HandyGames
www.handy-games.com GmbH, doing business as HandyGames, is a German video game developer and publisher based in Giebelstadt. In July 2018, the company was acquired by THQ Nordic.
HandyGames | |
Type | Subsidiary |
Industry | Video games |
Founded | April 25, 2000[1] |
Founders |
|
Headquarters | , Germany |
Number of employees | 60[2] (2020) |
Parent | THQ Nordic (2018–present) |
Website | handy-games.com |
History
The company was founded in 2000 by brothers Christopher and Markus Kassulke along with Udo Bausewein. In 2006, HandyGames released its first free, ad-funded game and began the gradual transition to a largely ad-funded business model. Since 2010, all new HandyGames mobile titles are either free or freemium. By 2014 HandyGames had 150,000 app downloads per month and more than 100 million downloads in total.[3]
In 2012, HandyGames expanded onto other platforms like PC or Smart TVs. In January 2014 and 2015, the company were main sponsors for the "HandyGames Charity Day" in Würzburg, which aimed to raise funds for cancer research. On both occasions the event was able to raise roughly 50000 Euros.[4][5]
HandyGames was one of the first companies to launch games for wearable technology in 2014.[6] The games are compatible with Android Wear devices, including the Moto 360 by Motorola, the Huawei Watch, the Sony SmartWatch and the LG G Watch.[7]
The company began developing VR (Virtual Reality) Games 2015 and released titles like "Hidden Temple – VR Adventure".[8] They can be played in 360° mode or in VR using one of the supported head-mounted displays like Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear VR, or Google Cardboard.[9] Simultaneously, HandyGames began developing games for the Eighth generation of video game consoles like the PlayStation 4, Xbox One[10] or later the Nintendo Switch.
On 9 July 2018, THQ Nordic announced that it had acquired HandyGames and all of its intellectual property. THQ Nordic said that the studio management and all employees remain with the company.[11][12]
Townsmen Expeditions (Working Title), which will mark the most recent entry in the Townsmen IP, received €150,000 development funding from Creative Europe.[13] As of June 2019, HandyGames employs 53 people.[14]
Awards
- Deutscher Entwicklerpreis — Bestes Studio (Best German Studio)[15]
Games
2018–present
Title | Platform | Release date | Developer |
---|---|---|---|
Aces of the Luftwaffe: Squadron | Microsoft Windows | July 24, 2018 | HandyGames |
PlayStation 4 | |||
Xbox One | |||
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams - Owltimate Edition | Nintendo Switch | September 28, 2018 | Black Forest Games |
Townsmen | Nintendo Switch | November 9, 2018 | HandyGames |
Aces of the Luftwaffe: Squadron - Nebelgeschwader | Microsoft Windows | November 13, 2018 | HandyGames |
Nintendo Switch | |||
PlayStation 4 | |||
Xbox One | |||
Jagged Alliance: Rage! | Microsoft Windows | December 6, 2018 | Cliffhanger Productions |
PlayStation 4 | |||
Xbox One | |||
Clouds & Sheep 2 | Nintendo Switch | December 21, 2018 | HandyGames |
Dynamite Fishing: World Games | Nintendo Switch | December 21, 2018 | HandyGames |
Stunt Kite Party | Nintendo Switch | February 8, 2019 | HandyGames |
Rad Rodgers: Radical Edition | Nintendo Switch | February 26, 2019 | Slipgate Studios |
Townsmen: A Kingdom Rebuilt | Microsoft Windows | February 26, 2019 | HandyGames |
SpellForce: Heroes & Magic | Android | April 26, 2019 | Hex Games |
iOS | |||
Stunt Kite Party | Microsoft Windows | June 7, 2019 | HandyGames |
PlayStation 4 | |||
Xbox One | |||
ChessFinity | Android | July 4, 2019 | Orkitec |
iOS | |||
Battle Chasers: Nightwar - Mobile Edition | Android | August 1, 2019 | Airship Syndicate |
iOS | |||
This Is the Police 2 | Android | September 12, 2019 | Weappy |
iOS | |||
Lock's Quest | Android | September 26, 2019 | Digital Continue |
iOS | |||
Little Big Workshop | Macintosh | October 17, 2019 | Mirage Game Studios |
Microsoft Windows | |||
Through the Darkest of Times | Macintosh | January 30, 2020 | Paintbucket Games |
Microsoft Windows | |||
Townsmen: A Kingdom Rebuilt | PlayStation 4 | February 20, 2020 | HandyGames |
Xbox One | |||
Townsmen: A Kingdom Rebuilt – The Seaside Empire | Microsoft Windows | February 20, 2020 | HandyGames |
Nintendo Switch | |||
PlayStation 4 | |||
Xbox One | |||
Spitlings | Stadia | February 25, 2020 | Massive Miniteam |
Aces of the Luftwaffe: Squadron – Extended Edition | Android | February 28, 2020 | HandyGames |
iOS | |||
Rebel Cops | Android | April 23, 2020 | Weappy |
iOS | |||
Through the Darkest of Times | Android | May 7, 2020 | Paintbucket Games |
iOS | |||
Spitlings | Microsoft Windows | August 4, 2020 | Massive Miniteam |
Nintendo Switch | |||
PlayStation 4 | |||
Xbox One | |||
Through the Darkest of Times | Nintendo Switch | August 13, 2020 | Paintbucket Games |
PlayStation 4 | |||
Xbox One | |||
Little Big Workshop | Xbox One | September 24, 2020 | Massive Miniteam |
PlayStation 4 | |||
Nintendo Switch | October 1, 2020 | ||
Neighbours Back from Hell | Microsoft Windows | October 8, 2020 | FarbWorks |
Nintendo Switch | |||
PlayStation 4 | |||
Xbox One | |||
Chicken Police: Paint it Red! | Microsoft Windows | November 5, 2020 | The Odd Gentlemen |
Nintendo Switch | |||
PlayStation 4 | |||
Xbox One | |||
Little Big Workshop | Stadia | November 6, 2020 | Massive Miniteam |
El Hijo: A Wild West Tale | Stadia | December 3, 2020 | Honig Studios |
Microsoft Windows | |||
El Hijo: A Wild West Tale | Nintendo Switch | 2020 | Honig Studios |
PlayStation 4 | |||
Xbox One | |||
Pile Up! | Microsoft Windows | 2020 | Seed by Seed |
Nintendo Switch | |||
PlayStation 4 | |||
Xbox One | |||
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated | Android | January 21, 2021 | Purple Lamp Studios |
iOS | |||
Airhead | Microsoft Windows | 2021 | Octato |
Nintendo Switch | |||
PlayStation 4 | |||
Xbox One | |||
A Rat’s Quest: The Way Back Home | Microsoft Windows | 2021 | The Dreamerians |
Nintendo Switch | |||
PlayStation 4 | |||
Xbox One | |||
Endling: Extinction is Forever | Microsoft Windows | 2021 | Herobeat Studios |
Nintendo Switch | |||
PlayStation 4 | |||
Xbox One | |||
One Hand Clapping | Android | 2021 | Bad Dream Games |
iOS | |||
Microsoft Windows | |||
Nintendo Switch | |||
PlayStation 4 | |||
Xbox One | |||
Townsmen VR | HTC Vive | TBA | HandyGames |
Oculus Rift | |||
PlayStation VR |
References
- "8th Birthday". GamesIndustry.biz. 25 April 2008.
- Fröhlich, Petra (10 January 2020). "Die größten Spiele-Entwickler in Deutschland 2020" [The largest game developers in Germany 2020]. GamesWirtschaft (in German).
- "Ins Spiel gebracht: Effektiv werben in Mobile Games von HandyGames". finanzen.ch. February 4, 2014.
- "Gummersbach kommt: Großer Handball-Benefiztag für Krebshilfe". mainpost.de. January 17, 2014.
- "HandyGames Charity Day 2015 – ein voller Erfolg". www.b4bmainfranken.de. February 2, 2015.
- "HandyGames' CEO on why he's looking to take a leading role in the world of wearables". pocketgamer.biz. August 26, 2014.
- "Handy Games on why it's backing smartwatch gaming not VR". pocketgamer.biz. November 19, 2014.
- "HandyGames released a VR Game on Google Play". www.androidpit.de. January 13, 2015.
- "Play Hidden Temple – VR Adventure with Google Cardboard". www.droidgamers.com. January 13, 2015.
- "Aces of the Luftwaffe Review – Bogeys Spotted PS4". www.playstationlifestyle.net. March 5, 2015.
- "What has 100 legs, is from Germany and has been acquired by THQ Nordic?". THQ Nordic. 9 July 2018.
- "THQ Nordic acquires the German game developer and publisher HandyGames". Embracer Group. 9 July 2018.
- "Game Play mit MEDIA – siebenstelliger Rekord für deutsche Projekte". www.creative-europe-desk.de. Creative Europe MEDIA. 9 October 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
- Wingefors, Lars (27 August 2019). "THQ Nordic Annual Report 2018/19" (PDF). Cision.
- "HandyGames". Deutscher Entwicklerpreis.