Playtonic Games

Playtonic Games is a British independent video game developer. It was founded in 2014 and it consists in large part of former members of Rare.

Not to be confused with Playtronic.

Playtonic Games Limited
TypePrivate
IndustryVideo games
Founded2014 (2014)
Founders
  • Steve Hurst
  • Steve Mayles
  • Gavin Price
  • Jens Restemeier
  • Mark Stevenson
  • Chris Sutherland
Headquarters
Derby
,
England
Key people
Gavin Price (studio head)
OwnerTencent (minority stake)
DivisionsPlaytonic Friends
Websiteplaytonicgames.com

History

Playtonic Games was founded in late 2014 by Steve Hurst, Steve Mayles, Gavin Price, Jens Restemeier, Mark Stevenson, and Chris Sutherland, all of whom previously worked at Rare.[1][2] Of the founders, Price assumed the role of studio head.[2] They were joined by Grant Kirkhope and Steven Hurst. The first game the company worked on was codenamed "Project Ukulele", which was described as a spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie.[2] The team launched a Kickstarter campaign for the project, and it managed to reach the stretch goal of US$1 million within 24 hours.[3] In part due to the campaign's success, the team's attention was often diverted to other aspects such as making merchandise items instead of focusing on game's development, and some choices related to game development were forced as well due to them being promised in the campaign.[4]

Project Ukulele was unveiled as the 3D platformer Yooka-Laylee, which was released in 2017 to mixed critical reviews.[5] Playtonic followed up on Yooka-Laylee with Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair, their second game, a 2.5D spinoff. While bearing similarities with the Donkey Kong Country series, the team opted not to use the moniker "spiritual successor" to market the game, unlike with Yooka-Laylee.[6] Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair was released in 2019 to a more positive reception than Yooka-Laylee.

Playtonic Games announced the rebranding of their company name to "Playtonic" and the launch of a publishing division, Playtonic Friends, in February 2021, with three titles under development from partner studios Awe Interactive, Fabraz, and Okidokico.[7] On 26 March 2021, Playtonic Friends' revealed their first game, Demon Turf, developed by Fabraz.[8] On 29 April 2021, Playtonic Friends's announced their next game, BPM: Bullets Per Minute, would be released in 2021 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.[9] On 19 May 2021, Playtonic announced A Little Golf Journey, to be released on PCs and Nintendo Switch and developed by Okidokico.[10]

Tencent acquired a minority stake in Playtonic in November 2021.[11]

Games developed
YearGamePlatform(s)Publisher
2017Yooka-LayleeLinux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox OneTeam17
2019Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible LairMicrosoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Games published as Playtonic Friends
YearGamePlatform(s)Developer
2021Demon TurfMicrosoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5Fabraz
BPM: Bullets Per MinuteMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox OneAwe Interactive
A Little Golf JourneyMicrosoft Windows, Nintendo SwitchOkidokico
2022Lil Gator Game Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/SMegawobble
Blossom Tales 2: The Minotaur Prince Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S Castle Pixel
Victory Heat Rally Microsoft Windows, Nintendo SwitchSkydevilplam
2023 ElsieKnight Shift Games

References
  1. Handrahan, Matthew (11 February 2015). "Rare veterans form Playtonic Games". Gameindustry.biz. Archived from the original on 27 July 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  2. "Rare talent: inside the studio building Banjo-Kazooie's spiritual successor". The Guardian. 12 April 2015. Archived from the original on 1 May 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  3. Phillips, Tom (1 May 2015). "Playtonic launches £175k Yooka-Laylee Kickstarter campaign". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 27 July 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  4. Dealessandri, Marie (14 July 2019). "When We Made… Yooka-Laylee". Archived from the original on 16 July 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  5. Garst, Aron (17 July 2019). ""I guess things have moved on so much since then" - Playtonic recounts the setbacks they ran into when launching Yooka-Laylee". GamesRadar. Archived from the original on 27 July 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  6. Dring, Christopher (14 June 2019). "Playtonic: "We are never using the term spiritual successor again"". Gameindustry.biz. Archived from the original on 16 June 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  7. Dring, Christopher (12 February 2021). "Yooka-Laylee developer Playtonic launches publishing division". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  8. "Playtonic Friends Presents: Demon Turf". 26 March 2021.
  9. "Playtonic Friends Presents: BPM: Bullets per Minute". 29 April 2021.
  10. "Playtonic Friends Presents: A Little Golf Journey". 19 May 2021.
  11. Phillips, Tom (18 November 2021). "Tencent buys stake in Yooka-Laylee studio Playtonic". Eurogamer. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
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