Company:4J Studios
 | |
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Predecessor | VIS Entertainment |
| Founded | 19 April 2005 |
| Founders |
|
| Headquarters | Dundee , Scotland |
Key people | |
| Subsidiaries | Chroma Ventures |
| Website | 4jstudios |
4J Studios Limited is a British video game developer based in Dundee. It has a second office located in Edinburgh (previously in East Linton). Founded in April 2005 by VIS Entertainment alumni Chris van der Kuyl, Paddy Burns and Frank Arnot, the company is best known for porting Mojang Studios' Minecraft to consoles and handheld platforms.[1]
History
4J Studios was founded by Chris van der Kuyl, Paddy Burns and Frank Arnot on 19 April 2005, twelve days after van der Kuyl's previous video game venture, VIS Entertainment, entered into administration.[2][3] All three were previously employed by that company, with van der Kuyl as president and chief executive officer.[3][4]
In November 2012, co-founder and studio director Arnot announced that he had left 4J Studios to establish Stormcloud Games with co-workers Andy West and Pat McGovern.[5][6] In March 2018, 4J Studios invested a "six-figure sum" in Puny Astronaut, a Dundee-based developer founded by Abertay University alumni.[7] 4J Studios' van der Kuyl and Burns subsequently joined that company's board of directors, with van der Kuyl also becoming the chairman.[8] 4J Studios then opened an investment fund, Chroma Ventures, in March 2021, which absorbed the Puny Astronaut stake and invested in several other studios.
In October 2022, 4J Studios announced its intent to start publishing games, starting with Puny Astronaut's Skye Tales in 2023.[9] In October 2024, Curve Games picked up the publishing rights for Skye Tales and 4J's own Manic Mechanics.[10]
In May 2024, 4J Studios revealed a trailer of its next project, the Elements Engine, a proprietary 3D voxel sandbox game engine built from the ground up with world size and performance in mind.[11] With the announcement of the Elements Engine, they teased the development of a new video game using the engine.[12]
In September 2024, 4J Studios announced their new video game, Reforj, a voxel-based sandbox video game built on their Elements Engine.[13] The development team includes the Minecraft YouTuber Joseph Garrett (better known as Stampy).[14] Public playtests began in April 2025.[15]
Games
| Year | Title | Platform(s) | Publisher(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships | PlayStation 2, Xbox | Bethesda Softworks |
| 2006 | Star Trek: Encounters | PlayStation 2 | |
| 2007 | Software:The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (port) | PlayStation 3 | |
| Star Trek: Conquest | PlayStation 2, Wii | ||
| 2008 | AMF Bowling Pinbusters! | Nintendo DS | Vir2L Studios |
| Software:Overlord: Raising Hell (port) | PlayStation 3 | Codemasters | |
| Ducati Moto | Nintendo DS | Vir2L Studios | |
| Banjo-Kazooie (port) | Xbox 360 | Microsoft Game Studios | |
| 2009 | Banjo-Tooie (port) | ||
| Wuggle | iOS | 4J Studios | |
| Texas Wuggle | |||
| 2010 | Perfect Dark | Xbox 360 | Microsoft Game Studios |
| 2012 | Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition | Microsoft Studios | |
| 2013 | Minecraft: PlayStation 3 Edition | PlayStation 3 | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| 2014 | Minecraft: Xbox One Edition | Xbox One | Microsoft Studios |
| Minecraft: PlayStation 4 Edition | PlayStation 4 | Sony Computer Entertainment | |
| Minecraft: PlayStation Vita Edition | PlayStation Vita | ||
| 2015 | Minecraft: Wii U Edition | Wii U | Mojang |
| 2017 | Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition | Nintendo Switch | |
| 2023 | Manic Mechanics | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | 4J Studios |
| TBA | Reforj | PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S |
Cancelled
- Goldeneye 007 (Xbox 360, Microsoft Game Studios)
References
- ↑ Sarkar, Samit (6 November 2014). "Microsoft officially owns Minecraft and developer Mojang now". https://www.polygon.com/2014/11/6/7167349/microsoft-owns-minecraft-mojang-acquisition-closes.
- ↑ "New State of Emergency declared as Glasgow firm takes on game". 1 May 2005. https://www.scotsman.com/business/new-state-emergency-declared-glasgow-firm-takes-game-2454502.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Games company 4J enjoys year of profit". 2 August 2011. https://www.heraldscotland.com/business_hq/13033994.games-company-4j-enjoys-year-of-profit/.
- ↑ Elliott, Phil (August 12, 2008). "4J's Chris van der Kuyl". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/4j-s-chris-van-der-kuyl.
- ↑ Gera, Emily (13 November 2012). "Minecraft XBLA and Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion developers form Stormcloud Games studio". https://www.polygon.com/2012/11/13/3639528/minecraft-xbla-and-elder-scrolls-4-oblivion-developers-form.
- ↑ Weber, Rachel (13 November 2012). "New studio Storm Cloud launches in Scotland". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012-11-13-new-studio-storm-cloud-launches-in-scotland.
- ↑ Kerr, Chris (15 March 2018). "Minecraft console edition dev invests in Scottish studio Puny Astronaut". https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/315559/Minecraft_console_edition_dev_invests_in_Scottish_studio_Puny_Astronaut.php.
- ↑ Dring, Christopher (15 March 2018). "4J Studios invests 'six-figure sum' in Scottish indie dev Puny Astronaut". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2018-03-15-4j-studios-invests-six-figure-sum-in-scottish-indie-dev-puny-astronaut.
- ↑ "Curve joins forces with 4J - Skye Tales & Manic Mechanics" (in en-GB). https://curvegames.com/news/curve-joins-forces-with-4j-skye-tales-manic-mechanics/.
- ↑ "Curve joins forces with 4J - Skye Tales & Manic Mechanics" (in en-GB). https://curvegames.com/news/curve-joins-forces-with-4j-skye-tales-manic-mechanics/.
- ↑ "4J Studios Teases New Voxel-Based 'Elements' Engine". 30 May 2024. https://scottishgames.net/2024/05/30/4j-studios-teases-new-voxel-based-elements-engine/.
- ↑ 4JStudios (2024-05-22). Introducing... the Elements Engine. Retrieved 2024-09-25 – via YouTube.
{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ Director, Graham Smith Deputy Editorial; Smith, Graham (2024-09-19). "Minecraft console developer 4J Studios are making Reforj, their own open world survival game" (in en). Rock, Paper, Shotgun. https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/minecraft-console-developer-4j-studios-are-making-reforj-their-own-open-world-survival-game.
- ↑ MacDonald, Ben (23 May 2024). "Dundee Waterfront recreated in 3D as games firm teases fans with 'Minecraft 2.0'". https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/dundee/4988656/4j-studios-stampy-cat-new-game/.
- ↑ "New sandbox game Reforj is basically Minecraft 2, and its playtest is now live". PC Games N. 30 Apr 2025. https://www.pcgamesn.com/reforj/playtest-signup-minecraft-2.
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