What Uppercut Games does

Uppercut Games is an independent video game development studio headquartered in Canberra, Australia, founded in 2011 by Andrew James, Ryan Lancaster, and Ed Orman — AAA veterans of BioShock, BioShock 2, XCOM, Fallout: Tactics, Freedom Force, and Tribes: Vengeance. The studio designs and develops atmospheric, world-driven games across action, exploration, roguelike, and narrative-FPS genres, building on Unreal Engine 3 and 4 (with a later pivot to UE4 for newer titles) and proprietary touch-screen control systems that translate console-style action mechanics to mobile devices. Its released catalog includes EPOCH and EPOCH 2 (post-apocalyptic mobile robot combat), Submerged and Submerged: Hidden Depths (combat-free exploration in a flooded city), City of Brass (first-person Arabian Nights action adventure), Magicians: The Devil's Deal (2025 narrative FPS published with Focus Entertainment), and casual titles SnowJinks and Danger Dodgers.

The studio operates a B2C direct-to-consumer model with distribution across all major digital storefronts — Steam, iOS App Store, Google Play, PlayStation Store, Xbox Live Marketplace, Nintendo eShop, and Humble Store — reaching a global long-tail of individual gamers. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time digital game sales with limited in-app microtransactions (e.g., Credits in EPOCH). Marketing relies on owned channels: a newsletter signup, organic social media presence (Twitter/X, Facebook), and press/media relations for game key distribution. There is no disclosed external institutional funding, no parent company, and no M&A activity; the firm has remained bootstrapped since inception with a headcount of 1-10, publishing sporadically and relying on established IP sequels and a 2024-era publisher relationship with Focus Entertainment for commercial reach.

Name

Uppercut Games

Legal name

Uppercut Games Limited

Website

https://uppercut-games.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Uppercut Games is an independent Australian game development studio (Canberra, founded 2011, 1-10 employees) that designs and self-publishes atmospheric video games across mobile, PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, serving a global mass-market audience of individual gamers via one-time digital sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Video Game Development

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Video game development
• Indie game studio
• Mobile game development
• Console game development
• Action adventure games

Headquarters

HQ city

Canberra

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Game Sales: Digital-only game sales through platforms including Steam Store, Xbox Live Marketplace, PSN Store, Humble Store, iOS App Store, and Google Play. Revenue generated from one-time purchase of full games.
2. In-App Purchases: In-game currency (Credits) purchasable via microtransactions in games like EPOCH. Players can purchase credits to acquire higher-tier items without grinding. Credits can also be earned through gameplay.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Uppercut Games is an independent game development studio that designs, builds, and publishes original video games across mobile, PC, and console platforms. Its portfolio includes action games (EPOCH, EPOCH 2, City of Brass), combat-free exploration titles (Submerged, Submerged: Hidden Depths), a narrative FPS (Magicians: The Devil's Deal), and casual games (SnowJinks, Danger Dodgers), sold to individual consumers through digital storefronts.

Product overview

Uppercut Games is an independent game development studio that creates video games across multiple genres and platforms. The company has developed a portfolio of distinct games including EPOCH and EPOCH 2 (mobile post-apocalyptic robot combat games), Submerged and Submerged: Hidden Depths (combat-free exploration games set in flooded cities), City of Brass (first-person action adventure), Magicians: The Devil's Deal (narrative FPS), and casual games SnowJinks and Danger Dodgers. The studio operates across mobile (iOS, Android), PC (Steam), and console platforms (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch). Their games are characterized by atmospheric worlds, strong sense of place, and varied gameplay mechanics from action combat to serene exploration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EPOCH Mobile combat action game set in a post-apocalyptic world where a robotic soldier awakens in a war-devastated city. Features touch-screen controls for cover-based combat, weapon upgrading, and a narrative about uncovering humanity's downfall.
• EPOCH 2 Sequel to EPOCH featuring expanded post-apocalyptic robot combat. Follows the robot EPOCH's journey to find Princess Amelia while battling two warring robot armies. Includes arena-style combat, weapon/armor upgrades, and multiple play modes.
• Submerged Third-person combat-free exploration game set in a mysterious flooded city. Players navigate flooded streets by boat, climb drowned buildings, and use a telescope to find supplies to save a wounded sibling.
• Submerged: Hidden Depths Relaxing third-person exploration game and sequel to Submerged. Set in a hauntingly beautiful flooded city. Players control siblings—one using a curse for good—exploring tranquil waters and ruins to find salvation.
• City of Brass First-person action adventure game set in an Arabian Nights-inspired cursed city. Players battle through traps and enemies as a thief wielding weapons and a whip to reach legendary treasure.
• Magicians: The Devil's Deal Narrative-driven first-person shooter where stage magic becomes real. Player plays as Jacob Menteuro, a fallen illusionist bound by a pact with The Devil, trapped in Hell. Features combat, exploration, and stage magic mechanics.
• SnowJinks Fun casual game about snowball fights. Players join Jack and Jill defending their neighborhood against an icy onslaught in an arcade-style experience.
• Danger Dodgers Casual arcade-style game where players choose characters, dodge meteors, and avoid getting squished. Features an eclectic cast of characters from around the world with daily gifts and challenges.

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

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Supergiant Games: Small independent studio known for atmospheric action games (Bastion, Transistor, Hades). Directly comparable in size, indie model, multi-platform delivery, and quality-over-quantity output philosophy.
• Playdead: Independent studio behind Limbo and Inside, both atmospheric exploration-focused games across PC and consoles. Comparable in atmospheric game design, small-team structure, and multi-platform indie model.
• thatgamecompany: Independent studio creating emotionally resonant games like Journey, Flow, and Sky: Children of the Light. Comparable in atmospheric design ethos, multi-platform distribution (including mobile and console), and narrative-driven indie approach.
• Stoic Studio: Small independent studio behind the Banner Saga trilogy. Comparable in narrative-driven indie game development, multi-platform distribution, and small-team production scope.
• Giant Squid Studios: Small indie studio founded by AAA veterans (including a former BioShock 2 director) that produced ABZÛ. Highly comparable given shared AAA-veteran founding pedigree and atmospheric game design.
• Moon Studios: Independent studio behind the Ori and the Blind Forest / Will of the Wisps series. Comparable in atmospheric platforming/action-adventure design, multi-platform distribution including console, and small-team indie structure.
• UsTwo Games: Independent studio behind Monument Valley and Assemble with Care. Comparable in premium mobile game design and multi-platform indie publishing model.

Broad incumbents

• Klei Entertainment: Veteran indie studio behind Don't Starve and Mark of the Ninja. Comparable in multi-platform indie game development, atmospheric art direction, and longer catalog history than Uppercut.
• Finji: Indie game developer and publisher behind titles like Night in the Woods and Overland. Comparable as a multi-platform indie publisher with experience in narrative and atmospheric games.

Emerging players

• Cardboard Computer: Small indie studio behind Kentucky Route Zero, known for atmospheric narrative adventure games on PC and console. Comparable in narrative focus, atmospheric design, and small-team creative output.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uppercutgames
• Facebookfacebook.com/uppercutgames

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Uppercut Games