PHL Collective
PHL Collective is a Philadelphia-based, independently owned Unity game development studio founded in 2013 that builds licensed kids and family video games for publishers including Outright Games, Aspyr, and GameMill Entertainment across console, mobile, PC, and VR.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersPhiladelphia, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What PHL Collective does
PHL Collective is a Philadelphia-based, independently owned video game development studio founded in 2013 that specializes in licensed IP games for kids and family audiences. The studio designs and ships titles across console, mobile, PC, and VR using the Unity engine, delivering full development, co-development, and porting services for publishing partners and IP holders. Named titles include Ben 10: Power Trip (2020), DC's Justice League: Cosmic Chaos (2023), The Patrick Star Game (2024), Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles (2025), Goosebumps: Terror in Little Creek (2025), and Barbie Horse Trails (added to Xbox Game Pass in April 2026).
The business model is B2B and project-based. PHL Collective contracts with publishers — principally Outright Games, Aspyr, and GameMill Entertainment — who handle retail and digital distribution across Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG. Revenue is generated through development contracts with these publishers and through licensing access to upstream IP from rights holders including Mattel, Lucasfilm Games, Warner Bros., Nickelodeon, DC Comics, and Cartoon Network. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and operates per-project rather than per-seat.
The studio positions itself as one of the premier licensed Unity development shops, citing multi-platform proficiency, effective production processes, and an award-winning catalog. Operations are headquartered in Philadelphia with a headcount in the 11–50 range, no disclosed institutional funding, no subsidiaries, and no M&A activity on record; founder Nick Madonna leads studio management and business development.
PHL Collective firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PHL Collective
- Legal name
- PHL Collective
- Website
- https://phlcollective.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- PHL Collective is a Philadelphia-based, independently owned Unity game development studio founded in 2013 that builds licensed kids and family video games for publishers including Outright Games, Aspyr, and GameMill Entertainment across console, mobile, PC, and VR.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PHL Collective industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Game Development Services
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Co-Development, Porting & Remaster Studios (MPAFAAAM)
Keywords
Where PHL Collective is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Philadelphia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
PHL Collective business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Game Development Services: PHL Collective develops licensed video games for console, mobile, PC, and VR platforms. Revenue comes from development contracts and licensing agreements with publishers and IP holders.
- Co-Development Services: Providing additional development resources to help partners complete their game projects to launch.
- Porting Services: Bringing older games to modern platforms with updated compatibility and enhanced graphics.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels2 records
PHL Collective product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PHL Collective is a Unity-based video game development studio that designs and builds licensed video games for major entertainment IPs (Mattel, Lucasfilm, Warner Bros., Nickelodeon, DC, Cartoon Network) across console, mobile, PC, and VR platforms. The studio provides full development, co-development, and porting services to publishers and IP holders, with distribution handled by publishing partners such as Outright Games, Aspyr, and GameMill Entertainment.
Product overview
PHL Collective is a licensed game development studio that operates as a single-platform game developer rather than a traditional SaaS product company. Since 2013, the company has designed and released a variety of games for console, mobile, PC, and VR platforms. The portfolio consists of licensed IP games developed for publishing partners, including titles such as Goosebumps: Terror in Little Creek (2025), Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles (2025), The Patrick Star Game (2024), DC's Justice League: Cosmic Chaos (2023), and Ben 10: Power Trip (2020). The studio offers development services including Full Development (Unity-based), Co-Development, and Porting services. Games are released across multiple platforms including Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam, Epic, and GOG through publishing partners such as Outright Games, Aspyr, and GameMill Entertainment.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Goosebumps: Terror in Little Creek Open-world adventure game based on R.L. Stine's beloved horror series for kids, where players explore a spooky small town setting. Published by GameMill Entertainment in 2025 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam, and Epic.
- Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles Remastered version of the classic Star Wars game with enhanced graphics and gameplay for modern platforms. Published by Aspyr in 2025 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam, and GOG.
- The Patrick Star Game Hilarious underwater adventure game set in Bikini Bottom featuring Patrick Star from SpongeBob SquarePants. Published by Outright Games in 2024 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam.
- DC's Justice League: Cosmic Chaos Team-based action game where players control Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and other heroes to save Happy Harbor from Mr. Mxyzptlk. Published by Outright Games in 2023 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam.
- Ben 10: Power Trip Open-world European adventure game based on the Ben 10 franchise where players transform into powerful aliens. Published by Outright Games in 2020 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam.
- Full Development Services Complete, end-to-end Unity game development services for publishers and IP holders. The studio is licensed and proficient on every major platform (console, mobile, PC, VR) and runs the project from concept through launch.
- Co-Development Services Provision of additional Unity development resources to help partner studios and publishers complete in-flight game projects and reach launch on time.
- Porting Services Porting and remastering of existing games and legacy code to modern platforms, including consoles, PC storefronts, and mobile devices.
Quantifiable outcome
- Barbie Horse Trails became the first title added to Xbox Game Pass in April 2026, marking the 53rd game added to the service since January 2026
Companies that use PHL Collective
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
PHL Collective technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
PHL Collective partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- MattelcoreMattel is the IP holder for Barbie. PHL Collective developed Barbie Horse Trails, which was added to Xbox Game Pass in April 2026.
- Lucasfilm GamescoreLucasfilm Games is the IP holder for Star Wars. PHL Collective developed Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles, a classic game remastered for modern platforms.
- Warner Bros.coreWarner Bros. is the IP holder for Goosebumps. PHL Collective developed Goosebumps: Terror in Little Creek (2025) published by GameMill Entertainment.
- NickelodeoncoreNickelodeon is the IP holder for SpongeBob SquarePants. PHL Collective developed The Patrick Star Game, published by Outright Games.
- DC ComicscoreDC Comics is the IP holder for Justice League characters. PHL Collective developed DC's Justice League: Cosmic Chaos (2023).
- Cartoon NetworkcoreCartoon Network is an IP holder for Ben 10. PHL Collective developed Ben 10: Power Trip (2020).
- Outright GamescoreOutright Games is a publishing partner that distributes PHL Collective titles including The Patrick Star Game, DC's Justice League: Cosmic Chaos, and Ben 10: Power Trip.
- AspyrcoreAspyr is a publishing partner that distributed Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles (2025).
- GameMill EntertainmentcoreGameMill Entertainment is a publishing partner that distributed Goosebumps: Terror in Little Creek (2025).
- Bandai NamcominorListed as a trusted partner on the PHL Collective website.
- AMCminorListed as a trusted partner on the PHL Collective website.
- Sony PicturesminorListed as a trusted partner on the PHL Collective website.
- ParamountminorListed as a trusted partner on the PHL Collective website.
- MGMminorListed as a trusted partner on the PHL Collective website.
- ScholasticminorListed as a trusted partner on the PHL Collective website.
- Top CowminorListed as a trusted partner on the PHL Collective website.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
PHL Collective competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Keywords Studios: Large publicly-listed provider of game development services including co-development, porting, and art services. Overlaps with PHL Collective's co-development and porting offerings but operates as a comprehensive global services platform rather than a specialized licensed-IP studio.
- Saber Interactive: Major co-development, porting, and remastering studio (Halo: The Master Chief Collection, World War Z). Broadly comparable service offering to PHL Collective, but at materially larger scale and broader IP scope.
- Virtuos Games: Large global co-development and porting specialist (over 3,000 staff). Operates in the same co-dev/porting service category as PHL Collective but at significantly greater scale and with a wider geographic footprint.
Direct peers
- WayForward Technologies: Mid-sized licensed game developer of comparable scale, known for work on major IP-based titles (Contra, Shantae, Aliens). Highly comparable to PHL Collective as a multi-platform studio specializing in licensed and family-oriented game development.
- Tarsier Studios: Small-to-mid-sized multi-platform development studio with licensed game experience (Little Nightmares, Statik). Comparable scale and platform breadth to PHL Collective.
- Panic Button: Porting and co-development specialist (DOOM ports, Rocket League ports) with similar service offerings to PHL Collective's porting business. Comparable in customer base and project structure.
- Bluepoint Games: Remaster and remake specialist (Shadow of the Colossus, Demon's Souls) operating in the same porting/remastering niche that PHL Collective addresses with services like the Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles remaster.
- Coatsink Software: Small co-development and porting studio listed as a trusted partner on PHL Collective's website. Closely comparable in size, service mix, and Unity-based multi-platform development focus.
- Aspyr: Specializes in porting and remastering classic game catalogs to modern platforms (Star Wars, BioShock, Civilization). Functions as both a publishing partner to PHL Collective and a direct comparable for porting/remastering services.
- High Voltage Software: Multi-platform Unity development studio of similar size with a strong track record in licensed game development (LEGO, The Conduit). Directly comparable to PHL Collective in terms of service mix (full dev, co-dev, porting) and target customer base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
PHL Collective social profiles
Digital presencePHL Collective financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PHL Collective leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
PHL Collective funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PHL Collective 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 PHL Collective
What does PHL Collective do?
PHL Collective is a Unity-based video game development studio that designs and builds licensed video games for major entertainment IPs (Mattel, Lucasfilm, Warner Bros., Nickelodeon, DC, Cartoon Network) across console, mobile, PC, and VR platforms. The studio provides full development, co-development, and porting services to publishers and IP holders, with distribution handled by publishing partners such as Outright Games, Aspyr, and GameMill Entertainment.
Is PHL Collective a public or private company?
PHL Collective is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was PHL Collective founded?
PHL Collective was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is PHL Collective based?
PHL Collective is headquartered in Philadelphia, United States, in the North America region.
How does PHL Collective make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Game Development Services are the primary driver. The others are co-Development Services and porting Services.
Who are PHL Collective's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Keywords Studios, Saber Interactive and Virtuos Games. Direct peers are WayForward Technologies, Tarsier Studios, Panic Button, Bluepoint Games, Coatsink Software, Aspyr and High Voltage Software.
Does PHL Collective have an API?
No public API is recorded for PHL Collective.
What industry is PHL Collective in?
PHL Collective's product category is Game Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAAAM, Co-Development, Porting & Remaster Studios. Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 7812.