Company:Room 8 Group
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video game development |
| Founded | 2011 in Sevastopol, Ukraine |
| Founder | Sviatoslav Pohrebnoi |
Key people | Sviatoslav Pohrebnoi (founder, board member), Anna Kozlova (CEO) |
| Services | Game development, art production |
Number of employees | 1,100+ (2025[1]) |
| Website | www |
Room 8 Group is an international video game development company that provides co-development, art, trailers, and quality assurance (QA) services. The company has collaborated with major publishers such as Microsoft, Nintendo, Ubisoft, Sony, Gameloft, Take-Two Interactive, Electronic Arts, and others. Room 8 Group co-created projects for video game IPs and franchises including Call of Duty, Diablo, Assassin's Creed, Star Trek, The Walking Dead, Doctor Who, and more.
History
The company was founded in 2011 in Sevastopol, Ukraine, by Sviatoslav Pohrebnoi.[1][2] Initially operating as a development studio, it released its first co-developed titles and grew to a team of 30 employees. In 2013, Room 8 Studio was established, and the company released Cyto's Puzzle Adventure,[3][4] which was listed among the Best New Games on the App Store in 68 countries.[2]
In 2014, the company worked on projects such as Cookie Jam, World of Tanks, Piano City, and Mahjong Journey.[5][6] In 2016, it expanded into porting and video production, obtained certification from PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, and worked on games based on franchises such as Family Guy, Power Rangers, Kubo, and Independence Day.[7][2]
In 2018 the company began its global expansion, uniting multiple studios and broadening its focus, becoming Room 8 Group. It then established the co-development studio Dragons Lake.[8] That year the company co-developed various AAA projects, contributing to titles such as Indivisible for 505 Games, Call of Duty: Cold War, and Fall Guys.[9][10]
Between 2020 and 2021, the company launched an Art Direction & Visual Development division and opened a hub in Montreal, Canada.[11] It also worked on BBC Studios' Doctor Who and Remedy Entertainment's project, Control.[2][12] In 2022, Room 8 Group began providing IP Game Development services and acquired a US-based studio, Massive Black.[13] It also launched a QA division and opened a production hub in Poland.[14][15] The company acquired Brazil-based creative studio PUGA Studios[16][17][18] and grew to over 1,000 employees.[19]
In 2023, Room 8 Group established Heroic, a trailers and cinematics studio.[20][21] That year the company worked on projects such as Alan Wake 2,[22] Dead Space,[23] Diablo IV,[24] Forza Motorsport, Software:Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Hello Kitty Island Adventure, Apex Legends, Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, Software:Metal: Hellsinger,[25] and The Quarry,[26][27][28] and was shortlisted in the Creative/Co-Development Partner of the Year category at the MCV/Develop Awards.[29]
In 2024, the company finalized the integration of Massive Black and PUGA Studios.[30] It joined industry organizations TIGA and UKIE,[31] and was shortlisted for several awards at the MCV/Develop Awards,[32] TIGA Awards, and Develop: Star Awards.[33] It won the Best Service Provider award at the Mobile Games Awards[34] and the Commitment to ESG award at the TIGA Awards.[35] In 2024, Room 8 Group worked on over 320 projects, including Software:Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Software:Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, Software:Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Crusader Kings III.[36][37][38]
Activities
The company worked with partners across 30 countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Sweden, South Korea, and Brazil. Partnerships include Activision, Quantic Dream, Machine Games, Krafton EU, Paradox Interactive, Blizzard Entertainment, Compulsion Games, Ubisoft, Electronic Arts, Nintendo, Gameloft, Xbox Game Studios, Unity, Intel, Sony, SEGA, Amazon Games, and Riot Games.[39][40][9][24]
It worked in partnership to provide co-development and technology services on titles like Redline Royale, Dead by Daylight, Life is Strange, Godfall, Bulletstorm, Angry Birds, Outriders, Lords of the Fallen, and more.[1]
Room 8 Group's art division worked on franchises such as Call of Duty, Overwatch, Diablo, and more.[41][1] Room 8 Group has been recognized for its contributions to game art and animation, being shortlisted for industry awards such as the TIGA Awards and Develop: Star Awards.[35][33]
Public activities
Humanitarian aid in Ukraine
Since 2020 Room 8 Group has supported various humanitarian relief efforts in Ukraine.[42][43] In 2023, Room 8 Group provided financial assistance for humanitarian efforts in Ukraine following the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam. The company donated $50,000 to the charity funds Rescue Now and UAnimals to support relief operations in the Kherson region. Rescue Now facilitated evacuations, provided accommodation, and delivered humanitarian aid, including the installation of two water purification stations in the Dnipropetrovsk region, supplying clean drinking water to over 15,000 people. UAnimals focused on rescuing and caring for animals affected by the floods, using the funds to purchase a dedicated evacuation truck to transport displaced animals to safe locations across Ukraine.[44] In 2024, Room 8 Group contributed $12,000 (500,000 UAH) to aid in the reconstruction of Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital in Kyiv after it was severely damaged by a missile strike. The company's specialists also took part in the rebuilding initiative.[45][46][47]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Takahashi, Dean (2025-02-25). "Room 8 Group hires game dev and tech leaders and consolidates brands" (in en-US). https://venturebeat.com/games/room-8-group-hires-game-dev-and-tech-leaders-and-consolidates-brands/.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Room 8 Studio: The Games That Shaped Them" (in en). 2021-06-30. https://80.lv/articles/the-life-and-development-process-at-room-8-studio/.
- ↑ "Cyto's Puzzle Adventure - Breaking Out and Evolving Ideas" (in en-US). 2013-10-31. https://www.gamesauce.biz/purehtml/2013/10/31/cyto-puzzle-adventure-breaking-out-and-evolving-ideas/.
- ↑ "Украинская мобильная игра Cyto выходит на западные рынки" (in ru). https://ain.ua/ru/2013/03/19/ukrainskaya-mobilnaya-igra-cyto-vyxodit-na-zapadnye-rynki/.
- ↑ "Room 8 Studio- Why Every Game Developer Should Consider Outsourcing on Cubebrush.co". https://cubebrush.co/blog/room-8-studio--why-every-game-developer-should-consider-outsourcing.
- ↑ "Музыкальная игра украинской студии взорвала App Store" (in ru). https://ain.ua/ru/2014/10/14/muzykalnaya-igra-ukrainskoj-studii-vzorvala-app-store/.
- ↑ "Room 8 Group запускає нову студію з виробництва трейлерів — Heroic. Більшість команди з України" (in uk). https://gamedev.dou.ua/news/room-8-group-new-heroic-studio/.
- ↑ Valentine, Rebekah (2019-03-01). "Room 8 Group announces new independent co-development studio" (in en). https://www.gamesindustry.biz/room-8-group-announces-new-independent-co-development-studio.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Room 8 Studio оголосила про зміни у структурі компанії" (in uk). https://gamedev.dou.ua/news/room-8-structural-change/.
- ↑ Konstantinov, Pavel (2024-10-04). "Best Game Companies in Ukraine" (in en-US). https://retrostylegames.com/blog/best-game-companies-in-ukraine/.
- ↑ Sinclair, Brendan (2021-06-30). "Room 8 Studio opening Montreal location" (in en). https://www.gamesindustry.biz/room-8-studio-opening-montreal-location.
- ↑ Tupikov, Kostiantyn (2022-08-31). "Room 8 Group Opens Two New Offices in CEE" (in en-US). https://itkey.media/room-8-group-opens-two-new-offices-in-cee/.
- ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-28). "Room 8 acquires Massive Black" (in en). https://www.gamesindustry.biz/room-8-acquires-massive-black.
- ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2023-03-20). "Room 8 unveils Highlight QA" (in en). https://www.gamesindustry.biz/room-8-unveils-highlight-qa.
- ↑ "Producent gier Room 8 Group otwiera biuro w Warszawie. I w kilku innych krajach europejskich" (in pl). https://dou.eu/community/posts/room8group-in-poland.
- ↑ Rees, Lewis (2022-11-01). "Room 8 Group closes acquisition of Brazil-based creative studio PUGA Studios" (in en). https://www.pocketgamer.biz/room-8-group-closes-acquisition-of-brazil-based-creative-studio-puga-studios/.
- ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-04-28). "Room 8 to acquire PUGA Studios" (in en). https://www.gamesindustry.biz/room-8-to-acquire-puga-studios.
- ↑ "Ukrainian game developer Room 8 Group acquires Brazilian PUGA Studios" (in en). https://en.ain.ua/2022/05/02/room-8-group-acquires-puga-studios/.
- ↑ "Top 25 game development companies of Ukraine" (in en). https://mezha.media/en/2023/05/30/top-25-game-development-companies-of-ukraine/.
- ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2023-03-01). "Room 8 unveils new production studio Heroic" (in en). https://www.gamesindustry.biz/room-8-unveils-new-production-studio-heroic.
- ↑ Rees, Lewis (2023-03-02). "Room 8 Group unveils trailer and cinematic production studio Heroic" (in en). https://www.pocketgamer.biz/room-8-group-unveils-trailer-and-cinematic-production-studio-heroic/.
- ↑ "Українська студія Room 8 поділилася зображеннями моделей, які створила для Alan Wake 2" (in uk). 2024-04-11. https://players.com.ua/news/ukrayinska-room-8-podilylasya-zobrazhennyamy-modelej-yaki-stvoryla-dlya-alan-wake-2/.
- ↑ "Що саме робила українська команда Room 8 Studio для ремейку Dead Space" (in uk). https://gamedev.dou.ua/news/room-8-studio-work-in-dead-space-remake/.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Персонажі, татуювання та зброя. Room 8 показала свій внесок у розробку Diablo IV" (in uk). https://gamedev.dou.ua/news/room-8-work-on-diablo-4/.
- ↑ "The whole universe has a rhythm: як українські розробники з Room 8 Studio допомагали створювати Metal: Hellsinger" (in uk). https://gamedev.dou.ua/blogs/room-8-about-metal-hellsinger-creation/.
- ↑ "[From the industry Room 8 Group announces strategic partnership with Audiogroup to elevate game development services"] (in en). MCV. 2024-08-16. ISSN 1469-4832. https://mcvuk.com/business-news/from-the-industry-room-8-group-announces-strategic-partnership-with-audiogroup-to-elevate-game-development-services/.
- ↑ "Call of Duty and Dead Space Art Producer: Game Art Production" (in en). 2023-05-26. https://80.lv/articles/call-of-duty-and-dead-space-art-producer-game-art-production-from-the-inside/.
- ↑ "Room 8 Studio опублікувала концепт-арти персонажів, створені для Redfall" (in uk). https://gamedev.dou.ua/news/room-8-redfall/.
- ↑ Pavey, Vince (2023-04-12). "Here are the finalists for the 2023 MCV/DEVELOP Awards!" (in en). MCV. ISSN 1469-4832. https://mcvuk.com/business-news/here-are-the-finalists-for-the-2023-mcv-develop-awards/.
- ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2024-02-08). "Room 8 Group finalizes integration of Massive Black and PUGA" (in en). https://www.gamesindustry.biz/room-8-group-finalizes-integration-of-massive-black-and-puga.
- ↑ "Ukie". https://ukie.org.uk/members/room-8-group.
- ↑ Shoemaker, Richie (2024-09-12). "The shortlist for the 2024 MCV/DEVELOP Awards!" (in en). MCV. ISSN 1469-4832. https://mcvuk.com/business-news/events/the-shortlist-for-the-2024-mcv-develop-awards/.
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 "Develop:Star Awards 2024 Finalists Announced" (in en). https://www.developconference.com/latest-news/developstar-awards-2024-finalists-announced.
- ↑ "Mobile Games Awards 2024 - Winners and finalists" (in en). https://www.pocketgamer.biz/mga2024/winners/best-service-provider/.
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 "TIGA Games Industry Awards 2024 Winners & Runners UP" (in en-GB). 2024-11-30. https://invisioncommunity.co.uk/tiga-games-industry-awards-2024-winners-runners-up/.
- ↑ "Ukrainian developers from Room 8 Studio got into the credits of the game Indiana Jones and the Great Circle" (in uk). 2024-12-28. https://newssky.com.ua/en/ukrayinski-rozrobnyky-z-room-8-studio-potrapyly-v-tytry-gry-indiana-jones-and-the-great-circle/.
- ↑ "Українська Room 8 Group працювала над Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. До проєкту залучили 58 фахівців" (in uk). https://gamedev.dou.ua/news/room-worked-on-black-ops-6/.
- ↑ "Everything is Grander in New Expansion for Crusader Kings III on Console" (in en). https://www.paradoxinteractive.com/media/press-releases/press-release/everything-is-grander-in-new-expansion-for-crusader-kings-iii-on-console.
- ↑ "Украинская компания Room 8 показала свою работу над игрой Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope от Ubisoft" (in ru-UA). https://dev.ua/ru/news/room-8-mario-1700559141.
- ↑ "Українська компанія Room 8 показала свою роботу над грою Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope від Ubisoft" (in uk-UA). https://dev.ua/news/room-8-mario-1700559141.
- ↑ "Celebrating Ukrainian Game Developers with Xbox Game Camp" (in en-US). 2024-11-07. https://news.microsoft.com/en-cee/2024/11/07/celebrating-ukrainian-game-developers-with-xbox-game-camp/.
- ↑ Kaser, Rachel (2022-03-08). "Room 8 Group will donate its 2022 net profit to Ukrainian relief" (in en-US). https://venturebeat.com/games/room-8-group-will-donate-its-2022-net-profit-to-ukrainian-relief/.
- ↑ ""Ігри закінчились". Як спільнота геймерів та розробників об'єдналась для допомоги Україні" (in uk). 2022-03-10. https://www.holosameryky.com/a/6479294.html.
- ↑ "For free wings and curious noses: meet the laureates of the 2024 Animal Protection Award" (in en-US). 2024-04-03. https://uanimals.org/en/uncategorized/doing-it-all-for-the-sake-of-free-wings-and-inquisitive-noses-we-introduce-the-winners-of-the-ukrainian-animal-protection-award-2024/.
- ↑ "Українська Room 8 Group пожертвувала 500 тисяч гривень на відновлення «Охматдиту» після російської атаки" (in uk). https://gamedev.dou.ua/news/room-8-donate-to-ohmatdyt/.
- ↑ "Скільки великий бізнес задонатив на Охматдит?" (in uk). 2024-07-10. https://mig.com.ua/skilky-velykyj-biznes-zadonatyv-na-okhmatdyt/.
- ↑ "Як ІТ-компанії підтримували військо у 2024 році. Фінансовий аналіз AIN" (in uk). https://special.ain.ua/donation-it-2024-ain/.
