Empty Clip Studios

What Empty Clip Studios does

Empty Clip Studios is an independent game development studio founded in 2007 in San Diego, California, operating as a privately held, bootstrapped company. The studio focuses on multiplatform game development, porting legacy titles, and creating original indie games, serving both IP holders (such as EA Sports, Square Enix, and Ghostbusters) and the consumer retro-gaming market. Over 13 years, it has shipped 32 games across more than 21 platforms totaling 63+ SKUs, including 8 original titles, with the award-winning indie game Symphony among its self-published work. Its most notable recent project is NHL 94 Rewind, released October 30, 2020, in collaboration with EA Sports.

The studio's competitive position rests on two proprietary technologies: the RapidFire Engine, a multiplatform game engine built over 13 years that delivers close-to-the-metal native performance across 21 platforms, and the ROM Supercharger, which can run any 8/16-bit ROM at 100% fidelity on modern hardware without requiring the original source code. These assets support a hybrid revenue model combining one-time license sales of original indie games, professional services for game porting and development work, and potential technology licensing of the engine and ROM Supercharger to other publishers and IP holders. Distribution occurs through major platform marketplaces (Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Steam, mobile stores) and IP publisher partnerships rather than direct-to-consumer channels.

The studio maintains a small headcount (11-50 employees) and a deliberately lean operating model. No external funding rounds, institutional investors, or acquisition activity are disclosed in available sources. The CEO is Matthew Shores. The marketing footprint is modest, centered on the company website and organic social engagement via Facebook and Twitter/X. Given the absence of post-2020 product launches in available material, the most recent observable strategic activity is the NHL 94 Rewind collaboration, and the company's forward trajectory is difficult to assess from public information.

Name

Empty Clip Studios

Legal name

Empty Clip Studios

Website

https://emptyclipstudios.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Empty Clip Studios is an independent, bootstrapped San Diego game development studio that creates original indie titles and provides multiplatform porting and development services to entertainment IP holders, leveraging its proprietary RapidFire Engine and ROM Supercharger technology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Game Development Services

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Co-Development, Porting & Remaster Studios (MPAFAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Indie Game Studios (MPAFAAAC)

Keywords

• Game development services
• Multiplatform game engine
• Indie game development
• Game porting services
• Retro game modernization

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Original Indie Game Development: Creating and publishing fully original indie game titles including award-winning Symphony. Revenue from direct game sales.
2. Game Porting and Development Services: Contract development work porting and developing games for major entertainment brands including Final Fantasy and Ghostbusters IP holders.
3. Technology Licensing: Licensing RapidFire Engine and ROM Supercharger technology for game modernization projects.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Empty Clip Studios is an independent game development studio that creates original indie titles (such as the award-winning Symphony) and provides contract game development and porting services for major entertainment IP holders including EA Sports, Square Enix (Final Fantasy), and Ghostbusters. The studio leverages its proprietary multiplatform RapidFire Engine and ROM Supercharger technology to ship games across 21 platforms.

Product overview

Empty Clip Studios is a game development studio that operates primarily through its proprietary multiplatform RapidFire Engine. The company's offerings include their engine technology used internally for game development, the ROM Supercharger technology for running legacy ROMs on modern platforms, original indie titles like the award-winning Symphony, and work-for-hire game development services. They have released 32 games on multiple platforms for over 63 SKUs, including collaboration on high-profile franchises such as NHL 94 Rewind (EA Sports), Final Fantasy, and Ghostbusters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RapidFire Engine

Quantifiable outcome

• 22 games shipped on 21 platforms for 45 of 63 total SKUs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EA SportscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with EA Sports to develop NHL 94 Rewind, a retro-style throwback game combining 1994 NHL gameplay visuals with modern teams and rosters. Released October 30, 2020.
• Square EnixcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner for Final Fantasy franchise titles. Created original titles for one of the biggest names in entertainment.
• GhostbusterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner for Ghostbusters franchise titles. Worked on game development using the iconic entertainment IP.
• City ConnectionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner for Hoshiwomiru Hito game published by City Connection.
• SegaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner for Streets of Kamurocho title utilizing Sega's IP and development tools.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Digital Eclipse: Digital Eclipse is a small studio specializing in retro game remasters, ports, and legacy modernization — directly comparable to Empty Clip's ROM Supercharger and multiplatform porting work, including high-profile remaster releases on modern consoles.
• Dotemu: Dotemu is a French indie studio focused on retro game remasters and ports (e.g., Streets of Rage, Wonder Boy) with both original titles and licensed IP work — closely aligned with Empty Clip's hybrid original/co-development model.
• M2 (M2 Co., Ltd.): M2 is a Japanese studio renowned for retro game remasters and ports (Sega Ages, Castlevania/Contra collections). Its single-minded focus on faithful 8/16-bit modernization on modern platforms mirrors Empty Clip's ROM Supercharger approach.
• WayForward Technologies: WayForward is a long-running independent studio that pairs original IP (Shantae) with high-profile licensed work (Contra 4, DuckTales Remastered, Advance Wars). Its hybrid model closely parallels Empty Clip's mix of original games and licensed co-development.
• Other Ocean Entertainment: Other Ocean is an independent developer specializing in retro ports and co-development (e.g., Capcom Arcade Stadium, Tony Hawk remasters). Its focus on legacy IP modernization on modern platforms is a direct analogue to Empty Clip's work.
• Lizardcube: Lizardcube is a small studio specializing in retro game remasters and ports (Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap, Streets of Rage 4 co-development). Its boutique approach to retro IP is highly comparable in scale and philosophy to Empty Clip.
• Abstraction Games: Abstraction Games is a small Netherlands-based studio specializing in porting and remastering games across modern platforms (e.g., Halo, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy support, Oddworld remasters). It directly competes with Empty Clip for multiplatform porting contracts from major publishers.

Broad incumbents

• Aspyr Media: Aspyr is an established porting/remaster studio (Star Wars, Civilization, BioShock) now owned by Embracer. It competes in the same multiplatform porting services category as Empty Clip but operates at a meaningfully larger scale and with deeper publisher relationships.
• Saber Interactive: Saber Interactive is a large studio known for co-development and ports (The Witcher 3 Switch, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Crysis Remastered). It overlaps with Empty Clip's co-development and porting services but at substantially greater scale and AAA scope.

Others

• Petroglyph Games: Petroglyph is an independent studio of comparable headcount that combines original strategy titles with contract work. It serves as a useful comparability reference for a small, founder-led, multi-discipline indie developer rather than direct competition in ports/remasters.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Empty_Clip
• Facebookfacebook.com/emptyclipstudios
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ebc-construction

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Empty Clip Studios