BlackMill Games
BlackMill Games is a Netherlands-based independent video game developer that creates the WW1 Game Series, a portfolio of historically accurate squad-based FPS games (Verdun, Tannenberg, Isonzo, Gallipoli) sold directly to consumers on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, Epic, and Xbox Game Pass.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersAlkmaar, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What BlackMill Games does
BlackMill Games B.V. is a privately held Dutch video game developer founded in 2013 and headquartered in Alkmaar, Netherlands, with a distributed team of approximately 25-30 members working remotely from around the world. The company develops and publishes the WW1 Game Series, a portfolio of historically researched squad-based first-person shooter games that includes Verdun (Western Front trench warfare, 2015), Tannenberg (Eastern Front maneuver warfare, 2018), Isonzo (Italian Front Alpine warfare, 2022), and the announced Gallipoli (Ottoman Front, scheduled for 2026). Each title is built around authentic WW1 historical settings, squad-based multiplayer combat, and free post-launch content expansions. The studio co-founded the franchise with former partner M2H and now operates it independently.
The company's commercial model is direct-to-consumer through major digital storefronts (Steam, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Epic Games Store) plus the Xbox Game Pass subscription service, with revenue generated from one-time game licenses, paid DLC packs (e.g., $9.99 cosmetic packs), and platform-driven audience reach. Its go-to-market relies on organic social channels (YouTube, Twitter/X, Instagram, LinkedIn), an active Discord community, press engagement, and platform partnerships rather than paid user acquisition. Isonzo's June 2024 release on Xbox Game Pass brought in over 900,000 new users within two weeks and added cross-platform play between Xbox and PC. The customer base consists of WW1-history enthusiasts and FPS gamers seeking authentic, team-based multiplayer experiences across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms in Europe, North America, and other global markets.
Operationally, BlackMill is led by CEO and Founder Jos, with an Operations Director, Art Director, Technical Director, Marketing Manager, and PR Manager, supported by a multidisciplinary team of programmers, 3D and VFX artists, animators, level artists, sound designers, a historical consultant, and QA. The company is privately funded with no disclosed institutional investment, no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no public listing. Gallipoli's 2026 release represents the next major franchise milestone and the principal near-term growth lever.
BlackMill Games firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- BlackMill Games
- Legal name
- BlackMill Games B.V.
- Website
- https://blackmillgames.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- BlackMill Games is a Netherlands-based independent video game developer that creates the WW1 Game Series, a portfolio of historically accurate squad-based FPS games (Verdun, Tannenberg, Isonzo, Gallipoli) sold directly to consumers on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, Epic, and Xbox Game Pass.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where BlackMill Games is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Alkmaar
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
BlackMill Games business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Game Sales: One-time purchase sales of WW1 FPS games across PC and console platforms. Games released on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and Epic Games Store.
- DLC and Expansions: Downloadable content including new maps, weapons, and cosmetic DLC packs. Examples include Expedition Units Pack at $9.99/€9.99, and various free expansion updates.
- Subscription Platform Access: Games available on Xbox Game Pass subscription service, reaching millions of new players. Isonzo was claimed by over 900,000 new users in first two weeks of Game Pass release.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Expedition Units Pack DLC |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
BlackMill Games product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BlackMill Games is an independent Dutch video game developer that creates the WW1 Game Series, a suite of historically researched squad-based first-person shooter (FPS) games covering distinct World War I fronts (Western, Eastern, Alpine, and Ottoman). The company develops, publishes, and sells these games directly to consumers across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms, complemented by paid and free DLC expansions.
Product overview
BlackMill Games is a video game developer based in the Netherlands that creates the WW1 Game Series, a suite of historically researched squad-based WW1 FPS games. The series consists of four games: Verdun (trench warfare on the Western Front), Tannenberg (maneuver warfare on the Eastern Front), Isonzo (Alpine warfare in the Italian Front), and the upcoming Gallipoli (Ottoman/Middle Eastern Front). The games are available on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and Epic Games Store, with Isonzo also available on Xbox Game Pass. The series emphasizes historical accuracy, authentic details, and compelling gameplay within WW1 settings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- WW1 Game Series: A series of historically accurate WW1 first-person shooter games including Verdun, Tannenberg, Isonzo, and Gallipoli.
Products and services
- Verdun Authentic squad-based WW1 FPS focusing on trench warfare on the Western Front, featuring French, British, Americans, and Belgians versus German forces. Sold to individual gamers on PC and consoles.
- Tannenberg WW1 FPS featuring maneuver warfare on the Eastern Front in forests, plains and mountains, pitting the Imperial Russian army against German and Austro-Hungarian forces. Sold to individual gamers on PC and consoles.
- Isonzo WW1 FPS featuring high-altitude Alpine warfare on the Italian Front, with scenic peaks, rugged valleys and idyllic towns of northern Italy. Sold to individual gamers on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox.
- Gallipoli Fourth installment in the WW1 Game Series, depicting the Battle of Gallipoli on the Ottoman Front/Middle Eastern Front with historically researched environments, beaches, deserts, and urban areas, and improved graphics and AI.
- Expedition Units Pack (DLC)
Companies that use BlackMill Games
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
BlackMill Games technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
BlackMill Games partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- M2H (Former Partner)formerCo-founded the WW1 Game Series with M2H nearly a decade ago. M2H was the original co-development partner for the series before BlackMill Games continued independently.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
BlackMill Games competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Devolver Digital: Major indie game publisher that frequently partners with independent studios for distribution, marketing, and platform relationships. Relevant ecosystem participant as a potential publishing/strategic partner for BlackMill's distribution.
Direct peers
- M2H: M2H was BlackMill Games' original co-development partner and co-founded the WW1 Game Series, jointly developing Verdun. As the closest historical peer with shared DNA in the franchise, M2H is the most directly comparable studio.
- New World Interactive: Independent studio behind the Insurgency franchise, a similarly scoped indie FPS developer focused on realistic, team-based military combat. Comparable in studio size, business model, and audience overlap with BlackMill's squad-based shooters.
- 1C Game Studios: Developer of IL-2 Sturmovik: Great Battles and other historical military simulations. Comparable as a historical combat game studio focused on authentic period settings, although primarily flight sim rather than FPS.
- Bohemia Interactive: Developer of the Arma military simulation series and Operation Flashpoint. Comparable as a PC-first, realism-emphasizing military FPS studio targeting a similar enthusiast segment, though operating at greater scale.
- Flying Wild Hog: Developer of Shadow Warrior 2/3 and Hard Reset, an indie-to-mid-size FPS studio with comparable team scale and FPS specialization, though focused on stylized rather than historical settings.
- Rebellion Developments: Developer of Sniper Elite and Zombie Army, Rebellion is a mid-sized studio focused on historical/WW2 FPS content. Closely comparable in the historical military FPS niche and audience, with similar emphasis on authenticity and squad gameplay.
- Saber Interactive: Mid-size multi-platform FPS developer behind World War Z and various co-development projects. Comparable in scale, multi-platform release strategy, and squad-based shooter genre overlap.
Emerging players
- 11 bit studios: Polish mid-size studio behind This War of Mine and Frostpunk. Comparable in studio size and independent European developer profile, with thematic overlap through war-themed narratives, though different genre focus.
Broad incumbents
- DICE (EA DICE): Developer of the Battlefield franchise, including Battlefield 1 (set in WW1). Direct thematic overlap with the WW1 FPS genre, but DICE operates as an AAA studio with substantially greater resources and broader portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
BlackMill Games social profiles
Digital presenceBlackMill Games financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
BlackMill Games leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
BlackMill Games funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
BlackMill Games 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 BlackMill Games
What does BlackMill Games do?
BlackMill Games is an independent Dutch video game developer that creates the WW1 Game Series, a suite of historically researched squad-based first-person shooter (FPS) games covering distinct World War I fronts (Western, Eastern, Alpine, and Ottoman). The company develops, publishes, and sells these games directly to consumers across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms, complemented by paid and free DLC expansions.
Is BlackMill Games a public or private company?
BlackMill Games is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was BlackMill Games founded?
BlackMill Games was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is BlackMill Games based?
BlackMill Games is headquartered in Alkmaar, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does BlackMill Games make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Game Sales are the primary driver. The others are DLC and Expansions and subscription Platform Access.
Who are BlackMill Games's main competitors?
Devolver Digital is listed as an others. Direct peers are M2H, New World Interactive, 1C Game Studios, Bohemia Interactive, Flying Wild Hog, Rebellion Developments and Saber Interactive. 11 bit studios is listed as an emerging player. DICE (EA DICE) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does BlackMill Games have an API?
No public API is recorded for BlackMill Games.