Black Tower Studios
Tokyo-based independent game development studio founded in 2012 that provides contracted Unreal Engine development, co-development, and LiveOps services to major publishers including Square Enix, Bandai Namco, IllFonic, and Gun Media, and operates the Black Tower Bites sub-brand producing original UEFN content for Epic Games' Fortnite ecosystem.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Black Tower Studios does
Black Tower Studios is a Tokyo-based, privately held game development studio founded in 2012 by Richie Casper (President and Creative Director, formerly of Acquire Corp) and Kohei Kamata (Chief Technical Officer, formerly of Acquire Corp). The company operates two distinct lines. First, it provides contracted Unreal Engine 4 and 5 game development services — including programming, game design, technical art, multiplayer/networking, porting, and LiveOps — to enterprise publishers such as Square Enix, Bandai Namco, IllFonic, Gun Media, ArtPlay/505 Games, Supermassive Games, Proletariat, Sumo Digital, DMM.com/POWERCHORD STUDIO, and Toylogic. Documented engagements span major licensed franchises including FOAMSTARS, Ace Combat 7, Life is Strange Remastered, Friday the 13th: The Game, Predator Hunting Grounds, Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, and Dark Pictures Anthology.
Second, in Spring 2025 the company established Black Tower Bites as a wholly-owned sub-brand focused on creating original gaming experiences on UEFN (Unreal Editor for Fortnite) for the Epic Games Fortnite platform. The sub-brand has shipped 15+ islands between April and October 2025 and is developing STELLAR IN FORTNITE, a virtual concert experience with COVER Corp featuring Hololive VTuber Hoshimachi Suisei scheduled for May 2, 2026. The studio describes itself as a small, highly experienced team with a Western indie culture, operates on super-flex hours, and lists active openings for Programmer, Game Designer, Technical Artist, and Background Artist roles.
Black Tower Studios firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Black Tower Studios
- Legal name
- 株式会社ブラックタワー
- Website
- https://blacktower.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Tokyo-based independent game development studio founded in 2012 that provides contracted Unreal Engine development, co-development, and LiveOps services to major publishers including Square Enix, Bandai Namco, IllFonic, and Gun Media, and operates the Black Tower Bites sub-brand producing original UEFN content for Epic Games' Fortnite ecosystem.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Black Tower Studios industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Game Development Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- AAA & Premium Game Studios (PC/Console) (MPAFAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Social/UGC & Sandbox Game Studios (Roblox-like) (MPAFAAAF)
Keywords
Where Black Tower Studios is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Black Tower Studios business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Contracted Game Development: Black Tower Studios generates revenue through contracted game development services for publishers. They provide programming, design, technical art, and LiveOps support for major game titles and franchises. Revenue is project-based, working under contract for publishers like Square Enix, Bandai Namco, Gun Media, IllFonic, and others.
- UEFN Content Creation: Black Tower Bites creates original content for Fortnite's UEFN platform, potentially generating revenue through Epic Games partnerships or content monetization within the Fortnite ecosystem.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Black Tower Studios product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Black Tower Studios is a Tokyo-based game development studio that provides contracted game development services to publishers and IP holders using Unreal Engine 4 and 5. Services include full game development, co-development, technical art, multiplayer/networking programming, LiveOps support, and console porting across PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PC, and mobile platforms. Through its Black Tower Bites sub-brand, the studio also creates and publishes original UEFN (Unreal Editor for Fortnite) islands on Epic Games' Fortnite platform.
Product overview
Black Tower Studios is a Tokyo-based game development studio founded in 2012 that provides development services for console, PC, and mobile games. The studio operates two distinct offerings: (1) its core game development services, working with publishers like Gun Media, Square Enix, IllFonic, Bandai Namco, and others to provide engineering, design, and technical art for titles across Unreal Engine 4 and 5; and (2) Black Tower Bites, a sub-brand launched in Spring 2025 focused on creating original UEFN (Unreal Editor for Fortnite) experiences. Black Tower Bites encompasses a growing portfolio of Fortnite island games including social hubs, multiplayer battle modes, and collaboration content with IP holders.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Black Tower Bites: A sub-brand established in Spring 2025, dedicated to creating short, original, and engaging bite-sized gaming experiences on UEFN (Unreal Editor for Fortnite). Creates original maps across various genres for the Fortnite platform.
Products and services
- Game Development Services Contracted game development services for publishers and IP holders, including programming, game design, technical art, co-development, LiveOps support, multiplayer/networking development, and console porting using Unreal Engine 4 and 5 across PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PC, and mobile platforms.
- Black Tower Bites (UEFN Island Creation) Sub-brand of Black Tower Studios dedicated to creating and publishing original bite-sized gaming experiences on UEFN (Unreal Editor for Fortnite) and branded/IP collaborations on the Fortnite platform.
- STELLAR IN FORTNITE Virtual live concert experience featuring Hololive VTuber Hoshimachi Suisei within Fortnite, published on the UEFN platform.
Companies that use Black Tower Studios
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Black Tower Studios technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Black Tower Studios partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, notable and minor.
- Square EnixcoreCo-development partner for FOAMSTARS (Unreal Engine 4 engineering, game design, technical art, online matchmaking, UI/HUD) and Life is Strange Remastered Collection (quality updates/optimization). Long-term relationship for multiple projects.
- Bandai Namco EntertainmentcoreDevelopment partner for Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown, providing Unreal Engine 4 senior engineering for the console flight simulation game.
- IllFoniccoreOngoing co-development partner for multiple titles including Predator Hunting Grounds (UE4 engineering and technical art, live ops, DLC), Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed (UE4 engineering), and Arcadegeddon (multiplayer shooter).
- Gun MediacoreDevelopment partner for Friday the 13th: The Game (level design, Pinehurst DLC, Unreal Engine source code updates, LiveOps) and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (post-launch content, LiveOps, multiplayer development).
- Epic GamescorePartner for UEFN (Unreal Editor for Fortnite) island development through Black Tower Bites sub-brand, including the Hoshimachi Suisei 'STELLAR IN FORTNITE' virtual concert.
- COVER CorporationnotableDevelopment partner for virtual live concert 'STELLAR IN FORTNITE' featuring Hololive virtual talent Hoshimachi Suisei. Created interactive concert experience within Fortnite.
- Supermassive GamesminorDevelopment support for Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan, providing UE4 client-side KPI engineering and implementation.
- ArtPlay / 505 GamesminorDevelopment partner for Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, providing multi-platform Unreal Engine 4 senior engineering.
- ProletariatminorCo-development partner for Spellbreak Nintendo Switch port, porting and co-development from multiplatform version to Switch using Unreal Engine 4.
- Sumo Digital Ltd.minorDevelopment support partner for The Texas Chain Saw Massacre video game, providing post-launch content development.
- DMM.com / POWERCHORD STUDIOminorFull game development partner for Obsidian Legacy hack & slash RPG, developed entirely in Unreal Engine 4.
- ToylogicminorCo-development partner for FOAMSTARS, supporting Toylogic's development with UE4 programming, game design, and technical art.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Black Tower Studios competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Black Tower Studios social profiles
Digital presenceBlack Tower Studios financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Black Tower Studios leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Black Tower Studios subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Black Tower Studios funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Black Tower Studios 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 Black Tower Studios
What does Black Tower Studios do?
Black Tower Studios is a Tokyo-based game development studio that provides contracted game development services to publishers and IP holders using Unreal Engine 4 and 5. Services include full game development, co-development, technical art, multiplayer/networking programming, LiveOps support, and console porting across PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PC, and mobile platforms. Through its Black Tower Bites sub-brand, the studio also creates and publishes original UEFN (Unreal Editor for Fortnite) islands on Epic Games' Fortnite platform.
Is Black Tower Studios a public or private company?
Black Tower Studios is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Black Tower Studios founded?
Black Tower Studios was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Black Tower Studios based?
Black Tower Studios is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Black Tower Studios make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Contracted Game Development is the primary driver. The others are UEFN Content Creation.
Does Black Tower Studios have an API?
No public API is recorded for Black Tower Studios.
What industry is Black Tower Studios in?
Black Tower Studios's product category is Game Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAFAAAA, AAA & Premium Game Studios (PC/Console), with a secondary code of MPAFAAAF, Social/UGC & Sandbox Game Studios (Roblox-like).