What YAGER does

YAGER Development GmbH is a Berlin-based independent video game development studio founded in 1999 by five co-founders (Mathias, Philipp, Roman, Timo, and Uwe) who have known each other since the 1980s. The studio employs approximately 100–130 international staff representing more than 30 nationalities and operates from headquarters at Pfuelstraße 5, 10997 Berlin, Germany. Its product portfolio spans critically and commercially recognized titles including Spec Ops: The Line (developed with 2K Games), Dreadnought (multiplayer space combat), and The Cycle / The Cycle: Frontier (a free-to-play PvPvE extraction shooter that became its first self-published title in 2019 and has since been discontinued). In September 2024, YAGER extended The Cycle IP into Fortnite via The Cycle: Prospect Island, built on Epic's Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) platform.

The studio's underlying technology is anchored on Unreal Engine, including UE5 for current projects, with the firm having historically operated a proprietary Yager Engine for earlier titles. Core proprietary capabilities are concentrated in extraction shooter mechanics, social emergent multiplayer systems, and live operations — expertise that has been repackaged into a co-development services offering for external publishers. YAGER provides co-development support to Funcom on Dune: Awakening (an open-world survival MMO based on Frank Herbert's Dune, in development since 2022 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S) and to Sharkmob on Exoborne (a tactical open-world extraction shooter announced April 2024).

YAGER operates three distinct revenue streams: (1) self-publishing of proprietary titles through Steam, Epic Games Store, and UEFN (The Cycle: Frontier was free-to-play with potential microtransaction revenue; The Cycle: Prospect Island monetizes indirectly via Fortnite Battle Pass XP); (2) co-development services to publishing partners, generating development fees and milestone payments (Funcom, Sharkmob); and (3) original IP development and licensing, exemplified by The Cycle brand extension into Fortnite. Distribution runs through both direct digital storefronts and publisher-mediated channels, with Level Infinite (Tencent's global publishing brand) positioned as a collaborative publisher for Dune: Awakening. The studio's customer base splits between B2C players of multiplayer action and extraction-shooter games and B2B publishing/co-development partners in the AAA and AA game ecosystem, including a Tencent-affiliated network following YAGER's 2020 Tencent investment.

Name

YAGER

Legal name

YAGER Development GmbH

Website

https://yager.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Berlin-based independent game studio founded in 1999 with ~100–130 international employees. YAGER develops and self-publishes action games (Spec Ops: The Line, The Cycle: Frontier) and provides co-development services to publishers such as Funcom (Dune: Awakening) and Sharkmob (Exoborne), specializing in extraction shooter mechanics across PC, console, and UEFN.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Self-Published Game Sales & Live Operations: YAGER self-publishes its own games, generating revenue from game sales and live service operations. The Cycle: Frontier operated as a free-to-play title with potential microtransaction revenue. The Cycle: Prospect Island was released as a Fortnite UEFN island.
2. Co-Development Services: YAGER provides co-development services to other studios, applying its extraction shooter and game development expertise. Currently co-developing Dune: Awakening with Funcom and Exoborne with Sharkmob. Revenue is generated through development fees and potentially shared publishing arrangements.
3. Original IP Licensing: YAGER develops and owns original IP including The Cycle, which has been extended into Fortnite as The Cycle: Prospect Island. Original IP development for self-publishing and potential licensing.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

YAGER is an independent game development studio that designs, develops, and self-publishes online action video games featuring social emergent gameplay. The studio also provides co-development services to other publishers and studios, contributing its extraction shooter expertise and multiplayer systems capabilities to projects such as Dune: Awakening (with Funcom) and Exoborne (with Sharkmob). Operating from Berlin since 1999, YAGER owns original IP including The Cycle franchise and has shipped titles such as Spec Ops: The Line, Dreadnought, and The Cycle: Frontier.

Product overview

YAGER is a Berlin-based video game development studio founded in 1999 that develops and self-publishes action games. The company's core portfolio includes Spec Ops: The Line, Dreadnought, and The Cycle: Frontier (their first self-published title). YAGER has evolved to offer co-development services to other studios, contributing their extraction shooter expertise to projects like Dune: Awakening (with Funcom) and Exoborne (with Sharkmob). The company also created The Cycle: Prospect Island, a tribute project built in Unreal Editor for Fortnite. YAGER operates with approximately 100-130 employees across hybrid and remote work arrangements, supporting both proprietary game development and collaborative studio partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Spec Ops: The Line A critically acclaimed third-person military shooter developed by YAGER in partnership with 2K Games, notable for its narrative depth and moral complexity. Released as a packaged retail and digital title for PC and consoles.
• Dreadnought A class-based multiplayer space combat game developed by YAGER featuring different spacecraft classes, ship customization, and team-based gameplay in a sci-fi setting. Targeted at PC players seeking large-scale vehicular combat.
• The Cycle: Frontier YAGER's first self-published multiplayer PvPvE extraction shooter set on the planet Fortuna III. Players complete contracts for factions, gather loot, and must extract while competing against other players. Free-to-play live service title distributed on Steam and Epic Games Store.
• The Cycle: Prospect Island A Fortnite UEFN island tribute project bringing The Cycle: Frontier gameplay elements to the Fortnite platform. Features factions (Korolev, Osiris, ICA), contracts, loot gathering, Strider hunting, and EVAC mechanics. Players earn XP toward Fortnite Battle Pass.
• Dune: Awakening Co-Development Services Co-development services provided to Funcom for Dune: Awakening, an open world survival MMO based on Frank Herbert's DUNE. YAGER contributes extraction shooter expertise, multiplayer systems, and live operations experience. Game targets PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
• Exoborne Co-Development Services Co-development services provided to Sharkmob for Exoborne, a tactical open world extraction shooter set in an apocalyptic United States. YAGER contributes extraction shooter experience, live operations learnings, and gameplay/feedback insights from The Cycle: Frontier.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25 years of continuous operation as a game development studio since 1999
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 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

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SharkmobcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 April 2024YAGER is providing co-development support to Sharkmob on Exoborne, an upcoming tactical open-world extraction shooter set in an apocalyptic US. YAGER brings its extraction shooter experience from The Cycle: Frontier, including lessons on gameplay mechanics, live operations, and player feedback. The collaboration involves leadership team visits to Sharkmob's Malmö studio (June 2025 trip).
• FuncomcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 January 2024YAGER has been co-developing Dune: Awakening with Funcom since 2022 (officially announced January 2024). Dune: Awakening is an open-world survival MMO set on Arrakis, inspired by Frank Herbert's Dune. The game targets PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Funcom is a Tencent Second-Party studio.
• Level InfiniteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLevel Infinite is Tencent's global games brand and serves as publisher for various games. It is described as both a publisher of breakout hit games and a collaborative partner for titles including Dune: Awakening from Funcom.
• School 4 Games BerlinminorOthersSchool 4 Games Berlin is a state-recognized vocational school in Berlin founded in 2011. YAGER hosts visits for aspiring game developers from the school, with Managing Director Timo Ullmann giving introductions and various department members hosting talks. Part of YAGER's educational outreach and talent pipeline strategy.
• Fürstenberg InstituteminorOthersYAGER collaborates with the Fürstenberg Institute for employee mental health support. The institute offers webinars on topics such as ADHD and ADD, and provides initial consultations. It also provides an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering legal advice, medical counseling, debt and insolvency counseling, coaching, and conflict moderation.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• CD Projekt Red: Polish developer behind The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077. Larger and more established European game studio with a similar Berlin/Warsaw regional talent pool; useful benchmark for European studio scale and self-publishing trajectory.

Others

• Epic Games: Owner of Unreal Engine and Fortnite/UEFN platform. Not a direct competitor but a critical platform and technology partner — YAGER builds on UE5 and distributes The Cycle: Prospect Island via Fortnite's UEFN ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Sharkmob: Swedish game studio developing Exoborne, a tactical open-world extraction shooter. Direct peer to YAGER as both companies operate in the extraction shooter space and have an active co-development relationship, sharing player-base and design conventions.
• Funcom: Norwegian game developer and publisher of Dune: Awakening, Conan Exiles, and The Secret World. YAGER is co-developing Dune: Awakening with Funcom; both target the survival/MMO genre and operate as mid-size European studios serving global audiences.
• Crytek: Frankfurt-based independent game developer behind Crysis and Hunt: Showdown. Closely comparable as a long-tenured, founder-influenced German/European game studio with both proprietary IP and co-development heritage in the shooter genre.
• Techland: Polish game developer behind Dying Light and Dead Island. Comparable mid-size European studio with open-world action titles, self-publishing capability, and an evolving co-development/ownership structure following Tencent investment.
• Avalanche Studios Group: Swedish game developer behind the Just Cause series and Mad Max. Comparable mid-size European studio with open-world action expertise and a history of publisher partnerships, now owned by Nordisk Film/EG7.
• Bohemia Interactive: Czech game developer behind Arma and DayZ. Comparable mid-size European studio operating in the military/tactical shooter space with both self-publishing and licensed IP experience.
• Rebellion Developments: British independent game developer and publisher behind Sniper Elite and Zombie Army. Comparable privately-held UK/European mid-size studio with self-publishing capability and multi-genre action shooter portfolio.
• 4A Games: Ukrainian developer of the Metro series, now owned by Embracer/Saber Interactive. Comparable mid-size European studio with first-person shooter specialization and prior publisher relationships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/yagerdev
• Facebookfacebook.com/yager.de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yager
• Instagraminstagram.com/yager_development

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 YAGER