Leeds City Region’s gaming companies are helping to shape the UK tech scene.
The Leeds City Region is a hot bed of video gaming talent. In fact, over 7% of the UK’s industry is based here. Not only will you find you small indie studios here, but there are also well-established AAA businesses producing world-leading games, so if you want to work in the industry, this is the place to be. Still need convincing? Just take a look at the long list of video gaming companies that call the Leeds City Region home.
Rockstar Leeds
What started as a small indie gaming company in 1997, soon went on to join Rockstar – a global business with world-renowned status. From the Wild West era of Red Dead Redemption to the crime world of Grand Theft Auto, Rockstar is responsible for some of the biggest games in the world. The Leeds office has been credited for L.A. Noire, Max Payne 3, Red Dead Redemption 2 and the development of Grand Theft Auto V.
Isokron
Isokron is a small, innovative indie studio making online multiplayer games. Their debut title, 90 Minute Fever, is a football management game where you can create and customise your own club. After securing a place on the inaugural Indieab West Yorks business accelerator, Isokron became one of just six businesses selected for the Games Export Lab – an accelerator programme designed to help studios thrive in the global marketplace.
Team17
Based in Wakefield, Team17 is an independent games label that prides itself on creating fun and accessible games. Over the last 30 years, this seasoned indie has developed some of the most recognisable games series in the world – from the iconic Worms to Moving Out, Hell Let Loose and The Escapists, Overcooked! Team17 has strengthened its portfolio with the acquisition of gaming studios like Golf With Your Friends and StoryToys.
XR Games
Headquartered in Leeds, XR Games creates immersive gaming experiences. This development studio specialises in virtual reality, creating games for some of the world’s most iconic names like Dreamworks, BBC and Lego. The team behind XR Games have partnered with Sony Pictures to bring to life Zombieland VR: Headshot Fever, where game players must survive ferocious zombies while enjoying the dystopian humour of the movie.
Just Add Water
Leeds-based video games developer, Just Add Water, has created award-winning titles for Sony, Codemasters and the BBC. They’ve left their mark on video games like Sniper Elite VR, a virtual reality twist on Rebellion’s acclaimed sniping and stealth mechanics, as well as Doctor Who: The Edge Of Reality. They’re primed for growth, having just moved into a new office in preparation for expanding their studio team to around 60 people.
Weaseltron Entertainment
Weaseltron Entertainment is a boutique studio specialising in graphics and games. They use cutting-edge programming and in-game network coding to bring to life some of the world’s most well-known franchises. Big titles mean big partner names, so you can expect collaborations with leading publishers such as Rockstar, EA and Criterion, with whom Weaseltron have helped to produce games like L.A. Noire, Grand Theft Auto V and DiRT 4.
Alternative Software
As one of the world’s longest running independent games companies, Alternative Software has been designing retro and modern games since 1985. With tons of experience creating games for mobile, tablet, PC and console, they’ve helped to produce titles for Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings and the Rugby League series. Alternative Software shares its wisdom by working with indie developers to help them bring new products to life.
Red Kite Games
Red Kite Games is a leading AAA game studio based in Leeds. They have a proven track record of creating high-quality, cutting-edge games. Harry Potter fans can get lost in the wizarding world of Warner Bros’ Hogwarts Legacy, while fantasy world lovers can immerse themselves in SEGA’s Two Point Hospital. This year, Red Kite Games made it to the number four spot as one of the best places to work in Yorkshire and the Humber.
Revolution Software
York-based Revolution Software is focused on producing narrative-driven games. Most notably, their Broken Sword series has beaten the world record for the longest running adventure game protagonist, highlighting the team’s dedication to entertaining their fanbase for decades. Broken Sword 5: The Serpent’s Curse, attracted $820,557 in funding, more than doubling its target, while the hugely anticipated Broken Sword 6 is now in the works.
Laser Dog
Founded in 2013 by Simon Renshaw and Rob Allison, Laser Dog is an independent game studio with a big reputation. They specialise in mobile games and have earned a reputation by producing hits like Catchee, Don’t Grind and PKTBALL. In 2018, they received funding from Creative England to develop Ava Airborne, then partnered with Playstack to bring it to market. More recently, they launched Deathrun TV, a twin-stick shooter, on STEAM.
