What Auroch Digital does

Auroch Digital is a Bristol, UK-based independent video game development studio and consultancy founded in 2010, employing 51-100 staff. The studio operates two complementary business lines: own-IP game publishing and work-for-hire development services. Its own-IP portfolio is anchored by the Warhammer 40,000 franchise under license from Games Workshop, including the retro FPS Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun and its sequel Boltgun 2, the roguelite bullet-heaven title Warhammer Survivors (co-developed with Poncle using the Vampire Survivors engine), and the Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War! retro shooter (licensed from Sony Pictures). Secondary own-IP titles include Mars Horizon, Brewmaster, Ogre, Dark Future: Blood Red States, and Achtung! Cthulhu Tactics, often originating as faithful board-game IP adaptations.

The studio's technology stack is built on licensed third-party engines rather than proprietary runtime technology; notable examples include Poncle's Vampire Survivors engine for Warhammer Survivors and retro-FPS engines for the Boltgun series. Distribution is multiplatform across Steam, PlayStation 5/4, Xbox Series X|S/One, and Nintendo Switch 1/2, with publisher relationships including Focus Entertainment, Devolver Digital (Big Fan label), and Poncle. A secondary revenue stream comprises work-for-hire and co-development services, with publicly cited projects including Sea of Thieves, V Rising, Plague Inc., Wobbledogs, and Fury of Dracula console adaptations.

Ownership transitioned in November 2025 when Roundtable Interactive acquired the studio from Sumo Digital, providing new strategic direction oriented toward original IP and co-development expansion. Revenue mechanics mix one-time game licenses (base game and DLC) with professional services contracts; no subscription, live-ops, or recurring revenue model is disclosed. The primary customer segment is individual video game consumers on global storefronts, with a secondary business-to-business segment of game studios requiring development services and console porting expertise.

Name

Auroch Digital

Legal name

Auroch Digital Limited

Website

https://aurochdigital.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Auroch Digital is a Bristol-based independent video game development studio and consultancy that builds licensed Warhammer and retro-FPS titles (Boltgun, Warhammer Survivors, Starship Troopers) and provides work-for-hire porting and co-development services to game publishers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Video Game Development

NAICS

Software Publishers (513210)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

Indie Game Studios (MPAFAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Strategy/4X/Management Game Studios (MPAFAAAK)

Keywords

• Video game development
• Indie game studio
• Retro FPS games
• Warhammer games
• Work-for-hire development

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Game Sales (One-Time License): Direct sales of completed games across PC and console platforms. Games are sold as one-time purchases with no subscription required.
2. DLC and Expansion Sales: Additional downloadable content such as Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun - Forges Of Corruption expansion with new campaigns, weapons, and content.
3. Work-For-Hire Development: Contract development services for other studios including Sea of Thieves, V Rising, and Plague Inc. console adaptations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Auroch Digital is an independent Bristol-based video game development studio that designs, develops, and publishes its own portfolio of original and licensed-IP games — most prominently Warhammer titles (Warhammer Survivors, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun and its sequel, plus expansions) and Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War! — for PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. In parallel, the studio sells contract development services (work-for-hire, co-development, and console porting) to other game publishers and studios, including console adaptations of titles such as Sea of Thieves, V Rising, Plague Inc., Wildermyth, and Democracy 4.

Product overview

Auroch Digital is a Bristol-based independent video game development studio offering a portfolio of original titles and licensed adaptations. The core offerings include Warhammer-themed games (Warhammer Survivors, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun series), licensed IP adaptations (Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War!, Wildermyth: Console Edition, Democracy 4: Console Edition), original strategy/simulation games (Mars Horizon, Ogre, Dark Future, Brewmaster), and work-for-hire development services. The company operates under co-development partnerships with publishers including Focus Entertainment, Devolver Digital, and Poncle, while also providing porting services for third-party titles to console platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Warhammer Survivors A fast-paced roguelite survivors (bullet hell) game featuring characters from both Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer: Age of Sigmar universes; players collect and evolve iconic weapons to destroy endless swarms of enemies. Targeted at PC and console gamers; planned 2026 release.
• Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun A retro FPS ("boomer shooter") that blends Warhammer 40,000 lore with classic 90s shooter gameplay; players control a battle-hardened Space Marine battling Chaos Space Marines and daemons. Published by Focus Entertainment.
• Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 The action-packed sequel to Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun featuring two playable characters (Malum Caedo and Nyra Veyrath), a branching campaign, new biomes including hive cities and mangrove swamps, and an expanded arsenal. Planned 2026 release on PC and consoles.
• Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun - Forges of Corruption Paid DLC expansion for Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun that adds a 5-level campaign, new enemies (Black Havok Legion, Helbrute, Terminator), and new weapons (Multi-Melta, Missile Launcher). Published by Focus Entertainment.
• Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War! A first-person retro shooter inspired by the 1997 Starship Troopers film, featuring open maps, nostalgic visuals, strategic gameplay, and an original story across missions with iconic weapons. Released 16 March 2026 on PC and consoles.
• Mars Horizon A space agency management simulation game in which players develop rockets, launch missions, and explore the solar system.
• Brewmaster A brewing simulation game where players craft their own beer through detailed brewing processes.
• Ogre A video game adaptation of the classic Games Workshop tabletop game featuring giant combat robots (ogres) battling tanks.
• Dark Future: Blood Red States A tactical vehicle combat game set in a dystopian future, based on a Games Workshop tabletop game.
• Achtung! Cthulhu Tactics A tactical turn-based strategy game combining a World War 2 setting with Lovecraftian horror elements.
• Wildermyth: Console Edition Console adaptation of the tactical RPG featuring procedurally generated stories and character development.
• Democracy 4: Console Edition Console adaptation of the political simulation game in which players govern a country and implement policies.
• The Colonists: Console Edition Console adaptation of the colony-building strategy game featuring automation and resource management.
• Megaquarium: Console Edition Console adaptation of the aquarium management simulation game.
• Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun - Words of Vengeance A free typing spinoff set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe in which players type phrases to defeat enemies.
• Mars Horizon: Blast Off! DLC expansion for Mars Horizon adding additional content and missions.
• Work-For-Hire Development Services Custom game development, co-development, and console porting services delivered to other game publishers and studios. Past and current projects include V Rising, Sea of Thieves, Wobbledogs, Fury of Dracula: Digital Edition, and Plague Inc. console adaptations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Warhammer Survivors demo attracted over 2,400 concurrent players on Steam

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• PonclecoreTechnology or Integration · 4 November 2025Poncle is the developer of Vampire Survivors, whose engine is being used to build Warhammer Survivors. This is a collaboration between Auroch Digital and Poncle for the roguelite bullet heaven game.
• Focus EntertainmentcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFocus Entertainment is the publisher for Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun and its DLC Forges of Corruption, handling distribution on PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch platforms.
• Big Fan (Devolver Digital)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBig Fan, a Devolver Digital publishing label, publishes Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2. Devolver Digital's logo appears on promotional materials.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fatshark: Swedish developer of Warhammer: Vermintide and Warhammer 40,000: Darktide. Direct peer as another licensed Warhammer game studio of comparable scale, sharing the same Games Workshop IP licensing ecosystem and PC/console shooter focus.
• NeocoreGames: Hungarian studio developing Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor series under Games Workshop license. Direct peer as a Warhammer licensed game developer of similar scale with comparable strategy/RPG-action genre overlap.
• Splash Damage: UK-based game studio specializing in multiplayer FPS and work-for-hire development (Gears Tactics, Doom Eternal). Direct peer in the UK studio ecosystem with comparable work-for-hire services plus proprietary FPS titles.
• Sumo Digital: UK-based game developer and former parent of Auroch Digital (acquired Tencent in 2022). Direct peer given overlapping work-for-hire services, similar studio size, and prior ownership relationship.
• New Blood Interactive: US indie publisher specializing in retro-styled boomer shooters (Dusk, Amid Evil). Direct peer in the retro FPS niche that defines Auroch's Boltgun series, with overlapping target audience.

Broad incumbents

• Frontier Developments: Cambridge-based publicly listed game developer (Planet Coaster, Elite Dangerous, F1 Manager). Comparable UK strategy/simulation portfolio and similar premium positioning, though materially larger scale.
• Creative Assembly: SEGA-owned UK developer of Total War: Warhammer series. Competes in the same Warhammer licensed game space with significantly larger scale and broader strategy portfolio.
• Saber Interactive: Major Warhammer 40K licensee (Space Marine 2) and large work-for-hire studio under Embracer Group. Comparable in operating model across licensed IPs and co-development services, at materially larger scale.

Emerging players

• Coffee Stain Studios: Swedish developer behind Satisfactory, Deep Rock Galactic, and Goat Simulator. Comparable indie/small-team premium PC/console studio with management/simulation and co-op genres, operating at similar scale.

Others

• Devolver Digital: Publisher of Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 through its Big Fan label. Indirect peer as a publishing channel partner providing indie game distribution and marketing services relevant to Auroch Digital's go-to-market model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AurochDigital
• Facebookfacebook.com/AurochDigital
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/auroch-digital-ltd

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

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 Auroch Digital