8 Game Development Business Success Stories [2024]
A game development business involves creating and developing video games for various platforms such as PC, consoles, and mobile devices. This business involves a team of game designers, programmers, artists, and sound engineers working together to bring a game concept to life.
To start a game development business, it is essential to have a solid understanding of the game development process and be skilled in one or more areas, such as programming, art, or design. It is also essential to have strong business acumen and understand how to market and sell your games.
Some tips for running a successful game development business include:
Focus on a specific niche or genre of games to stand out in a crowded market.
Build a strong team of talented and passionate individuals who share your vision for the company.
Stay up to date on the latest trends and technologies in the gaming industry.
Build a strong online presence through social media and a website to market and sell your games.
Focus on building a loyal customer base by releasing regular updates and engaging with your community.
Don't be afraid to seek partnerships or sponsorships to help fund your projects.
Always be open to learning and improving your skills and processes to stay competitive.
Here are some real life success stories of starting a game development :
1. Zatun ($300K/year)
Abhinav Chokhavatia came up with the idea for Zatun in 2006 while working at Ubisoft Montreal. Inspired by the hype around India and outsourcing, Abhinav decided to start his own game development company. With a passion for creating their own IP, Zatun focused on developing their first game, "The Legend Of Vraz," which was released in 2010 and garnered recognition in the industry. Since then, Zatun has built a loyal customer base and collaborated on over 200 game titles with clients such as Disney and Ubisoft.
How much they make: $300K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
Current team size: 25
An Indian video game development company, Zatun, founded in 2007, has collaborated on over 200 game titles with 300 clients, winning numerous awards and rave reviews globally and generating a monthly revenue of $25k, by focusing on innovation, experience, and customer retention.
2. Barry & Jason Games and Entertainment ($300K/year)
Barry McLaughlin, along with his friend Jason, came up with the idea for their business, Barry and Jason Games & Entertainment, after hosting live game nights that offered a unique and creative experience. Inspired by their love of games and comedy, they created Game Night in a Can and successfully launched a Kickstarter campaign, raising over $20,000 to bring their idea to life. They have since expanded their product line and partnered with other companies, and their games are now sold in Barnes & Noble and other stores across the country.
How much they make: $300K/year
Current team size: 1
Barry and Jason Games & Entertainment created Game Night in a Can, a party game made up of 30 different creative challenges and games of skill, which raised over $20,000 on Kickstarter, and is now sold in Barnes & Noble and independent stores across the US.
So... can you actually make money with a game development ?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
3. Games for Business ($480K/year)
In 2016, the founder started Games for Business, a game-based learning platform, after realizing the potential of gamification in the market. With a background in digital marketing and experience in game-based projects, they quickly signed major clients in the HR tech market, leading to international recognition and the eventual acquisition of the company by Austria's largest private education group.
How much they make: $480K/year
How much did it cost to start: $150K
Current team size: 15
Games for Business created a game-based learning platform for multinational organizations that doubled its revenue in the first three years and was recently acquired after landing deals on three continents.
4. Stonemaier Games ($20.7M/year)
Stonemaier Games, a tabletop game company, was founded by Jamey Stegmaier after witnessing the success of crowdfunding campaigns for tabletop games. Starting with a Kickstarter campaign in 2012 that raised $65,980, the company has since experienced impressive growth, with annual revenue exceeding $18 million in 2020. Stegmaier's passion for game design and entrepreneurship, coupled with careful planning and community engagement, have contributed to the success of Stonemaier Games in the highly competitive gaming industry.
How much they make: $20.7M/year
How much did it cost to start: $2.4K
Current team size: 4
How one founder turned a successful Kickstarter campaign into a $40 million tabletop game company with a focus on crafting a few special products each year and using social media to build community and relationships with customers.
So... can you actually make money with a game development ?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
5. Dilly Dally Games (Mexican Train) ($198K/year)
The game development started as a project for Christian's masters degree in computer science, and was going to sell software licenses on eBay and ship the game via CD.
How much they make: $198K/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
Current team size: 0
Dilly Dally Games, run by solopreneur Christian Tuskes, has over 10k daily active users and earns between $16-17k per month from ad revenue due to its unique appeal to a demographic underserved in the gaming industry, as well as its focus on long playing times.
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- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
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- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
