tokens, and printed manuals through their online store and retail partners.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Digital game purchases through storefronts |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Bitmap Bureau product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Bitmap Bureau is a UK-based game development studio that designs and develops 16-bit style video games sold as perpetual licenses through digital storefronts (Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo eShop) and physical retail editions. Their portfolio of six core titles includes beat 'em ups, arena shooters, platformers, and action-adventure games built to run on both modern consoles and original retro hardware. The studio also develops games based on licensed IPs such as Terminator 2 and He-Man.
Product overview
Bitmap Bureau is a UK-based retro game development studio specializing in high-quality 16-bit games for modern consoles that also run on original retro hardware. The studio's product portfolio includes six core titles: Terminator 2D: NO FATE (a licensed IP side-scrolling action game based on the film), Final Vendetta (a side-scrolling beat 'em up with Utah Saints soundtrack), Battle Axe (a top-down hack 'n' slash with pixel art by Henk Nieborg), Xeno Crisis (a top-down arena shooter with extensive platform support), 88 Heroes (a chaotic 2D platformer with 88 unique characters), and Goodboy Galaxy (an action-adventure game notable as the first commercial Game Boy Advance game in 13 years). The studio also develops games for retro platforms including Dreamcast, Sega Mega Drive, Neo Geo AES/MVS, Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, GameCube, GBA, and Neo Geo CD.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Terminator 2D: NO FATE Side-scrolling arcade action game based on Terminator 2: Judgment Day featuring pixel artwork. Players control Sarah Connor, T-800, and John Connor through missions to stop the T-1000 and Skynet, with multiple endings.
- Final Vendetta Hard-hitting side-scrolling beat 'em up in the style of classic arcade titles, featuring stunning pixel art and an exclusive soundtrack from Utah Saints.
- Battle Axe Arcade top-down hack 'n' slash game with high-quality pixel art by veteran artist Henk Nieborg and music by VGM composer Manami Matsumae.
- Xeno Crisis Arena shooter where up to two players control marines battling alien enemies. Features extensive platform support across retro and modern systems.
- 88 Heroes Chaotic 2D platformer where completing levels or dying brings new uniquely skilled heroes into action. Players must use all 88 heroes to stop Dr. H8 in 88 minutes across 88 levels.
- Goodboy Galaxy Action-adventure game featuring Maxwell the dog who hyperjumps to a hostile star system seeking help for his homeworld on the brink of collapse.
- He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Dragon Pearl of Destruction Retro side-scrolling beat 'em up based on He-Man and the Masters of the Universe IP, published by Limited Run Games.
Quantifiable outcome
- Terminator 2D: No Fate received 8/10 from IGN and Push Square
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Bitmap Bureau
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Bitmap Bureau technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Bitmap Bureau partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Limited Run GamesminorLimited Run Games was announced as publisher for the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Dragon Pearl of Destruction game developed by Bitmap Bureau, announced in August 2025.
- Reef EntertainmentcoreReef Entertainment serves as publisher and distributor for Bitmap Bureau games, handling physical editions and retail distribution across UK, EU, and North America. They manage assembly, packaging, and shipping of physical game editions including boxes and manuals.
- UKIEminorBitmap Bureau is a proud member of UKIE, the UK video games industry trade body.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Bitmap Bureau competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- WayForward Technologies: Long-running US-based studio known for retro-style pixel art games across consoles, including the Shantae and Contra franchises. The most directly comparable peer given similar pixel-art focus and cross-platform console releases.
- Yacht Club Games: US-based indie studio behind Shovel Knight and other 8/16-bit-style games for modern consoles. Comparable as a small independent studio brand-built around authentic retro aesthetics.
- Tribute Games: Montreal-based indie studio focused on retro-style beat 'em ups (e.g., TMNT: Shredder's Revenge, Streets of Rage 4). Directly comparable given the overlap of beat 'em up genre focus and pixel-art execution on modern consoles.
- Dotemu: French studio/publisher specializing in retro game remasters and new entries in classic franchises (Streets of Rage 4, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge, Windjammers 2). Closely related as a retro-game-focused business with both development and publishing operations.
- JoyMasher: Brazilian indie developer of retro-style action games (Blazing Chrome, Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider). Closely comparable as a small studio delivering pixel-art 16-bit-style action games on modern consoles.
- Mega Cat Studios: US-based studio creating new games for legacy consoles (homebrew/retro category). Comparable as a small studio with cross-platform retro-and-modern release capability and similar catalog scope.
- Studio MDHR: Canadian developer of Cuphead and its sequel, blending retro animation aesthetics with modern gameplay. Comparable in size and indie scope, with a comparable reliance on artistic craftsmanship and consumer recognition.
- Lizardcube: French developer known for hand-drawn retro remakes (Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap, Streets of Rage 4). Directly comparable as a small studio combining classic game/genre revivalism with modern platform availability.
- M2 (Japan): Japanese studio highly specialized in retro ports and remasters, including the SEGA AGES and Castlevania/Contra Anniversary Collections. Comparable for its technical retro expertise across legacy and modern hardware, a rarity in the industry.
Broad incumbents
- Limited Run Games: US publisher and physical distributor known for limited physical releases and publishing partnerships with indie developers, including Bitmap Bureau's upcoming He-Man title. A broader incumbent operating a portfolio approach rather than direct game development.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Bitmap Bureau social profiles
Digital presenceBitmap Bureau financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Bitmap Bureau leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Bitmap Bureau funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Bitmap Bureau 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 Bitmap Bureau
What does Bitmap Bureau do?
Bitmap Bureau is a UK-based game development studio that designs and develops 16-bit style video games sold as perpetual licenses through digital storefronts (Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo eShop) and physical retail editions. Their portfolio of six core titles includes beat 'em ups, arena shooters, platformers, and action-adventure games built to run on both modern consoles and original retro hardware. The studio also develops games based on licensed IPs such as Terminator 2 and He-Man.
Is Bitmap Bureau a public or private company?
Bitmap Bureau is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Bitmap Bureau founded?
Bitmap Bureau was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Bitmap Bureau based?
Bitmap Bureau is headquartered in Southampton, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Bitmap Bureau make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Game Sales are the primary driver. The others are licensed IP Development and physical Merchandise.
Who are Bitmap Bureau's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are WayForward Technologies, Yacht Club Games, Tribute Games, Dotemu, JoyMasher, Mega Cat Studios, Studio MDHR, Lizardcube and M2 (Japan). Limited Run Games is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Bitmap Bureau have an API?
No public API is recorded for Bitmap Bureau.
What industry is Bitmap Bureau in?
Bitmap Bureau's product category is Video Games. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAAAB, Mobile & F2P Game Studios. Its NAICS code is 51321 and its SIC code is 7812.