Black River Studios
- Open roles
- 0
- Founded
- 2014
- Employees
- 51-200
- Offices
- 2
About Black River Studios
Black River Studios was a game development studio established in 2014 in Manaus, Brazil, within Sidia Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia. Conceived as Samsung’s first dedicated standalone game creation unit in Latin America, it combined consumer game production with research into immersive hardware and interactive experiences. Its work encompassed mobile games, virtual reality, augmented reality and multiplatform releases.
The studio debuted with Galaxy 11: Invasion, an Android endless runner developed for Samsung’s 2014 FIFA World Cup campaign. Between 2015 and 2018, its focus shifted toward content and experimental experiences for Samsung Gear VR and other immersive platforms. These projects explored photography puzzles, psychological storytelling, arcade action, science fiction and musical interaction.
Games and immersive experiences
Its VR catalogue included Finding Monsters Adventure, Rococo VR, Rock & Rails, Angest and the Conflict0 titles. These productions used different forms of interaction and narrative to explore the possibilities of mobile virtual reality. Magichestra extended this work to Windows Mixed Reality and Samsung HMD Odyssey through a musical conducting experience.
Black River Studios later expanded beyond Samsung-focused mobile and VR releases. In September 2020, it released Tin & Kuna, a 3D puzzle-platformer published by Aksys Games and Numskull Games for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC. Its later projects also included the augmented reality investigation game Holocrimes: AR Investigation and the mobile runner Os Aventureiros RUN.
The studio’s capabilities covered full-cycle game development, immersive interface design, real-time visual effects, shaders and hardware optimization, using Unity and Unreal Engine. Following its 2020–2021 releases, Sidia moved away from maintaining Black River Studios as a standalone consumer game brand and integrated its staff and technical assets into broader institutional research programmes. Its legacy remains part of Sidia’s documented history.
More about Black River Studios
Historical production leadership
- Recruitment and prototype development began in late 2013 under Executive Producer Fabien Collard, bringing together specialists from Brazil, the United States and the United Kingdom.
- Diego Prates de Andrade served as Executive Producer during the studio's 2019–2020 expansion. These are historical roles, rather than confirmed current appointments.
Creative collaboration and operating model
- Animation writer Martin Olson collaborated on the writing of Jake & Tess' Finding Monsters Adventure.
- The studio operated within a private nonprofit research institute. Sidia handled its employment, intellectual property administration, facilities and corporate contracting, while Samsung supported the institute through investment obligations under Brazil's Informatics Law.
Notable credits
13 creditsOffices
Where Black River Studios is based
- Avenida Darcy Vargas, 654, Parque Dez de Novembro, Manaus - AM, 69055-035, BrazilManaus, Amazonas, Brazil
Sidia Amazon Tower
HeadquartersPrimary physical operating studio within Sidia's central R&D campus. The campus remains active; the Black River Studios brand is dormant.
- Manaus, State of Amazonas, Brazil
Manaus office
Open roles
Find your next role at Black River Studios