Rocketwerkz
Rocketwerkz is an independent New Zealand game studio that develops and publishes PC survival, simulation, and tycoon games — including ICARUS (3M+ units sold) — using a mix of Unreal Engine 4 and its proprietary BRUTAL framework, distributed via Steam to individual PC gamers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersAuckland, New Zealand
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Rocketwerkz does
Rocketwerkz Studios Limited is an independent New Zealand-based video game studio that develops and publishes PC games across the survival, simulation, and tycoon/adventure genres. The studio was founded by Dean Hall, creator of DayZ, in Dunedin in 2015 and expanded to Auckland in 2019, where it now operates from PwC Tower. Its current commercial portfolio includes ICARUS, an open-world sci-fi survival game built in Unreal Engine 4 that has sold over three million units on Steam since 2021; Stationeers, a base-building simulation; Kitten Space Agency, the first title built on Rocketwerkz's in-house BRUTAL framework; and the in-development titles Art of the Rail and Torpedia.
The studio's core technology stack is bifurcated: legacy and high-fidelity projects such as ICARUS use Unreal Engine 4, while newer development is migrating to BRUTAL, a proprietary C# framework backed by custom C++ libraries that include a Vulkan graphics pipeline and a low-level networking library. This stack is positioned to reduce engine royalty dependence and give the studio direct control over performance-critical systems at scale. The team size is reported in the 101-250 range, with active senior engineering hiring across C++ and engine roles.
Commercially, Rocketwerkz operates a one-time license model on Steam (and Ahwoo for Kitten Space Agency), supplemented by DLC and live-ops content. ICARUS has received a weekly content update every week since 2021, monetized through DLC purchases that players are explicitly asked to fund. Distribution is concentrated on Steam as the primary storefront, with secondary reach through Twitch, YouTube, Discord, and a formal content creator program. The company is privately held, backed by Tencent since 2018 while remaining majority locally-owned and operationally independent.
Rocketwerkz firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rocketwerkz
- Legal name
- RocketWerkz Studios Limited
- Website
- https://rocketwerkz.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Rocketwerkz is an independent New Zealand game studio that develops and publishes PC survival, simulation, and tycoon games — including ICARUS (3M+ units sold) — using a mix of Unreal Engine 4 and its proprietary BRUTAL framework, distributed via Steam to individual PC gamers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rocketwerkz industry classification
Industry- Product category
- PC Video Games
- NAICS
- Doll, Toy, and Game Manufacturing (33993)
- SIC
- Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Serious Games & Simulation Studios (Training, Defense, Enterprise) (MPAFAAAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Game Engines (General-Purpose & Real-Time 3D) (MPAFAFAA)
Keywords
Where Rocketwerkz is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Auckland
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices2 records
Markets served
Rocketwerkz business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Game Sales: Rocketwerkz develops and sells PC video games through digital storefronts like Steam. Games include ICARUS, Stationeers, Kitten Space Agency, and Art of the Rail.
- DLC and Expansions: The company releases downloadable content and expansions for existing games. Players are encouraged to purchase DLC to support ongoing development.
- Early Access: Icarus has been developed with weekly updates since 2021, suggesting an early access or ongoing development model with player feedback integration.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels9 records
Rocketwerkz product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rocketwerkz is an independent video game studio that develops and publishes PC video games across multiple genres including survival, simulation, tycoon, and adventure. The studio builds games using both established engines (Unreal Engine 4, Unity) and its proprietary BRUTAL C# game development framework with custom C++ libraries for graphics and networking.
Product overview
Rocketwerkz is an independent video games studio that develops and publishes multiple PC games across different genres. The company offers a portfolio of distinct games including Icarus (open-world sci-fi survival), Stationeers (base-building simulation), Kitten Space Agency (space-themed game), Art of the Rail (tycoon adventure), and Torpedia (adventure game). The studio uses both established game engines (Unreal Engine, Unity) and its own proprietary BRUTAL game development framework built with C# and C++ for creating custom Vulkan graphics pipelines and low-level networking libraries. Some games are available on Steam and AHWOO, with community support provided through Discord.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Stationeers An open-world base-building simulation game set on planets with systems-driven gameplay, where players must manage resources and survival mechanics in challenging environments. Targeted at PC gamers who enjoy open-world simulation and survival gameplay.
- Kitten Space Agency A space-themed game developed in C# and the first title built using Rocketwerkz's proprietary BRUTAL game development framework. Distributed on Ahwoo and Steam; targeted at PC gamers.
- ICARUS A complex systems-driven sandbox open-world PC survival game made in Unreal Engine 4.27, featuring a sci-fi co-op experience where players harvest resources and survive on an alien planet. Targeted at PC gamers who enjoy survival and co-op sandbox experiences.
- Art of the Rail A spiritual descendent of classic tycoon games with adventure elements, currently in development. Targeted at PC gamers who enjoy tycoon and simulation gameplay.
- Torpedia A game featuring adventure gameplay into depths, currently in development. Targeted at PC gamers who enjoy adventure gameplay.
Quantifiable outcome
- Icarus sold over 3 million units on Steam
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Rocketwerkz
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Rocketwerkz technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Rocketwerkz partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Rocketwerkz competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bohemia Interactive: Bohemia Interactive develops DayZ and Arma — the open-world survival franchise where Rocketwerkz founder Dean Hall built his reputation. Both studios operate in the PC survival/sandbox space with persistent online worlds and similar GTM through Steam.
- Endnight Games: Endnight Games develops Sons of the Forest, the leading premium survival-craft successor to The Forest. Same PC survival genre, similar Steam-led direct distribution model, similar systems-driven gameplay depth as ICARUS and Stationeers.
- Facepunch Studios: Facepunch operates Rust, the dominant open-world survival sandbox on Steam, and also runs the studio behind s&box. Closest direct competitor to ICARUS — same genre, same Steam-only distribution, similar long-tail live-ops monetization model.
- Funcom: Funcom develops Conan Exiles and Dune: Awakening — premium open-world survival on PC/console. Comparable genre positioning to Rocketwerkz, with shared target buyer (hardcore survival/simulation PC gamers) and Steam live-ops model.
- Iron Gate AB: Iron Gate developed Valheim, the breakout survival-craft hit. Small independent studio in a similar genre niche selling primarily on Steam — directly comparable in scale, monetization model (premium one-time purchase with ongoing updates), and target audience.
- Coffee Stain Studios: Coffee Stain develops Deep Rock Galactic and Satisfactory — premium PC co-op survival/sandbox titles with strong Steam communities and sustained live-ops. Closely comparable in product mechanics, target buyer, and live-ops cadence to ICARUS and Stationeers.
Broad incumbents
- Frontier Developments: Frontier develops Planet Coaster, Jurassic World Evolution, and Elite Dangerous — premium PC tycoon/simulation/management games. Comparable to Stationeers and the upcoming Art of the Rail (tycoon) in genre and premium one-time-purchase model, though at much larger scale and broader portfolio.
- 11 bit studios: 11 bit studios develops Frostpunk, Frostpunk 2, and This War of the Mine — premium PC/console survival-management and simulation titles with strong critical reception. Comparable genre overlap with Rocketwerkz's simulation/survival portfolio and similar indie-at-scale positioning in the premium management/survival category.
- Team17: Team17 is a long-standing indie publisher and developer in the survival/management/sandbox PC space (Worms series, Overcooked, publish partner for survival titles). Comparable as a publisher-developer in the same indie PC survival ecosystem where Rocketwerkz competes and distributes.
- Avalanche Studios Group: Avalanche Studios develops open-world titles including theHunter: Call of the Wild and Generation Zero — open-world, systems-driven games with simulation/survival mechanics on PC. Broader portfolio overlap with Rocketwerkz's systems-driven open-world approach, though Avalanche operates at much larger scale across multiple studios.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Rocketwerkz social profiles
Digital presenceRocketwerkz financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rocketwerkz leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Rocketwerkz funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rocketwerkz 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 Rocketwerkz
What does Rocketwerkz do?
Rocketwerkz is an independent video game studio that develops and publishes PC video games across multiple genres including survival, simulation, tycoon, and adventure. The studio builds games using both established engines (Unreal Engine 4, Unity) and its proprietary BRUTAL C# game development framework with custom C++ libraries for graphics and networking.
Is Rocketwerkz a public or private company?
Rocketwerkz is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Rocketwerkz founded?
Rocketwerkz was founded in 2015. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Rocketwerkz based?
Rocketwerkz is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does Rocketwerkz make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Game Sales are the primary driver. The others are DLC and Expansions and early Access.
Who are Rocketwerkz's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bohemia Interactive, Endnight Games, Facepunch Studios, Funcom, Iron Gate AB and Coffee Stain Studios. Broad incumbents are Frontier Developments, 11 bit studios, Team17 and Avalanche Studios Group.
Does Rocketwerkz have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rocketwerkz.
What industry is Rocketwerkz in?
Rocketwerkz's product category is PC Video Games. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAAAH, Serious Games & Simulation Studios (Training, Defense, Enterprise), with a secondary code of MPAFAFAA, Game Engines (General-Purpose & Real-Time 3D). Its NAICS code is 33993 and its SIC code is 3944.