WayForward
WayForward is an independent video game developer and publisher founded in 1990, specializing in 2D action platformers, beat-'em-ups, and remakes of classic franchises including Shantae, River City Girls, Contra, and Clock Tower, sold across consoles, PC, mobile, and physical collector editions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersValencia, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What WayForward does
WayForward Technologies, Inc. is a privately held independent video game developer and publisher founded in 1990 by Voldi Way and headquartered in Valencia, California. The studio specializes in 2D action games, platformers, beat-'em-ups, and remakes of classic franchises, having developed over 120 retail games across its 35-year history. Its portfolio blends owned IP—including the Shantae series (5+ titles spanning over two decades) and the River City Girls franchise—with licensed franchise revivals such as Contra: Operation Galuga, Clock Tower: Rewind, Sigma Star Saga DX, Yars Rising, RWBY: Arrowfell, and RetroRealms (featuring Halloween and Ash vs Evil Dead). The studio also develops visual novels (Cat Girl Without Salad, Rose & Camellia Collection) and cooperative action titles (Dawn of the Monsters, Vitamin Connection).
WayForward's core technology and craft focus is on handcrafted 2D game design and animation across genres, with no disclosed proprietary AI, SDK, or API surface. Games are released simultaneously across all major digital storefronts—Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Steam, Apple App Store, and Itch.io—maximizing cross-platform reach. The company supplements digital sales with physical collector editions, GBA retro cartridges, and merchandise through partnerships with Limited Run Games, Fangamer, Pin Box, and M.RAGE, capturing the premium collector and enthusiast audience.
The business model is primarily B2C one-time game licensing at standard industry pricing ($15-$40 typical), with ancillary revenue from premium collector editions sold through Limited Run Games and officially licensed merchandise priced from approximately $8 to $84. Customer segmentation is horizontal, targeting video game enthusiasts interested in retro and classic game revivals, Shantae and River City Girls fans, and players of 2D action platformers and Metroidvania games. The company maintains a multi-channel social media presence (Twitter/X, Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Twitch, Discord) and engages in event marketing at collector conventions such as the SCV Collectibles Show. No public funding, parent company, or institutional investor structure beyond a 2018 Brand Capital International investment is disclosed.
WayForward firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WayForward
- Legal name
- WayForward Technologies, Inc.
- Website
- https://wayforward.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- WayForward is an independent video game developer and publisher founded in 1990, specializing in 2D action platformers, beat-'em-ups, and remakes of classic franchises including Shantae, River City Girls, Contra, and Clock Tower, sold across consoles, PC, mobile, and physical collector editions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WayForward industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Independent Video Game Development
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Porting, Remastering & Platform Adaptation Services (PC/Console/Mobile/VR) (MPAFAKAN)
Keywords
Where WayForward is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Valencia
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
WayForward business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Video Game Sales: WayForward develops and sells video games across multiple digital storefronts (Steam, Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store) and physical retail through Limited Run Games. Revenue comes from initial game purchases at standard console/PC pricing.
- Merchandise Sales: The company sells officially licensed merchandise including t-shirts, pins, posters, art books, and collectibles through partner platforms like Fangamer, Pin Box, and M.RAGE collaboration.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels9 records
WayForward product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WayForward is an independent video game developer and publisher that designs, develops, and sells its own 2D action games, platformers, beat-em-ups, and remakes/reimaginings of classic franchises. The company distributes titles across major gaming platforms (Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam, and mobile) and produces limited physical collector editions through partner channels.
Product overview
WayForward is an independent video game developer and publisher founded in 1990, offering a portfolio of games across multiple genres including action-adventure platformers (Shantae series), beat-em-ups (River City Girls series), shooters (Contra: Operation Galuga, Sigma Star Saga DX), horror (Clock Tower: Rewind), and visual novels. The company operates as a game development studio with products distributed across major platforms including Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam, and mobile app stores. Their games include original IP (River City Girls, Shantae) and licensed/reimagined titles (Contra, Clock Tower, RWBY: Arrowfell, RetroRealms featuring Halloween and Ash vs Evil Dead).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution A long-awaited Shantae platformer released across consoles, PC, and Game Boy Advance for fans of the series and retro platformer enthusiasts.
- Sigma Star Saga DX A remastered cult-classic shoot-em-up/RPG originally released nearly 20 years ago, available on modern gaming platforms for retro gaming enthusiasts.
- Clock Tower: Rewind A 16-bit survival horror remake released on consoles and PC, targeting fans of classic horror games and survival horror enthusiasts.
- Yars Rising A modern reimagining of the classic Yars shoot-em-up franchise, available on Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, and Xbox One/X/S.
- Contra: Operation Galuga A modern reimagining of the classic Contra franchise run-and-gun action series, released on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/X/S, and Steam.
- Rose & Camellia Collection A visual novel collection available on Nintendo Switch featuring the classic Rose & Camellia game.
- RetroRealms A double-feature game including Halloween and Ash vs Evil Dead content, released on Nintendo Switch, Steam, PlayStation 4/5, and Xbox One/X/S.
- Cat Girl Without Salad: Amuse-Bouche An intergalactic visual novel adventure featuring Cat Girl Kebako, available on Nintendo Switch, Steam, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/X/S, and itch.io.
- LUNARK A cinematic sci-fi action platformer available on Nintendo Switch, Steam, PlayStation 4/5, and Xbox One/X/S.
- River City Girls 2 The cooperative beat-em-up sequel to River City Girls featuring new characters and expanded story, available across all major gaming platforms.
- RWBY: Arrowfell An action game based on the RWBY animated series, available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/X/S, and Steam.
- Dawn of the Monsters A cooperative monster-fighting action game featuring iconic creature designs, available on Nintendo Switch, Steam, PlayStation 4/5, and Xbox One/X/S.
- River City Girls Zero A prequel to River City Girls, originally a Japan-only SNES title now remastered for modern platforms.
- Vitamin Connection A cooperative puzzle adventure game for Nintendo Switch featuring unique gameplay mechanics.
- Shantae and the Seven Sirens The fifth mainline Shantae game featuring HD graphics and a new cast, available on Apple App Store, Nintendo Switch, Steam, and PlayStation 4/5.
- Spidersaurs A sci-fi action shooter featuring dinosaur-like spider creatures, available on Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox One/X/S.
- River City Girls A cooperative beat-em-up featuring River City Girls Misako and Kyoko, available on Nintendo Switch, Steam, PlayStation 4/5, and Xbox One.
Companies that use WayForward
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
WayForward technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
WayForward partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Limited Run GamescoreLimited Run Games produces physical collector editions of WayForward titles including special variants, Game Boy Advance releases, and collector's editions. This partnership enables WayForward to serve the collector market segment with premium physical products.
- FangamerminorFangamer serves as a merchandise partner for WayForward, selling officially licensed products including art books and apparel.
- Pin BoxminorPin Box produces and sells officially licensed WayForward merchandise including enamel pins and collectibles.
- M.RAGEminorM.RAGE collaborates with WayForward on River City Girls branded merchandise including t-shirts, flight tags, and varsity jackets, creating co-branded apparel products.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
WayForward competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- WayForward: Self-reference excluded; replaced below.
- Yacht Club Games: Independent mid-sized developer of 2D action-platformers (Shovel Knight franchise). Closely comparable to WayForward in studio size, retro-action focus, and multi-platform release strategy.
- Supergiant Games: Independent mid-sized developer of critically acclaimed 2D action games (Hades, Bastion, Transistor). Comparable in studio size, premium indie positioning, and high-quality action-game output.
- Dotemu: Publisher and developer specializing in remastered and revived classic games (Streets of Rage 4, TMNT: Shredder's Revenge). Directly comparable niche of bringing back dormant retro franchises for modern platforms.
- Tribute Games: Independent studio founded by former WayForward developers, focused on retro-style beat-em-ups and action games (TMNT: Shredder's Revenge, Mercenary Kings). Highly comparable in genre, scale, and aesthetic.
Broad incumbents
- Limited Run Games: Largest specialty publisher of physical collector editions for indie and retro games. Direct channel partner for WayForward's premium physical releases and a broader market-maker for the collector-edition category.
- Devolver Digital: Larger publicly-traded indie publisher with a portfolio of retro-styled and 2D action games (Hotline Miami, Enter the Gungeon). Comparable customer base and indie positioning, though at much greater scale.
- Aksys Games: Publisher specializing in niche and retro-genre games (Blazblue, Zero Escape, otome titles). Comparable in bringing specialized/legacy-style games to modern platforms, with similar multi-platform distribution approach.
Regional players
- M2 (Game Developer): Japanese developer specializing in high-quality retro game ports and remasters (Sega Ages, Castlevania/Contra 4). Closest international peer in the remaster/port niche, though focused primarily on Japanese IP and the Japanese market.
Emerging players
- Abstraction Games: Dutch studio specializing in porting and remastering indie/retro titles to modern platforms. Highly comparable operations in the porting/remastering segment that anchors WayForward's recent releases.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
WayForward social profiles
Digital presenceWayForward financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WayForward leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
WayForward funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WayForward 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 WayForward
What does WayForward do?
WayForward is an independent video game developer and publisher that designs, develops, and sells its own 2D action games, platformers, beat-em-ups, and remakes/reimaginings of classic franchises. The company distributes titles across major gaming platforms (Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam, and mobile) and produces limited physical collector editions through partner channels.
Is WayForward a public or private company?
WayForward is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was WayForward founded?
WayForward was founded in 1990. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is WayForward based?
WayForward is headquartered in Valencia, United States, in the North America region.
How does WayForward make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Video Game Sales are the primary driver. The others are merchandise Sales.
Who are WayForward's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are WayForward, Yacht Club Games, Supergiant Games, Dotemu and Tribute Games. Broad incumbents are Limited Run Games, Devolver Digital and Aksys Games. M2 (Game Developer) is listed as a regional player. Abstraction Games is listed as an emerging player.
Does WayForward have an API?
No public API is recorded for WayForward.
What industry is WayForward in?
WayForward's product category is Independent Video Game Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAKAN, Porting, Remastering & Platform Adaptation Services (PC/Console/Mobile/VR). Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 7370.