Deck13
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersFrankfort, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
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.
Deck13 firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Deck13 industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Deck13 is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Frankfort
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Deck13 business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- 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.
- 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
Deck13 product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Deck13
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Deck13 technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Deck13 partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- FourExo EntertainmentcoreFourExo 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 BoxcoreRed 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)minorSean Weech is a one-person studio creating Holomento, a Permadeath Action-RPG with Rogue-lite elements. Deck13 Spotlight supports this Kickstarter-backed project.
- Cordens InteractiveminorCordens 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 SoftwarecoreSuper 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 GamesminorLazurite Games created To Hell with Hell, a bullet hell rogue-like crawler game published by Deck13 Spotlight.
- Monolith of MindscoreMonolith of Minds is a two-person studio of German brothers who created Resolutiion, a fast-paced action-adventure with cyberpunk themes.
- Radical Fish GamescoreRadical 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 ProjectcorePlaywood 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 EmpireminorVarkian Empire created Obliteracers, an award-winning same-screen party racing game for up to 16 players published by Deck13 Spotlight.
- RavensburgerminorDeck13 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 Gamesminor2nd Player Games created Full Circle, a JRPG inspired by PlayStation 1 classics like Legend of Dragoon. Deck13 Spotlight publishes this title.
- Just2DcoreJust2D created Drova – Forsaken Kin, an Action-RPG with handcrafted open world adventures. Deck13 Spotlight publishes this game.
- David Schütze (Crystals Of Irm Developer)minorDavid Schütze created Crystals Of Irm, an old school RPG with movement-based grid battles and dungeon crawl elements.
- Shroomoon (Elements Destiny Developer)minorShroomoon created Elements Destiny, a 2D Fantasy RPG with pixelated retro visuals, fully voice-acted by German talent.
- Wobble Ghost (Spindle Developer)minorWobble Ghost created Spindle, a zeldaesque action-adventure where players take the role of Death.
- Uncanaut (vridniX Developer)minorUncanaut 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
Deck13 competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
Deck13 social profiles
Digital presenceDeck13 financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Deck13 leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Deck13 subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Deck13 funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Deck13 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 Deck13
What does Deck13 do?
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.
Is Deck13 a public or private company?
Deck13 is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Deck13 founded?
Deck13 was founded in 2000. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Deck13 based?
Deck13 is headquartered in Frankfort, United States, in the North America region.
How does Deck13 make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Game Sales (First-Party Development) is the primary driver. The others are publishing Services (Deck13 Spotlight).
Who are Deck13's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Crytek, Larian Studios, Spiders, FromSoftware, Neocore Games, Team17, Raw Fury and Devolver Digital. Broad incumbents are THQ Nordic and Koch Media / Plaion.
Does Deck13 have an API?
No public API is recorded for Deck13.
What industry is Deck13 in?
Deck13's product category is Video Games. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAAAA, AAA & Premium Game Studios (PC/Console), with a secondary code of BPAMAKAA, PC & Console Game Distribution Platforms. Its NAICS code is 51321.