What Revolution Software does

Revolution Software is a privately held UK video game developer founded in 1990 in York, England, by Charles Cecil, Noirin Carmody, Tony Warriner, and David Sykes. The studio specializes in narrative-driven point-and-click adventure games, anchored by two long-running franchises: the Broken Sword series (originally launched in 1996, five installments through 2013, and remade as Broken Sword: Reforged in 2024) and the Steel Sky series (Beneath a Steel Sky, 1994; Beyond a Steel Sky, 2020). Product catalog also includes Lure of the Temptress (1992) and In Cold Blood (2000). The company operates with a small core team of 11–50 employees and has historically collaborated with outside partners including legendary comic artist Dave Gibbons (Watchmen co-creator), who serves as Art Director on the Steel Sky series, and ScummVM co-founder Joost Peters as Tech-lead.

Underlying technology centers on a proprietary adventure game engine featuring the pioneering "Virtual Theatre" system, which gave non-player characters independent behavioral lives within game worlds. Beyond a Steel Sky extended this with a "Dynamic World System" allowing multiple puzzle solutions driven by player choices. The studio is self-published following past publisher setbacks (notably the THQ bankruptcy), and pursues a hybrid go-to-market strategy combining community-led crowdfunding (Kickstarter for Broken Sword 5 and the Reforged Collector's Edition) with platform-partner distribution (Steam, GOG, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Apple Arcade, Google Play, App Store) and physical retail through publisher Microids across North America, the UK, and Europe.

Revenue is generated predominantly through one-time digital game licenses across multiple storefronts, complemented by physical special editions (Utopia Edition, Steelbook Edition), a direct-to-consumer merchandise store (£23–£30 t-shirts on-demand), and a nascent licensing stream via the 2026 Story Kitchen film adaptation deal for the Broken Sword IP. The company has not raised institutional venture capital and operates an owner-operated, founder-controlled capital structure, supplemented by a 2020 UK Global Screen Fund (BFI-administered) grant. The customer base is a long-tail of global adventure-game enthusiasts, retro gaming fans, and cross-platform gamers, sold primarily through digital marketplaces rather than enterprise or institutional channels.

Name

Revolution Software

Legal name

Revolution Software Ltd

Website

https://revolution.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Revolution Software is a UK indie game developer founded in 1990 in York, specializing in narrative-driven point-and-click adventure games, best known for the long-running Broken Sword and Steel Sky franchises distributed globally across digital storefronts, consoles, and physical retail.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adventure Video Games

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132), Software Publishers (51321), Software Publishers (513210)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Strategy/4X/Management Game Studios (MPAFAAAK)

Keywords

• Adventure game development
• Point-and-click games
• Narrative adventure games
• Indie game studio
• Video game development

Headquarters

HQ city

York

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Game Sales (Digital): Digital sales through major platforms including Steam, GOG, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Nintendo Switch eShop, Apple Arcade, Google Play Store, and App Store. Games sold as one-time purchases with occasional remastered versions.
2. Physical Game Sales: Physical retail distribution through publisher Microids with special editions (Utopia Edition, Steelbook Edition) sold through major retailers in North America, UK, and Europe.
3. Merchandise Sales: Direct-to-consumer merchandise store selling t-shirts featuring classic game artwork and the Broken Sword Collection line. Products created on-demand near the customer location.
4. Community Funding (Kickstarter): Community-based crowdfunding campaigns for game projects like Broken Sword: Reforged, allowing fans to support development and receive exclusive rewards.
5. Licensing (Movie Adaptation): Licensing of Broken Sword IP for movie adaptation produced by Story Kitchen studio, with Revolution Software founder Charles Cecil and partner Noirin Carmody serving as producers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Revolution Software develops and self-publishes narrative-driven point-and-click adventure video games for PC, console, and mobile platforms. Its core franchises are the Broken Sword series (George Stobbart and Nico Collard investigating ancient conspiracies) and the Steel Sky series (cyberpunk adventures in Union City), distributed digitally via Steam, GOG, Apple Arcade, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and mobile app stores, with physical editions handled by Microids.

Product overview

Revolution Software is an indie game studio that develops narrative-driven adventure games. The company's product portfolio centers on the Broken Sword series, which includes multiple installments spanning from 1996 to 2013, alongside the Beneath A Steel Sky franchise with its 2020 sequel Beyond A Steel Sky. The Broken Sword series follows protagonists George Stobbart and Nico Collard through classic point-and-click adventures involving ancient conspiracies and Templar mysteries. The Steel Sky titles feature Robert Foster in cyberpunk adventures in Union City. Additional titles include Lure of the Temptress (1992), In Cold Blood (2000), and various special editions with soundtrack and collectible content. Games are available across multiple platforms including Steam, GOG, Apple Arcade, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars - Reforged 4K remastered re-release of the classic 1996 point-and-click adventure game where players guide George Stobbart and Nico Collard through Templar conspiracy mysteries across Europe and the Middle East, with enhanced visuals, remastered audio by Barrington Pheloung, and fully voice acted dialogue.
• Beyond A Steel Sky 3D adventure thriller sequel to Beneath A Steel Sky set in Union City under an altruistic AI, featuring a dynamic world with wilful characters, a unique hacking tool, and multiple puzzle solutions.
• Broken Sword 2: The Smoking Mirror - Remastered Remastered version of the 1997 Broken Sword sequel featuring Nico Collard and George Stobbart investigating an ancient obsidian artifact and Mayan mysteries, with enhanced graphics, animated facial expressions, and a digital comic by Dave Gibbons.
• Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse Fifth installment in the Broken Sword adventure series where George Stobbart and Nico Collard investigate a stolen painting and a murderous conspiracy in Paris, featuring classic point-and-click gameplay and the original soundtrack by Barrington Pheloung.
• Broken Sword 3: The Sleeping Dragon Multi-BAFTA nominated 2003 Broken Sword adventure that brought protagonists George and Nico into 3D for the first time, centered on uncovering secrets of the Sleeping Dragon and ancient conspiracies.
• Broken Sword 4: The Angel of Death 2006 Broken Sword adventure in which George Stobbart is drawn into a terrifying conspiracy when a mysterious woman seeks his help to find a powerful artifact.
• Beneath A Steel Sky 1994 cyberpunk point-and-click adventure set in Union City under fascist AI control, following Robert Foster's quest to uncover why he was abducted and discover the city's sinister truth, featuring Virtual Theatre technology and art by Dave Gibbons.
• Lure of the Temptress 1992 adventure game and the first title using Revolution Software's pioneering Virtual Theatre engine, set in the land of Turnvale where mercenaries under a mysterious Temptress threaten the realm.
• In Cold Blood 2000 espionage-themed adventure game following MI6 agent John Cord in Vologia, USSR, with stealth, survival, and action gameplay across multiple missions.
• Revolution Software Merchandise Direct-to-consumer apparel and collectibles featuring artwork from Revolution Software's game catalogue, including the Broken Sword Collection, Classic Line, and Anniversary Edition t-shirts produced on demand near the customer.

Quantifiable outcome

• Guinness World Record for longest running adventure game protagonist (Broken Sword series)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Story KitchenflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2026Story Kitchen, the studio behind the Sonic the Hedgehog live-action movies, is producing a film adaptation of Revolution Software's classic 1996 point-and-click adventure game 'Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars'. The screenplay is being written by Evan Spiliotopoulos, with Revolution Software founder Charles Cecil and partner Noirin Carmody collaborating as producers alongside Story Kitchen co-founders Dmitri M. Johnson and Michael Lawrence Goldberg.
• MicroidscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMicroids is the publisher handling physical distribution of Beyond A Steel Sky special editions (Utopia Edition, Steelbook Edition) across North America, UK, and Europe through major retailers including Amazon, Walmart, GameStop, Best Buy, Target, GAME, MediaMarkt, fnac, and others.
• Dave GibbonscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegendary comic artist and Watchmen co-creator Dave Gibbons serves as Art Director on the Steel Sky series (Beneath A Steel Sky and Beyond A Steel Sky), providing unique comic-book styled visual direction. Gibbons was inspired to create art for Beneath A Steel Sky after meeting Charles Cecil at a BAFTA event.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Daedalic Entertainment: German indie adventure game developer behind the Deponia series, Edna & Harvey, and The Lord of the Rings: Gollum. Direct peer due to similar size, narrative adventure genre focus, and European indie studio model.
• Inkle: British narrative game studio behind 80 Days and Heaven's Vault. Direct peer as a UK-based indie studio focused on narrative-driven interactive fiction with comparable team size.
• Deck Nine: American narrative game developer behind Life is Strange: True Colors and other story-driven titles. Direct peer for narrative-driven adventure games targeting mainstream gaming audiences.
• King Art Games: German adventure game developer behind The Book of Unwritten Tales and other narrative adventure titles. Direct peer for European indie adventure game development with similar studio size.
• Pendulo Studios: Spanish adventure game developer behind the Runaway series and Yesterday. Direct peer for narrative point-and-click adventures with established franchise IP and similar indie scale.
• Wadjet Eye Games: American indie adventure game developer known for the Blackwell series and The Age of Decadence. Direct peer for small indie point-and-click adventure games targeting enthusiast audiences.
• Frogwares: Ukrainian adventure game developer known for the Sherlock Holmes series. Direct peer as a similarly-sized indie studio specializing in narrative-driven adventure games with established IP.

Broad incumbents

• Microids: French video game publisher and developer that handles physical distribution for Revolution Software titles. Broad incumbent as a much larger publisher with broader portfolio including Asterix, Syberia, and various adventure IP.
• Dontnod Entertainment: French narrative game studio behind Life is Strange, Tell Me Why, and Vampyr. Broad incumbent as a larger publicly-listed studio with similar narrative-adventure focus but broader genre reach and scale.

Emerging players

• Nightdive Studios: American studio specializing in remastering classic games including System Shock, Quake, and Turok. Emerging player with comparable focus on preserving and remastering classic game IP for modern platforms.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RevSoftGames
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/RevolutionSoftwareOfficial
• Facebookfacebook.com/revolutionsoftware
• Instagraminstagram.com/revolution_software
• TikToktiktok.com/@revolution_software
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/revolution-software-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Revolution Software