Old Skull Games
Old Skull Games is an independent French game studio developing multi-platform titles — combining original IP and publisher partnerships — for PC, console, and mobile, serving consumer gamers globally through storefronts like Steam, Apple Arcade, and Netflix Gaming.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersVilleurbanne, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Old Skull Games does
Old Skull Games SAS is an independent French game development studio headquartered in Villeurbanne (Lyon), France, founded in 2012 and operating with approximately 60 employees. The studio develops games end-to-end across PC, console, and mobile platforms, producing both original intellectual property and games for major publishers. Its announced and released catalogue spans 15 titles across platformers, narrative adventures, roguelites, and sports games, including SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit and SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit 2 (Apple Arcade), Valiant Hearts: Coming Home (in collaboration with Ubisoft Montpellier), Cryptical Path, Nickelodeon Extreme Tennis: Next!, and the upcoming Warhammer Age Of Sigmar: Deathmaster.
The studio's technology stack centers on multi-platform native game development, with evidence of Unity engine usage, and a stated philosophy of building each game natively for its target platform rather than porting from a single base. Distribution spans Steam, PlayStation Store, Nintendo eShop, Microsoft Store, Apple Arcade, Google Play, and Netflix Gaming, with simultaneous multi-platform release as a recurring pattern.
Old Skull Games operates a hybrid revenue model combining work-for-hire development partnerships (Apple, Ubisoft, Paramount, Gameloft, Bandai Namco, DotEmu, Microids, Netflix), original IP self-publishing with retained ownership, and platform-distributed premium sales. The studio received an undisclosed investment from Game Seer Venture Partners in December 2023 to support expansion into PC and console markets while preserving IP rights and studio independence. Its lead product, Valiant Hearts: Coming Home, won three 2024 Pegases Awards (Best Mobile Game, Beyond Video Games, Best Narrative).
Old Skull Games firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Old Skull Games
- Legal name
- Old Skull Games SAS
- Website
- https://oldskullgames.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Old Skull Games is an independent French game studio developing multi-platform titles — combining original IP and publisher partnerships — for PC, console, and mobile, serving consumer gamers globally through storefronts like Steam, Apple Arcade, and Netflix Gaming.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Old Skull Games industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Indie Game Development
- akta.pro primary industry
- Indie Game Studios (MPAFAAAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Porting, Remastering & Platform Adaptation Services (PC/Console/Mobile/VR) (MPAFAKAN)
Keywords
Where Old Skull Games is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Villeurbanne
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Old Skull Games business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Original IP Development: Creating and owning original game intellectual property (e.g., Cryptical Path, Warhammer Age Of Sigmar: Deathmaster) and monetizing through game sales and potential licensing.
- Development Partnerships: Co-developing or leading game development for major publishers (Apple, Ubisoft, Netflix, Gameloft, Nickelodeon) under various arrangements, delivering branded games for established franchises.
- Game Sales - Retail: Direct game sales through digital storefronts (Steam, PlayStation Store, Nintendo eShop, Xbox) at standard pricing ($29.99 for Nickelodeon Extreme Tennis: Next!).
- Subscription Platform Releases: Releasing games on subscription services including Apple Arcade and Netflix Gaming, generating revenue through platform partnerships.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Nickelodeon Extreme Tennis: Next! standard edition |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels6 records
Old Skull Games product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Old Skull Games is an independent studio that develops and ships high-quality video games for PC, console, and mobile platforms. The studio produces its own original IP (e.g., Cryptical Path, Warhammer Age Of Sigmar: Deathmaster) and delivers co-developed and work-for-hire game productions for leading publishers including Apple, Ubisoft, Netflix, Gameloft, and Paramount.
Product overview
Old Skull Games is an independent game development studio that crafts high-quality games for PC, console, and mobile platforms. The studio operates through a combination of original IP productions and trusted development partnerships with leading publishers. Their portfolio spans multiple genres including sports games (Nickelodeon Extreme Tennis: Next!), platformers (SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit and SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit 2), narrative adventures (Valiant Hearts: Coming Home), and roguelites (Cryptical Path). They also have Warhammer Age Of Sigmar: Deathmaster in development. The company collaborates with major publishers including Apple, Bandai Namco, Dotemu, Gameloft, Microids, Netflix, Paramount, and Ubisoft.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Warhammer Age Of Sigmar: Deathmaster A dark descent into the Skaven underworld set in the Warhammer Age Of Sigmar universe, currently in development.
- Nickelodeon Extreme Tennis: Next! A lively tennis sports game featuring 15 playable Nickelodeon characters with over 500 unlockable outfits, released on PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox.
- SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit 2 A fast-paced platforming adventure featuring SpongeBob and Plankton teaming up to uncover a patty-replicating conspiracy across Bikini Bottom, released on Apple Arcade.
- Cryptical Path A dark and atmospheric roguelite dungeon crawler where players act as the Architect to build paths through an ever-changing labyrinth and escape the Hexium.
- Valiant Hearts: Coming Home A narrative adventure set during World War I, following two brothers fighting to survive the trenches and find each other again; released across PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Switch, and mobile.
- SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit A cheerful platforming adventure where SpongeBob runs to rescue the secret Krabby Patty formula and save his friends in Bikini Bottom, released on Apple Arcade.
- Game development and co-production services End-to-end multi-platform game development and co-production services delivered to major publishers across PC, console, and mobile, including development of branded franchise titles and original IP productions.
Companies that use Old Skull Games
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Old Skull Games technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Old Skull Games partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Old Skull Games competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Asobo Studio: Independent French game studio (Bordeaux) of comparable scale producing both original IPs (A Plague Tale) and co-developed titles. Closest geographic and structural analogue to Old Skull Games.
- Don't Nod: Paris-based narrative-focused indie studio (Life is Strange, Tell Me Why). Comparable in size, French origin, multi-platform native releases and emphasis on craft-driven narrative games.
- Dotemu: Paris-based indie publisher/developer specializing in licensed and remastered IPs (Streets of Rage, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge). Functions as both peer and listed partner of Old Skull Games; similar French indie heritage and co-development model.
- Amplitude Studios: Paris-based independent strategy game studio (Endless series), now owned by Sega but operationally similar in culture and scale to Old Skull Games. French indie with PC-centric, craft-focused output.
- Supergiant Games: Small (~40-person) California-based indie studio behind Hades, Bastion and Transistor. Closely comparable on team-size, craft-first culture, multi-platform native development and award-winning narrative pedigree.
- Red Thread Games: Norwegian indie studio (~50 people) known for narrative adventure games such as Dreamfall Chapters and Draugen. Comparable on size, narrative focus, European base and AAA-IP co-development experience.
- Tequila Works: Madrid-based independent studio of similar scale producing original narrative games (Rime, Deadlight) with a multi-platform release strategy. Mirrors Old Skull's craft-driven, narrative-leaning indie positioning.
- Blackbird Interactive: Vancouver-based indie studio of similar scale behind Homeworld 3 and Crossfire: Legion. Comparable on original-IP plus co-development mix, multi-platform releases and senior-team, craft-first culture.
Broad incumbents
- Saber Interactive: Large multi-studio work-for-hire and co-development group with deep experience on licensed AAA IPs (Warhammer, Jurassic Park, World War Z). Direct competitor for publisher co-development work, but materially larger and broader than Old Skull Games.
- Virtuos: Global co-development and porting specialist with 3,500+ staff across AAA projects. Provides the same co-development, porting and platform-adaptation services Old Skull offers, but at vastly larger scale and as a broad incumbent.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses2 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Old Skull Games social profiles
Digital presenceOld Skull Games financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Old Skull Games leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Old Skull Games funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Old Skull 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 Old Skull Games
What does Old Skull Games do?
Old Skull Games is an independent studio that develops and ships high-quality video games for PC, console, and mobile platforms. The studio produces its own original IP (e.g., Cryptical Path, Warhammer Age Of Sigmar: Deathmaster) and delivers co-developed and work-for-hire game productions for leading publishers including Apple, Ubisoft, Netflix, Gameloft, and Paramount.
Is Old Skull Games a public or private company?
Old Skull Games is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Old Skull Games founded?
Old Skull Games was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Old Skull Games based?
Old Skull Games is headquartered in Villeurbanne, France, in the Europe region.
How does Old Skull Games make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Original IP Development is the primary driver. The others are development Partnerships, game Sales - Retail and subscription Platform Releases.
Who are Old Skull Games's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Asobo Studio, Don't Nod, Dotemu, Amplitude Studios, Supergiant Games, Red Thread Games, Tequila Works and Blackbird Interactive. Broad incumbents are Saber Interactive and Virtuos.
Does Old Skull Games have an API?
No public API is recorded for Old Skull Games.
What industry is Old Skull Games in?
Old Skull Games's product category is Indie Game Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAAAC, Indie Game Studios, with a secondary code of MPAFAKAN, Porting, Remastering & Platform Adaptation Services (PC/Console/Mobile/VR).