ForthStar Games: The New Venture from Playdemic Founders

Paul Gouge and Alex Rigby have established a remarkable track record in the gaming industry. Their first mobile games studio, BattleMail, was set up in 2001 and sold to (M)Forma a year later. They then formed Rockpool Games, developed the J2ME edition of Worms, and sold the developer to Eidos/Square Enix in 2007. Their third studio, Playdemic, was founded in 2010 and sold to Electronic Arts for $1.4 billion two years ago. With three successful studios and five sales under their belt, Gouge and Rigby have unveiled their next venture: ForthStar Games. Based in Manchester, ForthStar Games has already assembled a team of 14, all of whom are Playdemic alumni. The studio has secured $10 million from investor Griffin Games Partners and plans to unveil its first game next year. Gouge and Rigby have been working in stealth since 2023, and their goal is to create a game that will resonate with a similar audience to Golf Clash. However, their first title is unlikely to be a sports game, as they are looking to bring something new to the market. The studio's approach to game development is centered around the 'test and kill' philosophy, which involves scrapping any ideas that aren't delivering the best results. Gouge believes that this approach is essential in today's competitive marketplace, where only the most engaging and retention-driven games succeed. ForthStar Games is targeting the mobile market, but Gouge emphasizes that the studio won't be constraining itself solely to smart devices. The team is committed to creating a game that is both new and familiar, with a competitive framework that appeals to a mass market audience. Gouge argues that there is an underserved audience in the mobile market, which is looking for entertaining distractions with a competitive edge. He believes that ForthStar Games can cater to this audience and create a game that is both accessible and rewarding. With a focus on building a sustainable and long-term business, Gouge and his team are hoping to create a game that can generate significant revenue and profitability. Their ultimate goal is to use the success of their game as a foundation to build a company with a lasting legacy, rather than just seeking to sell the studio to another company.