Deck13

What Deck13 does

Deck13 Interactive GmbH is a Frankfurt-based video game developer and publisher founded in 2000, operating two distinct business lines under the Deck13 corporate umbrella. The first-party development division produces mid-to-high budget action-RPGs for PC and consoles, including The Surge, The Surge 2, Lords of the Fallen, and Atlas Fallen (released August 2023), all built on FLEDGE — a proprietary in-house game engine maintained by a dedicated technology team. The company employs nearly 100 staff and is expanding to a second studio in Montreal, Canada. First-party titles are sold directly to consumers through Steam, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, and Nintendo eShop, generating one-time license revenue with no subscription component.

The second line, Deck13 Spotlight, is a publishing label launched in 2018 that provides producing, localization, QA, marketing, PR and distribution services to independent developers. Its catalog includes more than ten published titles such as CrossCode, Wartile, The Shattering, Highrise City, Resolutiion, Faraday Protocol, Drova – Forsaken Kin, and Holomento, sourced from studios across Germany, Italy, Switzerland, France and Poland. Revenue from Spotlight is generated via publishing fees or revenue-share arrangements. Beyond core gaming, Deck13 has a minor legacy partnership with Ravensburger on the Space Hawk Snaptoy hybrid physical/digital product.

The combined business is privately held with no disclosed parent company or external funding, operates as a GmbH with a separate Spotlight GmbH entity, and reports approximately 15 core projects in development including two new first-party IPs. There is no public disclosure of revenue, ownership structure, or investor composition.

Name

Deck13

Legal name

Deck 13 Interactive GmbH

Website

https://deck13.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Deck13 Interactive is a Frankfurt-based video game developer and publisher that produces first-party action-RPGs on its proprietary FLEDGE Engine (The Surge, Lords of the Fallen, Atlas Fallen) and runs the Deck13 Spotlight publishing label serving indie developers with marketing, QA, localization, and distribution services across PC and console platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Video Games

NAICS

Software Publishers (51321)

akta.pro primary industry

AAA & Premium Game Studios (PC/Console) (MPAFAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

PC & Console Game Distribution Platforms (BPAMAKAA), Porting, Remastering & Platform Adaptation Services (PC/Console/Mobile/VR) (MPAFAKAN)

Keywords

• Video game development
• Action role-playing games
• Indie game publishing
• Proprietary game engine
• Multi-platform game distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Frankfort

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Game Sales (First-Party Development): Deck13 develops and sells their own game titles directly through digital distribution platforms (Steam, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Nintendo eShop) and retail channels. Revenue comes from one-time game purchases with no recurring subscription component.
2. Publishing Services (Deck13 Spotlight): Deck13 Spotlight provides comprehensive publishing services to independent developers including producing, localization, QA, marketing, PR, and distribution. They publish indie titles such as CrossCode, Highrise City, Wartile, The Shattering, and others, generating revenue through publishing fees or revenue sharing arrangements.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Deck13 Interactive develops and self-publishes action-RPGs and other video games for PC and major console platforms (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch), with all recent titles powered by its in-house FLEDGE Engine. Through its Deck13 Spotlight publishing division, it provides full-service publishing support to independent developers, including producing, localization, QA, marketing, PR, distribution, porting, and voice-over services.

Product overview

Deck13 Interactive is one of Germany's leading video game developers with more than 20 years of experience. The company operates two divisions: Deck13 Interactive (developer) and Deck13 Spotlight (publisher). As a developer, it produces internally developed games including Atlas Fallen, The Surge series, and Lords of the Fallen, all powered by the proprietary FLEDGE Engine. As a publisher, Deck13 Spotlight provides comprehensive publishing services to independent developers, offering marketing, QA, PR, distribution, localization, porting, voice-over, and game feedback support. The Spotlight catalog includes titles such as CrossCode, Wartile, The Shattering, Drova – Forsaken Kin, Highrise City, Holomento, and dozens of other indie games across various genres including action RPGs, puzzle adventures, city builders, JRPGs, and party games.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Deck13 Spotlight: Publishing division that helps independent developers bring their projects to wider audiences, providing Producing, Localization, QA, Marketing, PR & Distribution services.
• FLEDGE Engine

Products and services

• Atlas Fallen Epic fantasy action RPG featuring sand-infused weapons, super-powered combat, and cooperative or solo campaigns in a desert world. Targeted at PC and console action-RPG players.
• The Surge Hardcore action RPG set in a world ravaged by war and global warming, featuring challenging melee combat with a dynamic limb-targeting system that allows dismemberment for targeted loot. Targeted at PC and console action-RPG players.
• The Surge 2 Sequel to The Surge with expanded combat mechanics, an independent narrative, and more elaborate level design set in a post-apocalyptic world. Targeted at PC and console action-RPG players.
• Lords of the Fallen Medieval fantasy action RPG following Harkyn's redemption journey against the Rhogar Lords' demonic army, featuring three class-based characters (Warrior, Rogue, Cleric). Targeted at PC and console action-RPG players.
• Space Hawk Physical toy spaceship (approximately 43 cm) controlled via smartphone app for motion-controlled space exploration gameplay. Created as the first Snaptoy in partnership with Ravensburger.
• Deck13 Spotlight Publishing Services Full-service publishing offering for independent game developers, providing producing, localization, QA, marketing, PR, distribution, porting, voice-over, and game feedback services. Targeted at indie game studios seeking multi-platform release support.
• CrossCode Retro-inspired 2D action RPG set in a distant future, combining 16-bit SNES-style graphics with modern physics and fast-paced combat. Developed by Radical Fish Games and published by Deck13 Spotlight.
• Wartile Cool-down based strategy game where players control Viking figurines on diorama-style battleboards inspired by Norse mythology. Developed by Playwood Project and published by Deck13 Spotlight.
• The Shattering

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% positive Steam user reviews for CrossCode

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FourExo EntertainmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 May 2021FourExo Entertainment is a German indie developer creating Highrise City, a city builder and economy simulation built with Unreal Engine 4 and awarded with an Epic Megagrant. Deck13 Spotlight publishes this title.
• Red Koi BoxcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Red Koi Box is a small Italian indie studio that created Faraday Protocol, a first-person puzzle adventure game. The studio grew from two to five members with over 17 years of software development experience.
• Sean Weech (Holomento Developer)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Sean Weech is a one-person studio creating Holomento, a Permadeath Action-RPG with Rogue-lite elements. Deck13 Spotlight supports this Kickstarter-backed project.
• Cordens InteractiveminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Cordens Interactive is an Italian indie studio that created Vesper, a puzzle-platformer adventure. Founded by Tommaso Loiacono and Matteo Marzorati, the studio won prizes at GameRome 2018 and Nordic Game Discovery Contest 2019.
• Super Sexy SoftwarecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2020Super Sexy Software is a group of five close friends from Switzerland, Poland, and France who created The Shattering, a psychological thriller. Deck13 Spotlight published the game and its Secret Room DLC.
• Lazurite GamesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2020Lazurite Games created To Hell with Hell, a bullet hell rogue-like crawler game published by Deck13 Spotlight.
• Monolith of MindscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019Monolith of Minds is a two-person studio of German brothers who created Resolutiion, a fast-paced action-adventure with cyberpunk themes.
• Radical Fish GamescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2018Radical Fish Games is an independent German studio that created CrossCode. Deck13 Spotlight publishes the game across multiple platforms including PC (Steam, GOG), PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. CrossCode achieved 93% positive Steam reviews.
• Playwood ProjectcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2018Playwood Project created Wartile, a cool-down based Viking tabletop strategy game. Deck13 Spotlight publishes the game on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and GOG.
• Varkian EmpireminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2016Varkian Empire created Obliteracers, an award-winning same-screen party racing game for up to 16 players published by Deck13 Spotlight.
• RavensburgerminorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerDeck13 created Space Hawk, the first Snaptoy from Ravensburger, combining modern app design with classic toy products. The Space Hawk is a physical toy spaceship (around 43 centimeters) that uses a smartphone app for motion-controlled gameplay.
• 2nd Player GamesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor2nd Player Games created Full Circle, a JRPG inspired by PlayStation 1 classics like Legend of Dragoon. Deck13 Spotlight publishes this title.
• Just2DcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJust2D created Drova – Forsaken Kin, an Action-RPG with handcrafted open world adventures. Deck13 Spotlight publishes this game.
• David Schütze (Crystals Of Irm Developer)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDavid Schütze created Crystals Of Irm, an old school RPG with movement-based grid battles and dungeon crawl elements.
• Shroomoon (Elements Destiny Developer)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShroomoon created Elements Destiny, a 2D Fantasy RPG with pixelated retro visuals, fully voice-acted by German talent.
• Wobble Ghost (Spindle Developer)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWobble Ghost created Spindle, a zeldaesque action-adventure where players take the role of Death.
• Uncanaut (vridniX Developer)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUncanaut created vridniX, a platformer where the main character never stops running and can make levels rotate by picking up rotation orbs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Crytek: Frankfurt-based developer of Crysis and Hunt: Showdown with a proprietary CryEngine. Directly comparable to Deck13 as a German AAA studio with proprietary engine technology and PC/console action-focused games.
• Larian Studios: Belgian developer of Divinity and Baldur's Gate 3, a European mid-to-large PC/console RPG studio. Comparable to Deck13 in terms of deep single-player RPG focus, in-house tooling, and European roots with global publishing reach.
• Spiders: French developer of Greedfall and Steelrising, also part of the PulluP Entertainment group alongside Deck13. Direct sibling comparable making narrative-driven action RPGs for PC and consoles at similar team scale.
• FromSoftware: Japanese developer of Souls-series and Elden Ring hardcore action RPGs for PC and consoles. Closest genre competitor to Deck13's The Surge and Lords of the Fallen franchises and the global benchmark in the action RPG category.
• Neocore Games: Hungarian developer of Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor and King Arthur strategy/RPG titles. Comparable European mid-sized studio also operating under PulluP Entertainment, making PC/console RPG and strategy titles with proprietary technology.
• Team17: UK-based publisher of indie games including the Worms franchise and Overcooked. Comparable to Deck13 Spotlight in providing publishing, marketing, QA, and distribution services to indie developers across PC and console platforms.
• Raw Fury: Stockholm-based indie publisher of titles such as Sable, Norco, and Dome Keeper. Comparable to Deck13 Spotlight in specializing in PC/console publishing services for small-to-mid indie studios with a curated catalog.
• Devolver Digital: Indie publisher of titles such as Hotline Miami, Cult of the Lamb, and Enter the Gungeon. Closest external comparable to Deck13 Spotlight as an indie-focused publisher handling marketing, PR, and multi-platform distribution.

Broad incumbents

• THQ Nordic: Embracer Group subsidiary publishing and developing a broad portfolio of PC/console games. Broader incumbent comparable to Deck13 Spotlight's publishing role across indie and AA titles on major storefronts.
• Koch Media / Plaion: European media group with publishing, distribution, and development across games including Deep Silver. Comparable to Deck13 Spotlight for multi-platform game distribution and marketing services at greater scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/deck13_de
• Facebookfacebook.com/deck13.interactive
• Instagraminstagram.com/deck13interactive
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/deck13-interactive-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 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 Deck13