What Dlala Studios does

Dlala Studios is an independent game development studio founded in 2012 in Essex, England, operating with a headcount in the 11–50 range. The studio runs a dual business model: B2B co-development and licensing services for major IP holders — most visibly Disney (Disney Illusion Island starring Mickey & Friends) and Rare Games / Microsoft / Xbox Game Studios (Battletoads, 2020) — and B2C publishing of its own original titles (Overruled!, Janksy) and licensed games via digital storefronts including Steam, Nintendo eShop, and Xbox console stores. Dlala's positioning rests on a signature hand-drawn artistic style combined with technical execution, repeatedly endorsed by client testimonials from Disney, Rare, and Microsoft executives. The studio is founder-led by CEO Aj Grand-Scrutton, with a long-tenured executive team (CTO Ben Waring since 2012; COO Gemma Foster and CIO Mark Ragon since 2015), and has won multiple Best Places to Work Awards as part of an explicitly employee-first culture.

Technically, Dlala operates as a single-product-cycle studio rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture: each title is a distinct standalone offering, typically featuring couch co-op multiplayer as a recurring design element. The specific game engine is not disclosed in the source data. Distribution is global via platform-aggregator storefronts rather than proprietary channels, and the company has no disclosed external venture capital or private equity funding, remaining founder-owned and independent. Revenue mechanics combine milestone-based co-development contracts on multi-year AAA-tier IP projects with one-time perpetual game sales to consumers, creating a mix of predictable anchor-client service revenue and lumpier consumer royalties. No formal revenue, ARR, or headcount-trend figures are disclosed in the available inputs.

Name

Dlala Studios

Legal name

Dlala Studios

Website

https://dlalastudios.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dlala Studios is an independent UK game developer founded in 2012 that co-develops licensed titles for major IP holders such as Disney and Microsoft/Xbox while publishing its own games on Steam and Nintendo eShop. It serves enterprise clients needing trusted external development partners and consumer gamers seeking hand-drawn platformer experiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Video Game Development

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (51211)

SIC

Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro primary industry

Co-Development, Porting & Remaster Studios (MPAFAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Indie Game Studios (MPAFAAAC)

Keywords

• Independent game development
• Video game publishing
• Co-development services
• Platformer game development
• Couch co-op games

Headquarters

HQ city

High Wycombe

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Game Development Services: Dlala Studios works as a game development studio creating games for major IP holders including Disney and Rare Games, generating revenue through contracted development work for established franchises.
2. Game Sales and Licensing: Sale of published games including Disney Illusion Island, Battletoads (2020), Overruled!, and Janksy through digital distribution platforms such as Steam, Nintendo eShop, and console storefronts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Dlala Studios is an independent game development studio that designs, develops, and publishes video games. The studio delivers contracted co-development services for major entertainment IP holders such as Disney and Rare, producing platformer titles like Disney Illusion Island and Battletoads (2020). It also develops and self-publishes original games such as Overruled! and Janksy through digital storefronts including Steam and Nintendo eShop.

Product overview

Dlala Studios is an independent games studio that develops and publishes video games. Their portfolio includes original titles such as Overruled! and Janksy, as well as licensed projects working with major IPs like Disney (Disney Illusion Island featuring Mickey & Friends) and Rare (Battletoads). The studio operates as a single-product developer rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture, with each game serving as a distinct standalone offering. Their games typically feature couch co-op multiplayer as a key design element across their major titles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Disney Illusion Island A hand-drawn 2D platformer adventure starring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy. Players journey through the mysterious island of Monoth to recover three mystical books, supporting solo play and up to 4-player couch co-op. Co-developed with Disney for Nintendo Switch.
• Battletoads (2020) An action-packed adventure game featuring Rash, Zitz and Pimple in choreographed chaos. The game offers epic brawl gameplay through exciting challenges and hordes of enemies with couch co-op multiplayer support. Co-developed with Rare Games and published on Steam and other platforms.
• Overruled! A multiplayer brawler where players change the rules as they play, directly influencing the dynamics of the game. Original Dlala Studios title.
• Janksy A space-based physics adventure where players travel across galaxies collecting Nebula Swirls. Original Dlala Studios title.

Named customers3 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

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• DisneycoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerDlala Studios developed Disney Illusion Island featuring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy. The studio works on Disney IP including redesigning Mickey Mouse and Friends for new gaming experiences. The partnership represents a major licensing and co-development relationship with The Walt Disney Company.
• Rare GamescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDlala Studios developed Battletoads (2020), bringing back the iconic franchise for a new generation. Rare Games is the IP holder and partnered with Dlala for the game's development and release.
• Microsoft / Xbox Game StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDlala Studios has maintained an ongoing development relationship with Microsoft/Xbox since 2012, working on various projects. The partnership has been described as demonstrating 'tenacity, creativity and determination' in making quality games.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Sumo Digital: UK-based independent game studio specializing in co-development and porting services for major IP holders across console and PC, closely matching Dlala's business model and client base.
• Moon Studios: Independent studio founded on the back of platformer co-development (Ori and the Blind Forest) — closely parallel to Dlala's co-development origin story and platformer specialization.
• The Chinese Room: UK-based independent studio that has moved between co-development contracts and original IP work — a directly comparable UK indie studio with similar scale and mixed services/original-IP model.
• Hazelight Studios: Independent studio specializing in cooperative multiplayer experiences; comparable to Dlala's emphasis on couch co-op design as a defining product feature.
• Yacht Club Games: Independent studio built around a co-op platformer franchise (Shovel Knight) with hand-drawn art style — directly comparable to Dlala's platformer specialization and indie scale.
• Electric Square: UK-based co-development studio working on major console/PC franchises (including Disney projects), directly comparable in size, geography, and service offering to Dlala.
• WayForward Technologies: Independent studio known for licensed IP work (including Disney) and stylized 2D platformers with co-op support — comparable to Dlala's hand-drawn, couch-co-op platformer specialization.

Broad incumbents

• Creative Assembly: UK-based games studio with deep roots in both co-development partnerships and owned IP — a broader UK industry peer that illustrates how a co-development-led studio can scale over time.
• Playground Games: UK independent studio that grew from a small Forza co-development team into a major Xbox first-party studio — a relevant aspirational comparison and a fellow UK-based boutique co-developer that scaled via Microsoft partnership.
• Rare: Microsoft first-party studio and Dlala's client on Battletoads (2020) — operates at a much larger scale in the same UK geography and adjacent genre space, providing a ceiling view of where Dlala's co-development trajectory could lead.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dlalastudios
• Facebookfacebook.com/dlalastudios
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dlala-studios

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Dlala Studios