Snapshot Games
Snapshot Games is a Sofia, Bulgaria-based video game studio that develops and publishes strategy and tactical RPG titles — including Phoenix Point and Frosthaven — for global consumers via Steam, Epic, and console platforms, operating as a subsidiary of Embracer Group.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Snapshot Games does
Snapshot Games is a privately held video game development studio headquartered in Sofia, Bulgaria, founded in 2013 by Julian Gollop — the award-winning designer of the original X-COM games — and David Kaye, a serial games-industry entrepreneur. The studio develops and publishes strategy and tactical RPG video games, with four released titles to date: Chaos Reborn (2017), Phoenix Point (2019), Frosthaven (Early Access on Steam and Epic Games Store, July 2025), and Chip 'n Clawz vs. The Brainioids (September 2025). Frosthaven is a digital adaptation of Cephalofair's best-selling board game and serves as the spiritual successor to Gloomhaven, while Chip 'n Clawz expands the studio's footprint into cooperative real-time action-strategy.
The studio builds its games on industry-standard game engines and distributes them through major global digital storefronts — Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation, Xbox, and historically Stadia — reaching an international consumer audience of strategy and tactical RPG enthusiasts. Products are sold as one-time purchases with potential downloadable content and expansions, supplemented by demo and early access releases (e.g., Frosthaven and Chip 'n Clawz demos at Steam Next Fest) as part of a product-led and event-driven go-to-market motion. Community engagement is maintained through Discord, Twitter/X, Facebook, and official forums.
Since 2020, Snapshot Games has operated as a subsidiary of Embracer Group, sitting within Saber Interactive's operative group of studios. It functions autonomously on its own projects while benefiting from the parent's scale. Leadership comprises Julian Gollop (Founder & CEO), Sergey Georgiev (CTO), Rossen Tzvetanov (Art Director), Hristo Petkov (Lead Producer), and Nikolay Berov (Finance & Administration Director), with the broader team based at the Sofia studio on blvd. Alexander Malinov 80A. Phoenix Point, the studio's breakthrough title, reached one million players across all platforms following its November 2019 launch.
Snapshot Games firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Snapshot Games
- Legal name
- Snapshot Games
- Website
- https://snapshotgames.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Snapshot Games is a Sofia, Bulgaria-based video game studio that develops and publishes strategy and tactical RPG titles — including Phoenix Point and Frosthaven — for global consumers via Steam, Epic, and console platforms, operating as a subsidiary of Embracer Group.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Snapshot Games industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Strategy Video Games
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (513210)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Strategy/4X/Management Game Studios (MPAFAAAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Narrative/Adventure & RPG Game Studios (MPAFAAAL)
Keywords
Where Snapshot Games is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Snapshot Games business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Video Game Sales: Revenue generated from selling video games directly to consumers through digital distribution platforms. Games are sold as one-time purchases with potential for downloadable content and expansions.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Snapshot Games product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Snapshot Games is a video game development studio that develops and publishes strategy and tactical RPG games for PC and console platforms. The studio creates single-player and cooperative multiplayer strategy games including original titles and digital adaptations of board games (Frosthaven), sold as one-time purchases through digital storefronts like Steam and Epic Games Store, and console platforms including PlayStation and Xbox.
Product overview
Snapshot Games is a video game development studio that develops and publishes strategy games. The company has released four titles: Frosthaven (2025, dark fantasy tactical RPG and spiritual successor to Gloomhaven), Chip 'n Clawz vs. The Brainioids (2025, action-strategy game), Phoenix Point (2019, alien invasion strategy game), and Chaos Reborn (2017, turn-based wizard combat game). The company operates as part of Embracer Group's Saber Interactive operative group.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Frosthaven A dark fantasy tactical RPG that is a digital adaptation of the Cephalofair FROSTHAVEN board game and spiritual successor to Gloomhaven. Features deep mechanics, challenging gameplay in Single Player and Co-Op Online Multiplayer, set in the unforgiving northern frontier.
- Chip 'n Clawz vs. The Brainioids An action-strategy game where players gather Brainium, build a base, and command an army of bots to defeat freaky Brains-in-Jars aliens. Features co-op play with heroes Chip or Clawz.
- Phoenix Point A strategy game set on Earth overrun by a mutating alien menace. Players research and develop new technologies, explore a ravaged globe, build bases, manage resources, and dominate the battlefield as leader of the secret Phoenix Project organization.
- Chaos Reborn Turn-based wizard combat game featuring the tactical positioning of chess and the bluff of poker. Includes wizard customization, hundreds of gear items, single player realm adventures, online leagues and co-op play.
Companies that use Snapshot Games
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Snapshot Games technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Snapshot Games partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CephalofaircoreSnapshot Games partnered with Cephalofair to develop the digital adaptation of the Frosthaven board game. Cephalofair created the original Frosthaven board game, and Snapshot is bringing it to digital form as a dark fantasy tactical RPG.
- Saber InteractiveminorSnapshot Games is part of Saber Interactive's group within Embracer Group. Tim Willits, Creative Director of Saber Interactive, visited the Sofia studio to provide development guidance and presentations about Saber and Embracer operations.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Snapshot Games competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Harebrained Schemes: Developer of turn-based tactical games including BattleTech and Shadowrun, both built on licensed IPs of similar niche depth to Frosthaven. Closely comparable indie-plus studio in scale, genre (tactical RPG/strategy), and licensed-IP adaptation model. Now a subsidiary of Paradox Interactive.
- Firaxis Games: Developer of XCOM and Civilization — the dominant franchises in turn-based tactics and 4X strategy. Direct competitor in Snapshot's core tactical/strategy space and the original reference point (Julian Gollop created XCOM, Firaxis rebooted it).
- Amplitude Studios: Developer of Humankind, Endless Legend, and Endless Space — mid-to-large strategy/4X studio. Owned by Sega but operates with strong creative autonomy, mirroring Snapshot's relationship with Embracer. Directly comparable target customer (strategy enthusiasts) and release model.
- 11 bit studios: Developer of Frostpunk and This War of Mine — premium strategy/management games targeting the same adult/strategic PC audience as Snapshot. Comparable indie-to-mid-tier profile, narrative-rich strategy positioning, and digital storefront-led distribution.
Emerging players
- OtherSide Entertainment: Independent studio founded by Julian Lefray (Shadowrun Returns) developing Othercide and UnderMine — tactical/strategy games with strong narrative. Similar studio scale and hardcore-strategy positioning as Snapshot, making it a comparable emerging player in tactical RPG.
Broad incumbents
- Paradox Interactive: Dominant publisher of grand strategy games (Crusader Kings, Europa Universalis, Hearts of Iron). Acquired Harebrained Schemes. Operates as both a developer and publisher in the strategy genre, defining the broader category commercial dynamics Snapshot competes within.
- Creative Assembly: Developer of Total War and Alien Isolation — one of the largest strategy studios globally, owned by Sega. Competes for the same hardcore strategy PC audience at the higher end of the category. Broader portfolio player in the strategy genre versus Snapshot's niche focus.
Others
- Slitherine: Independent publisher and developer of strategy/wargames (Field of Glory, Warhammer 40K), also operating the Matrix Games label. Distribution and publishing partner for many indie strategy developers; relevant as ecosystem participant and adjacent strategy-IP publisher.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Snapshot Games social profiles
Digital presenceSnapshot Games financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Snapshot Games leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Snapshot Games funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Snapshot 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 Snapshot Games
What does Snapshot Games do?
Snapshot Games is a video game development studio that develops and publishes strategy and tactical RPG games for PC and console platforms. The studio creates single-player and cooperative multiplayer strategy games including original titles and digital adaptations of board games (Frosthaven), sold as one-time purchases through digital storefronts like Steam and Epic Games Store, and console platforms including PlayStation and Xbox.
Is Snapshot Games a public or private company?
Snapshot Games is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Snapshot Games founded?
Snapshot Games was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Snapshot Games based?
Snapshot Games is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Snapshot Games make money?
One revenue line is on record: video Game Sales.
Who are Snapshot Games's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Harebrained Schemes, Firaxis Games, Amplitude Studios and 11 bit studios. OtherSide Entertainment is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Paradox Interactive and Creative Assembly. Slitherine is listed as an others.
Does Snapshot Games have an API?
No public API is recorded for Snapshot Games.
What industry is Snapshot Games in?
Snapshot Games's product category is Strategy Video Games. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAAAK, Strategy/4X/Management Game Studios, with a secondary code of MPAFAAAL, Narrative/Adventure & RPG Game Studios. Its NAICS code is 513210 and its SIC code is 7372.