What ACE Team does

ACE Team is an independent video game development studio headquartered in Santiago, Chile, founded in 2008/2009 by brothers Andres, Carlos, and Edmundo Bordeu. The studio designs, develops, and self-publishes original game IPs targeting PC and console gamers, with a portfolio spanning eight titles across two franchises (Zeno Clash, Rock of Ages) and standalone releases including Abyss Odyssey, The Deadly Tower of Monsters, and The Eternal Cylinder. Its core technology consists of proprietary game mechanics, custom art direction characterized by surreal environments and distinctive visual style, and (in Abyss Odyssey) procedurally generated environments.

The studio monetizes through one-time license fees on digital distribution platforms, primarily Steam for PC and the Microsoft and Sony console storefronts, with no subscription, live-service, or microtransaction model. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on organic social channels (Steam Community, Twitter/X, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest) rather than paid acquisition. ACE Team is a Microsoft- and Sony-certified developer, a non-trivial credential for a sub-50-person studio that enables multi-platform distribution reach.

ACE Team operates as a bootstrapped, privately-held company with no disclosed external funding, parent company, or institutional investors. It has accumulated multiple industry awards since 2009, including PC Gamer's Indie Game of The Year, an IGF Visual Arts finalist nomination, and regional recognition as Best Chilean Development Studio and Best Latin American Game. Revenue, headcount detail, and financial disclosures are not publicly available.

Name

ACE Team

Legal name

ACE Team Software

Website

https://aceteam.cl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ACE Team is an independent, founder-led video game development studio in Santiago, Chile, that designs and self-publishes original indie game IPs for PC and console gamers via Steam, Microsoft, and Sony storefronts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Video Game Development

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132)

akta.pro primary industry

Indie Game Studios (MPAFAAAC)

Keywords

• Video game development
• Indie game studio
• PC game development
• Action-adventure games
• Console game development

Headquarters

HQ city

Santiago

HQ country

Chile

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Game Sales: ACE Team generates revenue through direct sales of their developed video game titles via digital distribution platforms including Steam and console digital stores. Revenue is generated on a one-time purchase basis for each game title.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ACE Team is an independent video game development studio that designs, develops, and publishes original action-adventure, tower defense, and sci-fi adventure games for PC and console platforms. The studio owns and develops its own intellectual property including the Zeno Clash, Rock of Ages, and Eternal Cylinder franchises, selling these titles directly through digital distribution platforms such as Steam and certified console stores.

Product overview

ACE Team is an independent game development studio that has created a portfolio of unique video game titles spanning multiple genres. The company's product lineup includes Zeno Clash (2009) as their debut first-person brawler, followed by the Rock of Ages series (2011, 2017, 2020) featuring tower defense gameplay with historical humor, Abyss Odyssey (2014) adventure game, The Deadly Tower of Monsters (2016) action game, and The Eternal Cylinder (2020) sci-fi adventure. The products are primarily distributed through Steam and console platforms, with no unified platform architecture but rather individual standalone game titles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Eternal Cylinder A sci-fi adventure game in which players control a tribe of curious creatures called Trebhum, exploring a strange alien world while surviving against a destructive entity known as The Eternal Cylinder. Targeted at PC and console adventure-gaming audiences.
• Rock of Ages III Third installment in the Rock of Ages series combining strategic tower defense gameplay with historical Monty Python-style humor across various eras. Targeted at PC and console players who enjoy strategy and comedy.
• Rock of Ages II: Bigger & Boulder Enhanced sequel to Rock of Ages featuring improved gameplay mechanics, larger battles, and more elaborate historical scenarios. Targeted at PC and console players seeking tower defense and comedy experiences.
• The Deadly Tower of Monsters A comedic action game featuring giant monsters scaling a massive tower, presented with satirical B-movie aesthetics. Targeted at PC and console players interested in action and parody content.
• Abyss Odyssey Adventure game exploring a deep abyss with procedurally generated environments and combat encounters. Targeted at PC and console players seeking exploration-driven action.
• Zeno Clash 2 Sequel to the original Zeno Clash, continuing the first-person brawler gameplay in a surreal alien world. Targeted at PC players who enjoy first-person melee combat and surreal visuals.
• Rock of Ages Original title combining tower defense gameplay with historical characters and Monty Python-inspired humor across different time periods. Targeted at PC and console players seeking strategy and comedy.
• Zeno Clash ACE Team's debut title, a first-person brawler set in a bizarre world of flying creatures and eccentric characters, featuring a unique visual art style. Targeted at PC players interested in indie first-person melee combat.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Mossmouth: Small independent studio behind the Spelunky franchise. Comparable to ACE Team in operating as a tiny team shipping highly original, stylized games with strong word-of-mouth.
• Drinkbox Studios: Toronto-based indie studio behind Guacamelee and Nobody Saves the World. Comparable to ACE Team in being a small studio shipping stylized, original action games across PC and console platforms.
• Team Cherry: Australian indie developer of Hollow Knight, a critically acclaimed original action-adventure IP. Comparable to ACE Team in operating as a small original-IP indie studio with strong art direction and PC/console distribution.
• Yacht Club Games: Independent developer of Shovel Knight, a stylized action-platformer franchise. Comparable to ACE Team in small-team dynamics, distinctive pixel-art aesthetic, and focus on launching original IPs on PC and consoles.
• Klei Entertainment: Canadian indie studio behind Don't Starve, Mark of the Ninja, and other original titles. Similar to ACE Team as a mid-sized independent developer with multi-platform presence and a portfolio of distinct original IPs.
• Other Ocean Interactive: Canadian developer known for original IPs such as Skully and several co-development projects. Comparable to ACE Team in indie-original-IP development combined with multi-platform work.
• Compulsion Games: Montreal indie developer of Contrast, We Happy Few, and South of Midnight. Similar to ACE Team in being a small studio pursuing stylized narrative-driven original IPs on PC and console.
• Playdead: Danish indie studio renowned for Limbo and Inside, two highly artistic single-player titles. Comparable to ACE Team in scale, artistic differentiation, and reliance on a small team to produce premium single-player experiences for PC and consoles.
• Asobo Studio: French independent studio behind A Plague Tale and the Microsoft Flight Simulator rebuild. Comparable to ACE Team as a European-region indie studio combining original creative IP with platform-grade execution.
• Supergiant Games: Independent PC and console game developer behind original award-winning titles such as Bastion, Transistor, Hades, and Pyre. Directly comparable to ACE Team in being a small-team indie studio focused on distinctive artistic style and gameplay innovation, with strong critical acclaim.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/theaceteam
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ACETeamSoftware
• Facebookfacebook.com/theACETeam
• Instagraminstagram.com/ace_team_software
• Pinterestpinterest.cl/ACETeam_Dmitriy/?eq=ace%20team&etslf=5112

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 ACE Team