Certain Affinity

Certain Affinity is a North American AAA game-development studio founded in 2006 by former Bungie multiplayer lead Max Hoberman. The company develops original games and provides specialist co-development for large-scale action and multiplayer productions, with an emphasis on technical design, online systems and polished player experiences.

Its work spans long-running franchises and original projects. Certain Affinity has contributed multiplayer design, maps, modes, engineering and live support to multiple Halo releases, including Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 4, Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Halo Infinite. It has also supported entries in the Call of Duty franchise, as well as DOOM (2016), Left 4 Dead, Hogwarts Legacy and the console edition of World of Tanks.

Alongside co-development, the studio has developed original titles including the real-time strategy game Age of Booty and the cooperative action RPG Crimson Alliance. Its current work includes co-development on the sci-fi action-adventure title EXODUS with Archetype Entertainment, as well as work on the original sci-fi survival extraction shooter Last Expedition.

Development capabilities

Certain Affinity supports projects from early concept through post-launch operation. Its capabilities include:

• Creative direction, gameplay prototyping, systems and level design
• Multiplayer architecture, matchmaking, online gameplay engineering and live-service support
• Environment art, high-fidelity 3D modelling, animation, technical art, shaders and rigging
• Unreal Engine development, proprietary-engine integration and cross-platform engineering
• Quality assurance, performance profiling, optimisation, porting, remasters and remakes

The studio works across PC, Xbox and PlayStation, with experience in first-person shooters, third-person action games, real-time strategy and action RPG mechanics. Its operating model combines full-cycle development with focused co-development support, allowing it to contribute at pre-production, production, launch and ongoing live-operations stages.

In October 2024, Certain Affinity was acquired by Keywords Studios and joined its Create division. It continues to operate under the Certain Affinity brand as an active game-development studio.