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tinyBuild
American video game publisher

tinyBuild Inc. is an American publisher of indie games based in Bellevue, Washington. The company was established by Alex Nichiporchik and Tom Brien in 2011 to expand Brien's game No Time to Explain into a commercial release. Building from the success of the game's Steam release in 2013, tinyBuild partnered with DoubleDutch Games for the development and release of SpeedRunners, which landed tinyBuild further publishing deals. Since March 2020, the company has been founding or acquiring new studios to expand. It became a public company on the Alternative Investment Market in March 2021.

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History

tinyBuild was founded in 2011 by Alex Nichiporchik (Latvian: Aleksandrs Ņičiporčiks) and Tom Brien.23 Nichiporchik came from Latvia and had been a professional Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos player in the early 2000s, which made him enough money to drop out of high school and pursue a career in video game journalism.4 While an employee of Spil Games in the Netherlands in 2010, he became interested in Flash games. He came across Super Meat Boy, which led to him to want to get into the business. Nichiporchik discovered No Time to Explain, a Flash game by Tom Brien, which he thought could be as successful as Super Meat Boy. Nichiporchik and Brien established tinyBuild in 2011 as a developer to expand No Time to Explain into a commercial release. The company headquarters were based in the Netherlands with Nichiporchik until both relocated to Seattle later on.5

tinyBuild launched a crowdfunding campaign for the game via Kickstarter and raised US$26,000 from a $7,000 target.6 tinyBuild had agreed with the Russian publisher Buka Entertainment that the latter would publish retail versions of No Time to Explain in Russia, get the game released on Steam, and grant tinyBuild $24,500 in royalties in advance. However, Buka Entertainment failed to communicate with tinyBuild until stating that it was forced to cancel the project, withholding the royalties.78 As No Time to Explain could not be launched via Steam, tinyBuild released it independently. The game recouped its development cost but did not turn a significant profit. tinyBuild went into hiatus for nearly a year thereafter until Steam introduced the Greenlight process for game approval. No Time to Explain became one of the first games to be greenlit for Steam in 2013 and had a successful release on the platform. Nichiporchik stated this experience burnt out tinyBuild, which was no longer interested in pursuing development but did not want to waste the newfound success. The company invested in, co-developed, and published the game SpeedRunners, which led to more developers pitching their games to tinyBuild, incrementally turning the company into a publisher.9 To expand its publishing operations, it hired the video game journalist Mike Rose in December 2014.10

tinyBuild obtained $3.75 million in seed funding from Makers Fund in April 2018, followed by $15 million in series A funding from an undisclosed investor in February 2019.11 The company established its first internal studio, HakJak Studios, with Guts and Glory developer Jed "HakJak" Steen in Boise, Idaho, in March 2020.12 Nichiporchik believed that indie game publishers like tinyBuild would have to move away from "transactional relationships"—wherein the developer and publisher would work on one game and then move on—and instead build long-term relationships with the developers.13 At this time, tinyBuild had 150 employees.14 tinyBuild acquired the development team behind Hello Neighbor from Dynamic Pixels in July 2020 for an undisclosed sum to establish the studio Eerie Guest Studios in Hilversum. The company invested more than US$15 million into the Hello Neighbor franchise.15 tinyBuild invested US$3 million into Hologryph, the team behind the Hello Neighbor multi-player spin-off, Secret Neighbor in November 2020.16 In February 2021, tinyBuild acquired three studios it had previously worked with: We're Five Games, Hungry Couch, and Moon Moose.17

tinyBuild announced in February 2021 that it was to pursue an initial public offering on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange with the ticker symbol "TBLD". At the time, Nichiporchik owned 61.1% of the company, while the Chinese company NetEase owned 14.3%.18 The company's shares began trading on March 9, 2021, with an initial market capitalization of £340 million.19

tinyBuild acquired the studio Animal in August 2021 for $10.2 million; Animal had been working on publishing their upcoming game Rawmen through tinyBuild.20

tinyBuild acquired Versus Evil and Red Cerberus in November 2021.21

The company acquired the intellectual property rights to the bulk of Bossa Studios' games including Surgeon Simulator and I Am Bread, for US$3 million in August 2022.22

Subsidiaries

Studios

NameLocationFoundedAcquired
AnimalPasadena, California, United States2015August 2021
Eerie Guest StudiosHilversum, NetherlandsJuly 2020
HologryphLviv, Ukraine2016November 2020
Hungry Couch GamesMoscow, Russia2019February 2021
DogHelmLos Angeles, California, United States2015June 2021
Bad PixelVoronezh, Russia2008September 2021
Konfa GamesSt. Petersburg, Russia2017August 2022
Red CerberusSão Paulo, BrazilJuly 2017November 2021

Former

NameLocationFoundedAcquiredClosed
HakJak StudiosBoise, Idaho, United StatesMarch 2020December 202323
Versus EvilBaltimore, Maryland, United States2013November 2021December 202324
We're Five GamesMinneapolis, Minnesota, United StatesApril 2012February 2021- 2023
Moon MooseSt. Petersburg, Russia2019February 2021February 2024 25
DeMagic GamesUkraine, Europe2019April 2022March 202426

Games developed

YearTitlePlatform(s)
2011No Time to ExplainLinux, macOS, Microsoft Windows
2015No Time to Explain RemasteredLinux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
2023Hello EngineerMicrosoft Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch

Games published

YearTitleDeveloper(s)Platform(s)
2013Not the Robots2DArrayLinux, macOS, Microsoft Windows
2014Fearless FantasyEnter Skies EntertainmentAndroid, iOS, Microsoft Windows
Spoiler AlertMegafuzzAndroid, iOS, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows
Lovely PlanetQuicktequilaLinux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Wii U
2015Divide by SheepBread TeamAndroid, iOS, macOS, Microsoft Windows
Party HardPinokl GamesLinux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Snail Bob 2Hunter HamsterAndroid, iOS, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows
2016Punch ClubLazy Bear GamesAndroid, iOS, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Dungelot: Shattered LandsRed WinterAndroid, iOS, Microsoft Windows
SpeedRunnersDoubleDutch GamesiOS, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
One Troll ArmyFlyAnvilmacOS, Microsoft Windows
BoidMokus GamesMicrosoft Windows
Lovely Planet ArcadeQuicktequilaLinux, macOS, Microsoft Windows
Road to BallhallaTorched HillMicrosoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
The Final StationDo My Best GamesLinux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Diaries of a Spaceport JanitorSundae MonthmacOS, Microsoft Windows
ClustertruckLandfall GamesLinux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Party Hard GoPinokl GamesAndroid, iOS, Fire OS
2017Stage PresenceSea Green GamesMicrosoft Windows
Mr. ShiftyTeam ShiftyLinux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Community IncT4 InteractivemacOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch
Phantom TriggerBread TeamMicrosoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Party Hard Tycoon (early access)
  • Pinokl Games
  • Kverta
Microsoft Windows
Hello NeighborDynamic PixelsAndroid, iOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Stadia, Xbox One
2018Garage: Bad TripZombie DynamicsmacOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch
Outpost Zero (early access)Symmetric GamesMicrosoft Windows
Guts and GloryHakJak StudiosLinux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Graveyard KeeperLazy Bear GamesAndroid, iOS, Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Party Hard 2
  • Pinokl Games
  • Kverta
  • Hologryph
Microsoft Windows
Rapture Rejects (early access)
  • Galvanic Games
  • Explosm Games
Microsoft Windows
Hello Neighbor: Hide and SeekDynamic PixelsiOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Stadia, Xbox One
2019Pandemic ExpressTall Boys TeamMicrosoft Windows
Swag and Sorcery
  • Lazy Bear Games
  • Uroboros Games
iOS, Microsoft Windows
Pathologic 2Ice-Pick LodgeMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Lovely Planet 2: April SkiesQuicktequilaLinux, macOS, Microsoft Windows
Streets of RogueMatt DabrowskiLinux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Totally Reliable Delivery ServiceWe're Five GamesAndroid, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
WakingJason OdaMicrosoft Windows
Secret Neighbor
  • Hologryph
  • Dynamic Pixels
Microsoft Windows, Stadia, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
2020Not For BroadcastNotGamesMicrosoft Windows
Hello Puppets!Otherworld InteractiveMicrosoft Windows (VR Exclusive)
HellpointCradle GamesLinux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
Kill It with FireCasey Donnellan Games LLCMicrosoft Windows
Punch Club 2: Fast ForwardLazy Bear GamesMicrosoft Windows
Startup PanicAlgorocksAndroid, iOS, Microsoft Windows
WakingJason OdaMicrosoft Windows, Xbox One
2021Black Skylands (early access)Hungry CouchMicrosoft Windows
Cartel Tycoon (early access)Moon Moose
Happy's Humble Burger FarmScythe Dev TeamMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
Mayhem in Single ValleyFluxscopic Ltd.Microsoft Windows
Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator (early access)niceplay gamesMicrosoft Windows
UndungeonLaughing MachinesMicrosoft Windows, Xbox One
2022Not for BroadcastNotGamesMicrosoft Windows
Expedition ZeroEnigmatic Machines
Hello Neighbor 2Eerie Guest StudiosMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
TinykinSplashteamMicrosoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Asterigos: Curse of the StarsAcme GamestudioMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Despot's GameKonfa GamesLinux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
2023RHYTHM SPROUTSURTMicrosoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Farworld PioneersIgloosoftMicrosoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Black SkylandsHungry CouchMicrosoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales27DO MY BESTmacOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Punch Club 2: Fast ForwardLazy Bear GamesMicrosoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
I Am Future: Cozy Apocalypse SurvivalMandragoraMicrosoft Windows
Hello Neighbor: Search & RescueSteel Wool StudiosMicrosoft Windows, Meta Quest, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Hello Neighbor: Nicky's DiariesDeMagic GamesAndroid, iOS
2024KingmakersRedemption Road GamesMicrosoft Windows
SANDHologryph, TowerhausMicrosoft Windows
Level Zero: ExtractionDOGHOWL GamesMicrosoft Windows, Xbox, PlayStation
RawmenAnimalMicrosoft Windows
Train Valley WorldFlazmMicrosoft Windows, macOS
2025Of Ash and SteelFire & FrostMicrosoft Windows
TBATrash SailorsfluckyMachineMicrosoft Windows, Nintendo Switch
Pigeon SimulatorHakJak StudiosMicrosoft Windows

References

  1. "tinyBuild AIM Admission Document" (PDF). tinyBuild. March 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 10, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2021. https://52af9497-1a86-4620-9432-0a03a580926b.filesusr.com/ugd/df3962_92c3ea1727734ca0a8bf35f3d2f59b42.pdf

  2. Valentine, Rebekah (May 14, 2019). "TinyBuild: Development to publishing, and back again". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-05-14-tinybuild-development-to-publishing-and-back-again

  3. Muirhead, Calum (February 23, 2021). "Video game developer tinyBuild plans AIM float". Proactive Investors. Archived from the original on March 13, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021. https://www.proactiveinvestors.com/companies/news/942039/video-game-developer-tinybuild-plans-aim-float-942039.html

  4. Conditt, Jessica (November 17, 2015). "Meet the high school dropout paving the way for indie eSports". Engadget. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2021. https://www.engadget.com/2015-11-17-alex-nichiporchik-tinybuild-indie-esports.html

  5. Valentine, Rebekah (May 14, 2019). "TinyBuild: Development to publishing, and back again". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-05-14-tinybuild-development-to-publishing-and-back-again

  6. Valentine, Rebekah (May 14, 2019). "TinyBuild: Development to publishing, and back again". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-05-14-tinybuild-development-to-publishing-and-back-again

  7. Vincent, Brittany (June 20, 2017). "TinyBuild Games CEO claims they were scammed by a Russian publisher". PCGamesN. Archived from the original on December 2, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2021. https://www.pcgamesn.com/no-time-to-explain/tinybuild-dev-bullied-buka-entertainment

  8. Bishop, Samantha (July 18, 2015). "No Time to Explain sucked, tinyBuild's CEO explains why". GameZone. Archived from the original on March 13, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021. https://www.gamezone.com/news/no-time-to-explain-sucked-tinybuild-s-ceo-explains-why-3421671/

  9. Valentine, Rebekah (May 14, 2019). "TinyBuild: Development to publishing, and back again". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-05-14-tinybuild-development-to-publishing-and-back-again

  10. Sinclair, Brendan (December 1, 2014). "tinyBuild hires Mike Rose". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2014-12-01-tinybuild-hires-mike-rose

  11. Valentine, Rebekah (February 15, 2019). "TinyBuild raises $15 million in Series A funding". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-02-15-tinybuild-raises-usd15-million-in-series-a-funding

  12. Sinclair, Brendan (March 3, 2020). "TinyBuild opening new Boise studio with Guts and Glory developer". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on February 15, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-03-03-tinybuild-opening-new-boise-studio-with-guts-and-glory-developer

  13. Handrahan, Matthew (June 4, 2020). "Tinybuild: Indie publishers must move beyond "transactional relationships"". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-06-04-tinybuild-indie-publishers-need-to-move-beyond-transactional-relationships

  14. Blake, Vikki (March 31, 2020). "'Indie publishing is dead' says Hello Neighbor franchise co-founder". MCV/Develop. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021. https://www.mcvuk.com/business-news/indie-publishing-is-dead-says-hello-neighbor-franchise-co-founder/

  15. Takahashi, Dean (July 16, 2020). "TinyBuild acquires Hello Neighbor devs and will invest $15 million in franchise". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on July 16, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2020. https://venturebeat.com/2020/07/16/tinybuild-acquires-hello-neighbor-dev-team-and-will-invest-15-million-in-franchise/

  16. Takahashi, Dean (November 26, 2020). "TinyBuild invests $3 million in Secret Neighbor developer Hologryph". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on February 17, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2021. https://venturebeat.com/2020/11/26/tinybuild-invests-3-million-in-secret-neighbor-developer-hologryph/

  17. Batchelor, James (February 9, 2021). "TinyBuild acquires three studios". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on February 9, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-02-09-tinybuild-acquires-three-studios

  18. Muirhead, Calum (February 23, 2021). "Video game developer tinyBuild plans AIM float". Proactive Investors. Archived from the original on March 13, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021. https://www.proactiveinvestors.com/companies/news/942039/video-game-developer-tinybuild-plans-aim-float-942039.html

  19. Handrahan, Matthew (March 9, 2021). "TinyBuild launches £340m IPO". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on March 10, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-03-09-tinybuild-launches-340m-ipo

  20. McAloon, Alissa (August 19, 2021). "TinyBuild to 'acquihire' Rawmen developer Animal for up to $10.2 million". Gamasutra. Retrieved August 19, 2021. https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/387100/TinyBuild_to_acquihire_Rawmen_developer_Animal_for_up_to_102_million_.php

  21. "TinyBuild acquires Versus Evil and Red Cerberus in $31.3m deal". GamesIndustry.biz. November 23, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-23-tinybuild-acquires-versus-evil-and-red-cerberus-in-usd31-3m-deal

  22. "TinyBuild acquires Bossa Studios IPs for $3m". August 26, 2022. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/tinybuild-acquires-bossa-studios-ips-for-3m

  23. Ngan, Liv (December 6, 2023). "Layoffs reported at Hello Neighbor publisher TinyBuild". Eurogamer. https://www.eurogamer.net/layoffs-reported-at-hello-neighbor-publisher-tinybuild

  24. Stedman, Alex (December 22, 2023). "Indie Publisher Versus Evil Is Shutting Down, Entire Staff Laid Off". IGN. Retrieved December 22, 2023. https://www.ign.com/articles/indie-publisher-versus-evil-is-shutting-down-entire-staff-laid-off

  25. "Preliminary Unaudited Results to YE 31 Dec 2023". https://markets.ft.com/data/announce/detail?dockey=1323-16435136-3J00Q9D6EJN8A8QEJDSI5TNTG2

  26. "Preliminary Unaudited Results to YE 31 Dec 2023". https://markets.ft.com/data/announce/detail?dockey=1323-16435136-3J00Q9D6EJN8A8QEJDSI5TNTG2

  27. "The Bookwalker: Thief of Tales". Gamepressure. June 16, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024. https://www.gamepressure.com/games/the-bookwalker/z960b1