Fat Kraken Studios
- Open roles
- 0
- Founded
- 2016
- Employees
- 1-10
- Offices
- 1
About Fat Kraken Studios
Fat Kraken Studios is an independent game development and co-development studio based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. Founded in November 2016, it works with external developers and publishers on console and PC games, providing creative and production support from pre-production through release. Its work centres on game design, level design, scripting and 3D environment art.
The studio operates primarily as a co-development and work-for-hire partner. It supports projects through creative prototyping, campaign development, environment production and consultancy, with additional capabilities in department leadership, creative direction and release management. Its services accommodate collaborations with both small development teams and larger studios.
Design and development
Fat Kraken's design capabilities cover the development of campaigns and individual levels, including blockout, balancing and scripting. Its environment art work encompasses 3D modelling, look development, worldbuilding and set dressing. These disciplines allow the studio to contribute both to how a game plays and to the environments in which that play takes place.
The studio's reported platform experience includes PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC. Its commercial focus is on supporting other studios' games through a combination of hands-on development, specialist production and external creative guidance.
Selected work
A central project in the studio's portfolio is Oddworld: Soulstorm, released in 2021. Working with Oddworld Inhabitants and Frima Studio, Fat Kraken contributed game design, level design and environment art during a multi-year collaboration.
Its involvement also extended to two additional campaigns, Toby's Escape and Vykkers Labs. Fat Kraken fully conceptualized, designed and scripted both, taking responsibility for dedicated playable content beyond its contributions to the main release. These projects illustrate the studio's work across individual production disciplines and complete campaign development.
More about Fat Kraken Studios
Founders and leadership
The studio was founded by four former Just Add Water colleagues: Brett Craig Lewis, Ryan Buck, Matt Glanville and Martin William Akehurst. Before establishing the company, they had collaborated on Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty! and Alf's Escape and worked together remotely on early development of Oddworld: Soulstorm.
Brett Craig Lewis is the sole active director as of the research date. Glanville resigned his directorship in April 2018, Buck in January 2019 and Akehurst in July 2023.
Industry and education
Fat Kraken is a member of Game Republic, the regional games industry association. Founder Brett Lewis has described relationships with Leeds University and the College, including friendships with lecturers and visits to give guest lectures on their courses.
Notable credits
3 creditsOffices
Where Fat Kraken Studios is based
- Leeds, England, United Kingdom
Leeds office
HeadquartersAbout this office
Sole operating headquarters, handling design, co-development and corporate operations. The registered office is at 31 Harrogate Road, Leeds, LS7 3PD; the report does not separately establish the operational premises' street address.
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