Pixelberry Studios
Pixelberry Studios is a US-based mobile interactive fiction game developer operating the flagship Choices: Stories You Play franchise and other story-driven apps, monetized through freemium in-app purchases, VIP subscriptions, and ads, and now a subsidiary of Series Entertainment Inc.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersMountain View, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Pixelberry Studios does
Pixelberry Studios is a mobile interactive fiction game developer founded in 2013 and headquartered in the United States (Rocklin, CA; with a Mountain View mailing address). The company operates the Choices: Stories You Play franchise, a freemium app in which players make choices that drive branching, character-driven narratives across multiple genres including romance, mystery, fantasy, drama, and urban fantasy. The core technology is an interactive fiction game engine supporting branching narrative paths, character customization, and episodic content releases, with an established library of story 'books' such as The Royal Romance, Bloodbound, Open Heart, The Crown & The Flame, The Elementalists, and Desire & Decorum, plus earlier standalone titles High School Story and Hollywood U. The studio is now expanding into new storytelling formats, including an animated show (Hero: Homecoming) launching inside the Choices app in May 2026.
The business is a free-to-play mobile gaming model with three primary revenue streams: in-app purchases of virtual items and currency, a recurring VIP monthly subscription that provides early access to new content, and freemium conversion of free users. Games are distributed globally through the iOS App Store and Google Play, with monetization supported by a broad third-party ad network stack (AppLovin, IronSource, Unity Ads, Meta Audience Network, Chartboost, Tapjoy, Mintegral, Fyber, AdColony, Lift Off, HyperMX, DigitalTurbine) and attribution partners (Tenjin, Adjust, Bidalgo). Customer engagement is driven through a multi-channel community program (Discord, Reddit, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, email newsletter). Since July 2024, Pixelberry has operated as a subsidiary of Series Entertainment Inc., which is integrating its AI-native Rho Engine and RUN platform into the studio's content production workflow.
Pixelberry Studios firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pixelberry Studios
- Legal name
- Series Entertainment Inc.
- Website
- https://pixelberrystudios.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Pixelberry Studios is a US-based mobile interactive fiction game developer operating the flagship Choices: Stories You Play franchise and other story-driven apps, monetized through freemium in-app purchases, VIP subscriptions, and ads, and now a subsidiary of Series Entertainment Inc.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pixelberry Studios industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mobile Interactive Fiction Games
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (51321), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mobile & F2P Game Studios (MPAFAAAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Narrative/Adventure & RPG Game Studios (MPAFAAAL), Mobile Game Publishing & App Game Stores (BPAMAKAB)
Keywords
Where Pixelberry Studios is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mountain View
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Pixelberry Studios business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Virtual Items and Currency: Players purchase virtual tokens, coins and items for use within games. Purchased virtual items have no monetary value and cannot be exchanged for real money. Revenue generated through in-game currency purchases at various price points.
- VIP Subscription: Subscription model providing VIP access to new book releases before wide release, with premium content access and ad-free or reduced ad experience. Subscription carries over to RUN.tv platform.
- Freemium Core Content: Free features and content available upon downloading games, with optional paid upgrades and premium content. Revenue derived from conversion of free users to paying customers through virtual item purchases.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free tier with optional in-app purchases |
| Subscription | Monthly | VIP subscription for early access to new content |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Pixelberry Studios product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pixelberry Studios develops and publishes mobile interactive fiction (IF) video games in which players make choices that shape branching narrative storylines. Its flagship product, Choices: Stories You Play, is a free-to-play mobile app offering episodic, character-driven stories across multiple genres (romance, mystery, fantasy, drama, urban fantasy) monetized through in-app purchases of virtual currency/items and a VIP subscription tier. The studio also operates standalone titles such as High School Story and Hollywood U, and is expanding into animated show formats within the Choices app.
Product overview
Pixelberry Studios operates as a mobile game developer specializing in interactive fiction (IF) games. The company offers a portfolio centered on the Choices: Stories You Play platform, which is the core product providing branching narrative gameplay where players make choices that shape stories. The portfolio also includes standalone titles High School Story and Hollywood U. The Choices platform features multiple story 'books' including The Royal Romance, Bloodbound, Open Heart, The Thirteenth House, Desire & Decorum, America's Most Eligible, The Crown & The Flame, The Elementalists, and Miss Behavin'. The company is expanding into new storytelling formats with Hero: Homecoming as an animated show. Following acquisition by Series Entertainment in July 2024, the studio is integrating the RUN platform technology to enhance content creation workflows while maintaining traditional interactive fiction content delivery through August as scheduled.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Choices: Stories You Play Flagship free-to-play interactive fiction mobile game series where players customize characters and make choices that shape branching narrative storylines across romance, mystery, fantasy, and drama genres, played by millions worldwide.
- High School Story Interactive fiction mobile game set in a high school where players create characters, join clubs and activities, and navigate social relationships including finding dates for Homecoming.
- Hollywood U Interactive fiction mobile game set in a Hollywood university environment, covered under the studio's portfolio of games in the Terms of Service.
- Hero: Homecoming Animated show format expansion of the Hero series launching within the Choices app, representing a new storytelling modality (animated series rather than traditional text-based interactive fiction) with planned 20 episodes.
- The Thirteenth House Dark academia interactive fiction story set at Arthur Hawthorne University featuring supernatural mysteries, secret societies, and four skill-based character archetypes (Influence, Insight, Fortitude, Courage), launched as a VIP early-access title.
- Miss Behavin' Interactive fiction story set in pageant culture featuring a returning protagonist navigating old rivals, new stakes, and family expectations with stat-based gameplay similar to Queen B and AME.
Quantifiable outcome
- Millions of players worldwide engaged with interactive fiction content
Companies that use Pixelberry Studios
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Pixelberry Studios technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration21 records
AI capability2 records
Feature2 records
Pixelberry Studios partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Pixelberry Studios competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Electronic Arts (EA Mobile): Major mobile game publisher with narrative and storytelling franchises (e.g., The Sims, narrative-driven sports titles). Broad incumbent with mobile distribution scale, freemium expertise, and resources to enter or expand in interactive fiction.
- Scopely: Mobile game publisher and developer with diversified portfolio including narrative-driven titles (e.g., Star Trek Fleet Command, WWE Mayhem). Comparable freemium mobile game model and audience scale, though broader portfolio beyond interactive fiction.
- Kabam: Mobile game developer known for narrative-rich casual games (e.g., Disney Mirrorverse, Marvel Contest of Champions). Comparable mobile-first development model with storytelling emphasis and freemium monetization, though operating at different scale.
- Series Entertainment: Parent company of Pixelberry Studios operating a broader portfolio of interactive entertainment using AI-native game creation technology. Functions as strategic operating parent while also being a peer in adjacent interactive entertainment categories.
Emerging players
- Inkitt: Reader-driven publishing platform behind Galatea, with mobile interactive story apps targeting romance readers. Emerging player using AI and data-driven approach to identify successful narrative content—relevant as both competitor and potentially adjacent content partner.
- MeChat: Mobile interactive story app focused on romance and choice-driven narratives with similar episodic content release model. Emerging peer in the same mobile interactive fiction genre, particularly relevant for international and romance-oriented demographics.
- Candlelight Games: Studio founded by former Pixelberry developers in 2024 following the Series Entertainment acquisition. Emerging direct competitor carrying Pixelberry's narrative game development expertise to a new studio—relevant both as talent migration signal and competitive threat.
Direct peers
- Crazy Maple Studio: Developer of Chapters and other interactive story apps with comparable choice-based narrative gameplay and mobile distribution model. Direct competitor in the mobile interactive fiction genre with overlapping target demographics.
- Pocket Gems: Developer of Episode, a mobile interactive story platform with similar branching narrative mechanics, character customization, and freemium monetization. Direct competitor serving the same female-skewing mobile gaming audience with choice-based storytelling.
- Voltage Entertainment USA: Developer of romance-focused interactive story apps like Lovestruck with similar episodic content release strategy and VIP subscription models. Direct competitor in romance/mobile interactive fiction with comparable narrative approach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Pixelberry Studios social profiles
Digital presencePixelberry Studios compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Pixelberry Studios financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pixelberry Studios leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Pixelberry Studios funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pixelberry Studios 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 Pixelberry Studios
What does Pixelberry Studios do?
Pixelberry Studios develops and publishes mobile interactive fiction (IF) video games in which players make choices that shape branching narrative storylines. Its flagship product, Choices: Stories You Play, is a free-to-play mobile app offering episodic, character-driven stories across multiple genres (romance, mystery, fantasy, drama, urban fantasy) monetized through in-app purchases of virtual currency/items and a VIP subscription tier. The studio also operates standalone titles such as High School Story and Hollywood U, and is expanding into animated show formats within the Choices app.
Is Pixelberry Studios a public or private company?
Pixelberry Studios is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Pixelberry Studios founded?
Pixelberry Studios was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Pixelberry Studios based?
Pixelberry Studios is headquartered in Mountain View, United States, in the North America region.
How does Pixelberry Studios make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Virtual Items and Currency is the primary driver. The others are VIP Subscription and freemium Core Content.
Who are Pixelberry Studios's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Electronic Arts (EA Mobile), Scopely, Kabam and Series Entertainment. Emerging players are Inkitt, MeChat and Candlelight Games. Direct peers are Crazy Maple Studio, Pocket Gems and Voltage Entertainment USA.
Does Pixelberry Studios have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pixelberry Studios.
What industry is Pixelberry Studios in?
Pixelberry Studios's product category is Mobile Interactive Fiction Games. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAAAB, Mobile & F2P Game Studios, with a secondary code of MPAFAAAL, Narrative/Adventure & RPG Game Studios. Its NAICS code is 51321 and its SIC code is 7990.