What Counterplay Games does

Counterplay Games is a privately held independent video game development studio incorporated in California, with operational headquarters at 1394 Park Avenue in Emeryville (per office records; firmographic summary references San Francisco). Founded in 2013 and operating with 11-50 employees, the studio designs and ships premium action titles for console and PC, with two core products in its catalog: Godfall (2019), a looter-slasher melee action-RPG set in the fantasy realm of Aperion, and Armatus (2025), a third-person roguelite shooter set in a demon-infested post-apocalyptic Paris. The company maintains a proprietary SHiFT player account system that bridges nine third-party identity providers (Steam, Xbox Live, PlayStation Network, EPIC Games, 2K, Google, Facebook, Twitter, Twitch) to enable unified cross-platform player profiles, leaderboards, and community features across its titles.

The studio's underlying technology comprises proprietary game mechanics — the looter-slasher combat system in Godfall and the firearms-plus-celestial-powers roguelite progression loop in Armatus — built on an unspecified game engine and integrated with the SHiFT account layer. Godfall is published by an external publisher (2K Games per channel/partnership records; Gearbox Publishing per company history records — a data conflict in the source), while Armatus is self-published across Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch 2.

Revenue is generated principally through one-time game license sales via digital storefronts, with potential recurring revenue from in-game transactions. The customer base is a horizontal segment of video game consumers seeking action-RPGs, roguelite shooters, and cooperative multiplayer experiences; no enterprise or named-customer logos are disclosed. Go-to-market relies on platform-based discovery through major storefronts, community engagement via Discord servers, and earned press, with limited direct marketing spend. The company has not disclosed any external funding rounds, parent company, or institutional investors, suggesting founder-led bootstrap operations.

Name

Counterplay Games

Legal name

Counterplay Games Inc.

Website

https://counterplaygames.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Counterplay Games is an independent video game development studio based in Emeryville, California, that designs and publishes action video games — notably the Godfall looter-slasher action-RPG and the Armatus roguelite shooter — for major console and PC platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Video Games

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Full-Service Game Publishers (1st/2nd/3rd-Party Publishing) (MPAFABAA)

Keywords

• Action video games
• Looter-slasher RPGs
• Roguelite shooters
• Video game development
• Multiplayer action games

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Video game sales: One-time purchase revenue from game sales through digital distribution platforms (Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch)
2. In-game purchases: Potential in-game transactions for additional content, cosmetics, or expansions within Godfall and Armatus

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Counterplay Games is an independent video game development studio that designs, develops, and publishes premium action video games for PC and consoles. Its core offerings are two franchises: Godfall, a looter-slasher melee action-RPG published by 2K Games, and Armatus, a third-person roguelite shooter, both delivered through a unified SHiFT player account system across Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch 2.

Product overview

Counterplay Games is a game development studio that creates video games. The company offers a portfolio of two distinct titles: Armatus (a roguelite shooter set in post-apocalyptic Paris with supernatural combat mechanics) and Godfall (a looter-slasher melee action-RPG featuring god-like warriors). Both games operate through a unified SHiFT player account system that connects to multiple gaming platforms (Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, EPIC Games). Armatus is the newer title currently available for wishlisting, while Godfall is published by 2K and represents an earlier release in the company's catalog.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Armatus Armatus is a third-person roguelite shooter set in the demon-infested ruins of Paris in which players take on the role of a summoned supernatural warrior of an ancient order, wielding firearms and celestial powers to fight demons and find a lost gateway to heaven called the Sunless Gate. It is targeted at action and roguelite shooter gaming enthusiasts on PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch 2.
• Godfall Godfall is a looter-slasher melee action-RPG in which players take on the role of the last of the Valorian knights, god-like warriors with legendary armor sets that transform them into unstoppable masters of melee combat, set in the fantasy realm of Aperion. It is targeted at action RPG enthusiasts and is distributed via Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox through publisher 2K Games.
• SHiFT Account SHiFT is Counterplay Games' player account platform that allows users to register for online services, connect third-party platform accounts (Steam, Xbox Live, PSN, EPIC Games, 2K, Google, Facebook, Twitter, Twitch), and manage their gaming profile, leaderboards, and community features.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration14 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 2K GamescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor2K Games serves as the publisher for Godfall, providing distribution, marketing, and publishing services. Godfall is marketed and sold through 2K's channels and platforms, leveraging 2K's established presence in the gaming industry.
• Valve Corporation (Steam)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSteam serves as the primary PC distribution platform for Counterplay Games titles, including Godfall and Armatus. Games are available for wishlisting and purchase through Steam's digital storefront.
• Sony Interactive Entertainment (PlayStation)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPlayStation Store serves as the distribution platform for Godfall and Armatus on PS5, with games available on the PlayStation Store.
• Microsoft (Xbox)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorXbox Store serves as the distribution platform for Godfall and Armatus on Xbox consoles.
• NintendocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNintendo Switch 2 serves as the distribution platform for Armatus, available through the Nintendo eShop.
• DiscordminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiscord serves as the primary community platform for Armatus, hosting the Armatus Discord server for community engagement, playtest opportunities, and direct communication with gamers.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Compulsion Games: Small independent studio (We Happy Few, Contrast) building premium narrative-driven action games. Comparable peer given similar team size and multi-platform indie premium-game strategy.
• Supergiant Games: Small independent studio (Bastion, Hades, Transistor) shipping premium action games across PC and console. Closely comparable to Counterplay in team size, indie status, and focus on mechanically rich action titles.
• Neon Giant: Tiny Swedish indie studio (The Ascent) developing premium action-shooter experiences for PC and consoles. Compares directly to Counterplay in headcount scale, indie positioning, and action-genre focus.
• Moon Studios: Independent studio (Ori and the Blind Forest/Will of the Wisps) delivering premium action-platformers across Xbox, PC, and Switch. Closely comparable small-team independent developer shipping high-quality action titles on multiple platforms.

Broad incumbents

• FromSoftware: Major action-RPG developer (Elden Ring, Dark Souls, Armored Core) that effectively defines the looter/character-action category Godfall competes in. The dominant scaled incumbent in Counterplay's target genre.
• id Software: Veteran AAA FPS developer (DOOM, Quake) under Bethesda/Microsoft. Comparable as a multi-platform premium action-shooter developer, though at far greater scale than Counterplay.
• Arkane Studios: Major developer of immersive action games (Dishonored, Deathloop, Prey) under Bethesda/Microsoft. Comparable as a premium-action developer spanning PC and console in similar narrative-rich combat genres.
• Gearbox Entertainment: Publisher/developer of Borderlands and the prior publisher of Godfall through Gearbox Publishing. Comparable through the prior publishing relationship with Counterplay and shared action-RPG/looter heritage.
• Santa Monica Studio: First-party PlayStation developer of God of War, a premium melee-action franchise. Comparable as a leading premium melee-action developer with similar combat-driven gameplay DNA to Godfall.

Others

• Devolver Digital: Indie game publisher that has incubated and distributed numerous small-studio premium titles. Comparable as an indie-publishing ecosystem participant relevant to Counterplay's self-publishing trajectory with Armatus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/counterplaygms

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Counterplay Games