Boneloaf
Boneloaf Limited is a Sheffield-based independent game studio, founded in 2013 by three brothers, that develops and self-publishes Gang Beasts — a multiplayer physics-based party game available across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Game Pass, supported by merchandise and ongoing live updates.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersSheffield, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Boneloaf does
Boneloaf Limited is an independent game studio founded in 2013 in Sheffield, UK, by three brothers — James, Jon, and Michael Brown. The company develops and self-publishes a single core product, Gang Beasts: a multiplayer party game featuring physics-driven gelatinous characters fighting in absurd hazardous environments set in the fictional Beef City. The title launched on Steam Early Access in August 2014, achieved full commercial release in December 2017, and has since expanded to PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and Windows/macOS/Linux, with physical retail handled by Skybound Games and ongoing content updates through 2025. Technical differentiators include a custom procedural animation framework developed over 3+ years of prototyping, rebuilt glass fracture and buoyancy systems on the Unity 2020 engine, and recent additions such as an Interactables System, Driveables System, and Unity Addressables Asset System.
The studio operates a direct-to-consumer B2C model, monetising primarily through one-time game sales across digital storefronts, supplemented by physical retail copies, cosmetic DLC and virtual goods, an active merchandise line (plushies, action figures, backpacks) distributed globally through major retailers, and presence on Xbox Game Pass. As of 2024-2025 the company continues to release free content updates and has experimented with a free Apple Vision Pro sandbox experience (Meat Co Test Laboratory) set in the same universe. Boneloaf is bootstrapped with no disclosed institutional funding, employs approximately 12-15 people, and retains full publishing control since May 2020 after the wind-down of original publisher Double Fine Presents.
Boneloaf firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Boneloaf
- Legal name
- Boneloaf Limited
- Website
- https://boneloaf.co
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Boneloaf Limited is a Sheffield-based independent game studio, founded in 2013 by three brothers, that develops and self-publishes Gang Beasts — a multiplayer physics-based party game available across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Game Pass, supported by merchandise and ongoing live updates.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Boneloaf industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Video Games
- akta.pro primary industry
- Strategy/4X/Management Game Studios (MPAFAAAK)
Keywords
Where Boneloaf is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sheffield
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Boneloaf business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Game Sales: One-time purchase of Gang Beasts across multiple platforms (Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch). Initially published by Double Fine Presents until May 2020 when Boneloaf took over full publishing duties.
- Physical Copies: Physical game copies published by Skybound Games available through retailers
- Merchandise Sales: Gang Beasts branded merchandise including plushies, collectible figures, action figures, stretchable figures, stampers, and plush backpacks sold through retailers worldwide
- Virtual Goods and DLC: Virtual goods including cosmetic costumes and in-game enhancements; some DLC costume packs (like Yogscast Charity DLC)
- Xbox Game Pass: Game available via Xbox Game Pass subscription service
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Standard game purchase across all platforms |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Physical retail copies |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels6 records
Boneloaf product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Boneloaf develops and publishes Gang Beasts, a multiplayer party game featuring surly gelatinous characters engaging in slapstick combat across hazardous environments. The studio also experiments with extended reality experiences, including a VR sandbox built for Apple Vision Pro. The company was founded by three brothers and operates as an independent game studio based in Sheffield, UK.
Product overview
Boneloaf offers a single core product, Gang Beasts, which is a multiplayer party game with surly gelatinous characters and brutal slapstick fight sequences set in the fictional Beef City. The product is available across multiple platforms (Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch) and supports both local and online multiplayer. In February 2024, a supplementary VR experience called Meat Co Test Laboratory was released for Apple Vision Pro, serving as a sandbox experiment set in the same universe.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Gang Beasts
Quantifiable outcome
- 10 years of active development and support since 2014
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Boneloaf
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Boneloaf technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Boneloaf partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CoatsinkcoreDevelopment partner providing support for online multiplayer services, matchmaking optimization, server architecture improvements, and game fixes. Worked on 1.13 update and ongoing online improvements.
- SuperGeniusminorDevelopment partner working on costume system updates and improvements, and game content optimization.
- Robot TeddyminorProduction and business decision support partner. Helped Boneloaf navigate publishing transition and ongoing operations.
- UnitycoreGame engine provider. Unity brought onboard early 2020 to help improve internal tools, pipeline and workflows, optimization, and game future-proofing. Gang Beasts is built on Unity engine.
- Skybound GamescoreSkybound Games publishes Gang Beasts in physical form globally. Physical copies available through their shop and retail partners worldwide.
- Double Fine PresentscoreInitial publisher of Gang Beasts from early access through full release in December 2017. Double Fine provided advice, support, and became friends and mentors to Boneloaf. Double Fine Presents was wound down after Double Fine's acquisition by Xbox Game Studios in 2020.
- MultiplaycoreServer hosting provider using dedicated game hosting solution and Hybrid Cloud Orchestration technology for official Gang Beasts servers. Provides scalable, low-latency, managed hosting platform.
- CoatsinkcoreAdditional support from Coatsink for specific game content and systems development throughout Gang Beasts development.
- SuperGeniusminorAdditional support from SuperGenius for specific game content and systems development.
- RuceminorAdditional support from Ruce for specific game content and systems.
- BabelminorQA support partner helping with identification, documentation, and fixing of game issues.
- iam8bitminorMusic/soundtrack distributor; Gang Beasts 2xLP Vinyl Soundtrack available through iam8bit store.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights6 records
Boneloaf competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Devolver Digital: Public publisher of party/indie multiplayer titles (e.g., Moving Out, Fall Guys via Mediatonic), directly comparable as a publishing counterpart that works with small indie studios on cross-platform party games.
- Double Fine / Xbox Game Studios: Original publisher of Gang Beasts (2014–May 2020) and now part of Xbox Game Studios; comparable as a broader incumbent in the indie publishing space with deep ties to Boneloaf's commercial history.
Regional players
- Roll7: UK-based indie studio (OlliOlli, Rollerdrome), a regional analogue to Boneloaf's Sheffield studio with similar small-team scale, Unity-based tooling, and indie-console publishing.
Direct peers
- Supergiant Games: Long-running independent studio of similar small-team scale (~20 people) shipping stylized action titles built in proprietary engines, comparable to Boneloaf as a small-team, indie-pedigree developer building a recognizable consumer IP.
- Mediatonic (Fall Guys): Mediatonic developed Fall Guys, a chaotic multiplayer party game with physics-driven jellybean characters, the closest direct analogue to Gang Beasts' wobbly-physics party combat. Both target the casual/party multiplayer segment and were built on the Unity engine for PC and consoles.
- The Behemoth: Independent studio behind Castle Crashers and BattleBlock Theater, slime-style multiplayer brawler party games with cartoon physics combat — a strong direct analogue to Gang Beasts' absurd slapstick fisticuffs in handcrafted hazardous arenas.
- Psyonix (Rocket League): Acquired by Epic Games, Psyonix developed Rocket League — an indie-originated physics-driven multiplayer title that scaled globally across all major consoles, mirroring Gang Beasts' cross-platform multiplayer trajectory.
- No Brakes Games (Human: Fall Flat): Developer of Human: Fall Flat, a physics-based, silly-looking multiplayer indie title with broad cross-platform availability and a 10-year content lifecycle — a near-twin product and indie-scale operating model to Gang Beasts.
- Velan Studios (Knockout City): Velan Studios built Knockout City, a multiplayer dodgeball brawler published by EA, directly comparable to Gang Beasts' team-based melee party mode and physics-driven combat ethos.
Others
- Skybound Games: Current physical publishing and distribution partner for Gang Beasts worldwide, making Skybound a direct ecosystem peer in Boneloaf's go-to-market rather than a competing product.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Boneloaf social profiles
Digital presenceBoneloaf financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Boneloaf leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Boneloaf funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Boneloaf 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 Boneloaf
What does Boneloaf do?
Boneloaf develops and publishes Gang Beasts, a multiplayer party game featuring surly gelatinous characters engaging in slapstick combat across hazardous environments. The studio also experiments with extended reality experiences, including a VR sandbox built for Apple Vision Pro. The company was founded by three brothers and operates as an independent game studio based in Sheffield, UK.
Is Boneloaf a public or private company?
Boneloaf is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Boneloaf founded?
Boneloaf was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Boneloaf based?
Boneloaf is headquartered in Sheffield, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Boneloaf make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Game Sales are the primary driver. The others are physical Copies, merchandise Sales, virtual Goods and DLC and xbox Game Pass.
Who are Boneloaf's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Devolver Digital and Double Fine / Xbox Game Studios. Roll7 is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Supergiant Games, Mediatonic (Fall Guys), The Behemoth, Psyonix (Rocket League), No Brakes Games (Human: Fall Flat) and Velan Studios (Knockout City). Skybound Games is listed as an others.
Does Boneloaf have an API?
No public API is recorded for Boneloaf.
What industry is Boneloaf in?
Boneloaf's product category is Video Games. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAAAK, Strategy/4X/Management Game Studios.