OtherSide Entertainment

What OtherSide Entertainment does

OtherSide Entertainment is an independent video game development studio headquartered in the greater Boston, Massachusetts area, with a remote-first workforce distributed across satellite clusters in Austin, Los Angeles, and Seattle. Founded by industry veterans Paul Neurath (CEO) and Warren Spector (CCO), the studio is positioned within the immersive simulation genre, building games that emphasize player agency, emergent gameplay, and cooperative shared narrative experiences. OtherSide was co-founded in 2016 by the creators of landmark titles including Ultima Underworld, System Shock, Thief, and Deus Ex.

The studio's core technology and design philosophy centers on player-driven stealth and simulation mechanics, with the current active title Thick as Thieves (launched May 20, 2026 on Steam at $4.99) delivering a ~4-hour cooperative stealth-heist campaign set in the fictional Scottish city of Kilcairn, with 16 missions across two large maps. The product was redesigned in April 2026 from a competitive PvPvE multiplayer format to single-player and two-player co-op, with planned expansions to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S later in 2026. Historically, OtherSide released Underworld Ascendant in 2018 in partnership with 500 Apps; the announced sequel System Shock 3 and a subsequent project codenamed Argos were both cancelled during development. Distribution is handled through Aonic's Megabit publishing arm following a June 2023 strategic investment by the Swedish gaming group Aonic.

Commercially, OtherSide generates revenue through one-time game licenses at a low price point ($4.99), with DLC and expansion content planned contingent on player engagement. The studio laid off 17 staff members in June 2026 following the cancellation of Argos, citing a 'brutally challenging' industry environment. The company is private, domiciled in Massachusetts, and has not publicly disclosed revenue, valuation, or detailed financial figures. Leadership includes Neurath (CEO), Spector (CCO), Juliette Dupré (CPO), and a remote employee base that, post-layoff, sits at the lower end of the 11-50 employee range cited in firmographic data.

Name

OtherSide Entertainment

Legal name

OtherSide Entertainment, Inc.

Website

https://otherside-e.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

OtherSide Entertainment is an independent Boston-based video game studio that develops immersive simulation games, currently shipping the cooperative stealth-heist title Thick as Thieves on Steam and upcoming consoles for individual gamers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Video Game Development

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

AAA & Premium Game Studios (PC/Console) (MPAFAAAA)

Keywords

• Immersive simulation games
• Video game development
• Stealth action games
• Cooperative multiplayer games
• Independent game studio

Headquarters

HQ city

Lincoln

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Game Sales: One-time purchase of games at low price point ($4.99-$5.00) with plans for future DLC expansions based on player engagement
2. DLC and Expansions: Future downloadable content planned based on player engagement and demand for additional game content

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

OtherSide Entertainment is an independent video game development studio that creates immersive simulation games emphasizing player agency, emergent gameplay, and cooperative multiplayer experiences. Its primary commercial product is the stealth-heist game Thick as Thieves, sold as a one-time digital purchase on PC and planned for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. The studio publishes its games through Megabit, the publishing arm of strategic investor Aonic.

Product overview

OtherSide Entertainment is a video game development studio specializing in immersive simulation games. The company was founded in 2016 by Paul Neurath and Warren Spector, pioneers of the immersive sim genre known for games like System Shock, Thief, and Deus Ex. Currently, the studio's active product is Thick as Thieves, a stealth-action heist game launched in 2026 for PC and consoles. The studio had previously worked on Underworld Ascendant and was developing System Shock 3 and a project codenamed Argos, both of which were cancelled. OtherSide operates as part of a strategic partnership with Aonic and publishes games through Megabit.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Thick as Thieves A stealth-action heist game playable solo or in two-player co-op multiplayer, set in a fictional Scottish city of Kilcairn. Features dynamic stealth mechanics, environmental interactions, and a 4-hour campaign with 16 missions and 2 large maps. Sold directly to individual gamers on PC and planned for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
• Underworld Ascendant Immersive simulation game previously developed and released by OtherSide Entertainment, a spiritual successor to the Ultima Underworld series. Sold to individual gamers as a one-time purchase on PC platforms.

Quantifiable outcome

• Premium game announced at The Game Awards 2024
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MegabitcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 7 February 2024New publishing arm of Aonic created to support company's 1st and 3rd party studios including OtherSide Entertainment. Handles publishing and marketing functions for studio's games including Thick as Thieves.
• AoniccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 June 2023Strategic partnership where Aonic provides support while allowing OtherSide to maintain independent spirit and creative freedom. Aonic creates a family of like-minded studios with shared goals and values for collaborative growth.
• Digital Development Management (DDM)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 20 June 2023Agency focused on supporting goals of indie game studios facilitated lining up the partnership between OtherSide Entertainment and Aonic.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• IO Interactive: Independent developer of the Hitman series—premium stealth-action franchise with strong player-agency design, directly comparable to OtherSide's stealth-heist focus.
• Arkane Studios: Developer of Dishonored, Prey, and Deathloop—the benchmark studio for premium immersive sims on PC/console. Most direct competitor in genre and design philosophy.
• Looking Glass Studios: Historic pioneer of the immersive sim genre (System Shock, Thief). Listed for genre lineage reference; the studio is no longer operating but is the spiritual ancestor of OtherSide's design DNA.
• WolfEye Studios: Small indie studio founded by Raphael Colantonio (Arkane co-founder) making immersive sims such as Weird West. Closely comparable in size, genre focus, and veteran-founder DNA.
• Frictional Games: Independent studio behind Amnesia and SOMA—immersive, player-agency-driven PC/console titles. Comparable as a small premium indie with a niche genre focus.
• Eidos Montreal: Developer of the Deus Ex and Thief (2014) series, deeply tied to OtherSide's lineage under Spector/Neurath. Closest franchise heritage peer.
• Ghost Story Games: Studio founded by Ken Levine (BioShock) building narrative immersive sims. Closely comparable in pedigree, genre, and small-team premium PC/console model.

Broad incumbents

• Bethesda Game Studios: Holds rights to System Shock and publishes large-scale immersive/RPG titles (Fallout, Elder Scrolls). Comparable as incumbent gatekeeper for IP OtherSide previously worked with.

Emerging players

• 11 bit studios: Independent mid-sized studio publishing premium strategy/immersive titles (Frostpunk, This War of Mine) via its publishing label. Comparable as a premium indie on PC/console seeking publishing partnerships.

Others

• Digital Development Management (DDM): Agency that facilitated OtherSide's partnership with Aonic. Comparable as the services intermediary in the indie game funding/publishing ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/OtherSide_Games
• Facebookfacebook.com/OtherSideEntertainment
• Instagraminstagram.com/othersideentertainment

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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 OtherSide Entertainment