Motion twin
Motion Twin is an 8-person French worker cooperative developing roguelike games such as Dead Cells (11M+ players) for individual video game players across PC, console, and mobile platforms, with Windblown and a Konami co-developed Castlevania title in pipeline.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersBordeaux, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Motion twin does
Motion Twin is a France-based independent game development studio organized as a worker cooperative (SCOPARL) with no hierarchy. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Bordeaux, the studio employs 8 people who collectively choose projects and focus on one game at a time. For its first decade-plus, the studio produced more than 150 web games ranging from one-week game jams to year-long projects, building deep expertise in constraint-based and roguelike design.
Motion Twin's breakthrough title is Dead Cells, released in 2017 as its first PC game. Dead Cells is a roguelike action-platformer built around permadeath mechanics, death-as-progression systems, and minimal-frustration design, and has reached 11 million+ players across PC (Steam), PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and mobile. The studio is currently developing Windblown, positioned as a larger follow-up, and in 2026 announced Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, a flagship co-development with Konami and Evil Empire for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S as part of the Castlevania franchise's 40th anniversary.
The business model is product-led and consumer-direct: revenue comes primarily from one-time game sales across digital storefronts, supplemented by Steam Early Access participation during development. The company has no disclosed outside funding, no parent company, and operates as a horizontal worker cooperative serving individual video game players globally through marketplace/app store distribution channels.
Motion twin firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Motion twin
- Legal name
- Motion Twin SCOPARL
- Website
- https://motion-twin.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Motion Twin is an 8-person French worker cooperative developing roguelike games such as Dead Cells (11M+ players) for individual video game players across PC, console, and mobile platforms, with Windblown and a Konami co-developed Castlevania title in pipeline.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Motion twin industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Video Game Development / Indie Action-Roguelike Games
- SIC
- Games, Toys & Children's Vehicles (No Dolls & Bicycles) (3944)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mobile & F2P Game Studios (MPAFAAAB)
Keywords
Where Motion twin is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bordeaux
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Motion twin business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Game Sales (PC, Consoles, Mobile): Motion Twin generates revenue through one-time game sales across multiple platforms. Dead Cells has been released on PC, consoles, and mobile devices, generating revenue from player purchases. The company also develops new titles like Windblown and Castlevania: Belmont's Curse.
- Early Access Game Sales: Games are released through Steam early access, allowing players to purchase and play the game during development, providing early revenue while gathering player feedback.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Motion twin product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Motion Twin is a French worker-cooperative game development studio that designs, develops, and self-publishes premium roguelike and roguelite action games for PC, consoles, and mobile platforms. With a team of 8, it focuses on one title at a time — currently shipping Dead Cells (2017, 11M+ players), developing Windblown, and co-developing Castlevania: Belmont's Curse (2026) with Konami and Evil Empire.
Product overview
Motion Twin is a small game development studio that makes one game at a time with a team of 8 people. The company's portfolio includes Dead Cells (2017, their first PC game with 11+ million players), Windblown (in development), and Castlevania: Belmont's Curse (2026, co-developed with Evil Empire and Konami). The company operates as a worker cooperative with no hierarchy, focusing on creating games they would like to play while emphasizing player experience.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Dead Cells: Roguelike action platformer released in 2017, bringing joy to over 11 million players on PC, consoles and mobiles.
- Windblown
Products and services
- Dead Cells A premium roguelike action-platformer game featuring permadeath mechanics, death-as-progression systems, and minimal-frustration design. Released for individual gamers on PC (Steam), consoles (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch), and mobile devices.
- Windblown Upcoming game currently in development by Motion Twin, described by the studio as larger than Dead Cells and intended for long-term support after release.
- Castlevania: Belmont's Curse A 2D action-exploration game developed by Motion Twin and Evil Empire in partnership with Konami, scheduled for release in 2026 across Nintendo Switch, PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, tied to the Castlevania franchise's 40th anniversary.
Quantifiable outcome
- 11 million+ players across PC, consoles and mobiles for Dead Cells
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Motion twin
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Motion twin technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Motion twin partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- KonamiflagshipMotion Twin is collaborating with Konami to develop Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, a new 2D action-exploration game set in 1499 Medieval Paris. This is the first new Castlevania game since 2014 and is part of the franchise's 40th anniversary celebrations. The game is being developed by Motion Twin and Evil Empire in partnership with Konami, scheduled for release later in 2026 on Nintendo Switch, PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
- Evil EmpirecoreEvil Empire, the studios behind Dead Cells alongside Motion Twin, are collaborating with Konami to develop Castlevania: Belmont's Curse. This partnership brings together the roguelike expertise from Dead Cells development with Evil Empire's studio capabilities to create the new Castlevania title.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Motion twin competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Motion Twin (Indie label: Dead Cells publisher history with Merge Games / QubicGames): Placeholder removed — listed instead as an internal reference only. Skipped to ensure the peer list contains only external comparable companies.
Direct peers
- Moon Studios: Moon Studios developed Ori and the Blind Forest / Ori and the Will of the Wisps — premium action-platformers released across PC and consoles. Comparable to Motion Twin as a small indie action-platformer studio with multiple hit titles on major platforms.
- Team Cherry: Team Cherry is a tiny indie studio (originally 3 people) behind Hollow Knight, a critically and commercially successful action-platformer. Directly comparable to Motion Twin on team size, premium indie action-platformer genre, and PC/console distribution model.
- Matt Makes Games (Maddy Thorson) / Extremely OK Games: Matt Thorson's studio shipped Celeste, a critically acclaimed indie action-platformer. Comparable to Motion Twin as a small premium indie studio shipping tight, mechanically rich action titles across PC and consoles.
- Supergiant Games: Supergiant is a small, acclaimed indie studio behind Hades, Bastion, and Transistor — premium action-roguelike/RPGs sold across PC and consoles. Closely comparable to Motion Twin on team size, premium pricing, action-roguelike genre focus, and cross-platform distribution.
- Deck13 Interactive: Deck13 is a German indie developer behind The Surge and The Surge 2, as well as co-developer of The Lords of the Fallen (2023). Comparable to Motion Twin as a small European indie studio shipping premium action-RPG/roguelike titles across PC and consoles.
- Evil Empire: Evil Empire is the direct co-development partner that built Dead Cells alongside Motion Twin and is now co-developing Castlevania: Belmont's Curse. It is a French indie studio with the closest operational, technical, and team-size profile to Motion Twin.
Regional players
- Dotemu: Dotemu is a French indie game developer and publisher (Streets of Rage 4, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge). Comparable to Motion Twin as a France-based indie studio/publisher working on premium action titles, sometimes involving licensed IPs.
- Red Barrels: Red Barrels is a Montreal-based indie studio behind the Outlast franchise. Comparable to Motion Twin as a small/medium indie studio with a flagship premium franchise spanning multiple releases and platforms.
- Shiro Games: Shiro Games is a French indie studio behind Northgard, Evoland, and Dune: Spice Wars — premium strategy/simulation titles on PC and consoles. Comparable to Motion Twin as a Bordeaux-area French indie studio with multi-platform premium releases.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Motion twin social profiles
Digital presenceMotion twin financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Motion twin leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Motion twin funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Motion twin 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 Motion twin
What does Motion twin do?
Motion Twin is a French worker-cooperative game development studio that designs, develops, and self-publishes premium roguelike and roguelite action games for PC, consoles, and mobile platforms. With a team of 8, it focuses on one title at a time — currently shipping Dead Cells (2017, 11M+ players), developing Windblown, and co-developing Castlevania: Belmont's Curse (2026) with Konami and Evil Empire.
Is Motion twin a public or private company?
Motion twin is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Motion twin founded?
Motion twin was founded in 2001. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Motion twin based?
Motion twin is headquartered in Bordeaux, France, in the Europe region.
How does Motion twin make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Game Sales (PC, Consoles, Mobile) is the primary driver. The others are early Access Game Sales.
Who are Motion twin's main competitors?
Motion Twin (Indie label: Dead Cells publisher history with Merge Games / QubicGames) is listed as an others. Direct peers are Moon Studios, Team Cherry, Matt Makes Games (Maddy Thorson) / Extremely OK Games, Supergiant Games, Deck13 Interactive and Evil Empire. Regional players are Dotemu, Red Barrels and Shiro Games.
Does Motion twin have an API?
No public API is recorded for Motion twin.
What industry is Motion twin in?
Motion twin's product category is Video Game Development / Indie Action-Roguelike Games. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAAAB, Mobile & F2P Game Studios. Its SIC code is 3944.