Backed by a staggering $10 million in funding, Paul Gouge and Alex Rigby, the founders of the BAFTA-winning and billion-dollar developer Playdemic, have announced the launch of their new mobile free-to-play game studio, ForthStar. After the incredible success of Playdemic’s Golf Clash and the subsequent sale of the studio to Electronic Arts for a record-breaking $1.4 billion, Gouge and Rigby are now directing all their efforts towards building ForthStar. Their aim is to bring together top talent in the industry and create games that prioritize creativity, innovation, and exceptional gameplay.
While the unveiling of their first game is still over a year away, ForthStar has already secured £7.
.85 million ($10 million) from Griffin Gaming Partners, ensuring that they have sufficient funds to support the development of their next big hit. With this financial backing, the studio and its leadership team can now focus entirely on assembling a remarkable group of individuals who will be capable of bringing their multi-award-winning, player-first development approach to the world's largest gaming platform.
ForthStar is located in Manchester and has already recruited several key figures from Playdemic, who played instrumental roles in the success of Golf Clash, which amassed over 150 million installations. The studio is actively seeking out talented individuals with both creative and technical expertise to further strengthen their already industry-leading team. The mission of ForthStar, as stated by CEO and Co-Founder Paul Gouge, is to create games that millions of people will love to play every day for years to come. Gouge firmly believes that the studio can achieve this objective by developing exceptional games that captivate players and become an essential part of their daily entertainment.
With a strong focus on studio culture and nurturing creative talent, Gouge and ForthStar Co-Founder and Creative Director Alex Rigby have already demonstrated their ability to succeed in the highly competitive yet immensely profitable mobile gaming space. They have established an exceptional track record since founding their first mobile studio, BattleMail, in 2001. Over the years, they have built and sold multiple successful studios, including the sale of Playdemic to Electronic Arts for a groundbreaking $1.4 billion, cementing its status as a record-breaking UK studio.
The key to their success has always been the alignment of leadership with a commitment to excellence and creative thinking. This commitment is fostered within a supportive, inclusive, and inspiring culture that promotes collaboration, innovation, and professional growth. ForthStar also places a strong emphasis on its people, implementing a hybrid and flexible approach to working that includes a four-day workweek. The studio's leadership is dedicated to forward-thinking business practices, with a focus on output rather than input, ensuring that employees can thrive without the pressure of unnecessary crunch time.
ForthStar is now actively recruiting talented individuals to join their highly collaborative and skilled team. More information about open positions can be found on their website, and interested candidates can also reach out directly to [email protected] to register their interest. With its exceptional leadership, strong financial backing, and commitment to excellence, ForthStar is positioned to make a significant impact in the gaming industry.
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