Rockfish Games GmbH

What Rockfish Games GmbH does

Rockfish Games GmbH is an independent game studio headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, founded in 2014 by mobile-gaming veterans Michael Schade (CEO) and Christian Lohr (CFO/COO), who previously co-founded Fishlabs Entertainment in 2004. The studio specializes in premium 3D space games for PC and consoles, building exclusively on Epic Games' Unreal Engine 5 and leveraging advanced rendering features such as Nanite and Lumen. Its product portfolio is centered on the EVERSPACE franchise: the 2017 roguelike spaceship shooter EVERSPACE and the 2023 semi-open-world space action RPG EVERSPACE 2, which introduced looter-shooter mechanics, team recruitment, and deeper narrative systems.

The studio operates a self-publishing, direct-to-consumer business model, distributing games digitally across Steam, GOG, Microsoft Store, Xbox Store, PlayStation Store, and Nintendo Switch, with additional subscription-based reach through Microsoft Game Pass for PC. Revenue is generated primarily through premium one-time game licenses (~$29.99–$49.99), ongoing DLC and expansion packs for EVERSPACE 2, and licensing royalties from the Game Pass agreement. Community-driven go-to-market is reinforced through Kickstarter campaigns (€420K for EVERSPACE in 2015, €500K for EVERSPACE 2 in 2019) and active social channels on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Reddit.

Operationally, Rockfish runs a hybrid model with a core ~30-person team in a 750 sqm Hamburg loft studio (expandable to 50), supplemented by external developers across the UK, Europe, North America, and Asia. The company is private, founder-controlled, and avoids external publisher involvement. In April 2026, Rockfish was awarded an €8 million grant from Germany's federal games fund — the largest single game funding allocation in German history — covering approximately 45% of the €20 million budget for its next Everspace title over five years.

Name

Rockfish Games GmbH

Legal name

ROCKFISH Games GmbH

Website

https://rockfishgames.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rockfish Games GmbH is an independent Hamburg-based studio developing premium 3D space games for PC and consoles using Unreal Engine 5. Founded in 2014, it self-publishes the EVERSPACE franchise globally across Steam, consoles, and Game Pass for space-action and RPG enthusiasts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Game Sales (Premium Titles): Revenue generated from selling premium digital game titles directly to consumers through multiple platforms including Steam, GOG, Microsoft Store, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch. Players purchase games at one-time pricing for full access.
2. Game Pass / Subscription Distribution: Revenue from licensing games to Microsoft's Game Pass subscription service, providing access to EVERSPACE 2 as part of the PC Game Pass catalog.
3. Future Expansions and DLC: EVERSPACE 2 continues to expand with new expansions already released and more coming soon, suggesting additional revenue from downloadable content and expansion packs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Rockfish Games GmbH is an independent, self-publishing game studio that develops and sells high-quality 3D space video games for PC and consoles using Unreal Engine 5. Its commercial offerings center on the proprietary EVERSPACE franchise — a roguelike 3D space shooter and its sequel, a semi-open-world space action RPG with looter-shooter mechanics — distributed digitally through Steam, GOG, Microsoft Store, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo platforms. Revenue is generated through one-time premium game purchases, DLC/expansion sales, and licensing royalties via subscription services such as Microsoft Game Pass.

Product overview

Rockfish Games GmbH is an independent game studio that develops and publishes high-quality 3D space games for PC and consoles using Unreal Engine 5. The company operates two core products in the EVERSPACE series: EVERSPACE (2017) is a roguelike spaceship shooter with AAA visuals and narrative elements, while EVERSPACE 2 (2023) represents a major evolution as a semi-open-world space action RPG with looter-shooter mechanics, deeper storytelling, and team recruitment. Both titles are distributed digitally through major gaming platforms including Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, GOG, and Microsoft Store.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EVERSPACE An action-focused single-player space shooter combining roguelike elements with AAA audio-visuals and a captivating story about the player's journey through an ever-changing universe, piecing together the puzzle of their existence through encounters with unique characters. Sold as a premium digital game on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch.
• EVERSPACE 2 A fast-paced single-player open-world space shooter with RPG and looter-shooter mechanics. Features handcrafted star systems in the Demilitarized Zone of Cluster 34, a sci-fi story following clone pilot Adam, team recruitment, upgradable perks, and epic loot drops. Available on PC (Steam, GOG, Microsoft Store), Xbox, and PlayStation, with ongoing expansions.
• EVERSPACE 2 Expansions and DLC Downloadable content and expansion packs for EVERSPACE 2, adding new content, regions, and features to the base game. Sold to existing EVERSPACE 2 owners as additional premium digital content.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1 million copies sold for original EVERSPACE across PC, Xbox, PS4, and Switch
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Epic Games (Unreal Engine 5)coreTechnology or IntegrationRockfish Games develops all games using Epic Games' Unreal Engine 5, which is available at no upfront fees, enabling small teams to deliver top-tier gaming experiences across PC, Xbox, and PlayStation. The studio leverages UE5 features including Nanite and Lumen for high-fidelity visuals.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hello Games: Independent UK studio behind No Man's Sky, a premium space exploration title for PC and consoles. Comparable to Rockfish as a small, independent developer that self-publishes in the space/sci-fi genre using Unreal Engine.
• Frontier Developments: UK studio specializing in premium space and management simulations including Elite Dangerous. Directly comparable as a developer focused on premium space combat/exploration titles across PC and console.
• Egosoft: Independent German studio behind the X series (X4: Foundations), a long-running space sim franchise on PC. Closely comparable as an indie space sim specialist with similar team scale and self-publishing model.
• Digital Extremes: Canadian studio behind Warframe, a sci-fi looter-shooter for PC and consoles. Comparable to Rockfish in sci-fi setting, RPG/looter mechanics, and multi-platform digital distribution, though at a much larger scale.
• Coffee Stain Studios: Swedish independent studio behind Deep Rock Galactic and Satisfactory, premium PC/console titles. Comparable to Rockfish as a similarly sized indie studio self-publishing premium games with strong community-driven marketing.
• Cloud Imperium Games: Developer of Star Citizen and Squadron 42, crowdfunded premium space sim titles. Comparable to Rockfish in space genre focus, premium PC distribution, and reliance on community funding and engagement.
• 11 bit studios: Polish independent studio behind Frostpunk and This War of Mine, premium PC/console titles. Comparable to Rockfish as a similarly scaled European indie studio self-publishing premium games with strong critical reception.

Broad incumbents

• CD Projekt Red: Polish studio behind The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077. Comparable as a premium PC/console game developer with strong narrative-driven single-player titles, but operates at a much larger scale and broader genre portfolio.

Regional players

• Daedalic Entertainment: Hamburg-based German independent studio developing premium narrative and adventure games. Comparable to Rockfish as a German indie game studio operating from the same city with a similar team size profile.
• Yager Development: Berlin-based German independent studio known for Spec Ops: The Line and The Cycle. Comparable to Rockfish as a German indie premium game developer, though focused on action/shooter rather than space sim.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rockfishgames
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/ROCKFISHGames
• Facebookfacebook.com/rockfishgames
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rockfish-games-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Rockfish Games GmbH