Frame Machine

Frame Machine is an independent American game co-development, real-time animation, and visual effects studio based in Santa Monica, California. Founded in 2011, it works across AAA interactive entertainment, combining creative development with technical production for gameplay, cinematics, and game marketing content.

Its capabilities span level design, interactive mechanics, Unreal Engine integration, technical art, and in-engine storytelling. Animation services include keyframe and performance animation, character and creature animation, real-time cutscenes, and trailer cinematics. Its visual effects and lighting work encompasses particle systems, shaders, volumetric atmospheric effects, and lighting built for real-time environments. Concept art, environment design, hard-surface modeling, and character rigging support the development of characters, settings, and visual worlds.

Game development and cinematic work

Frame Machine’s contribution to Returnal, developed by Housemarque and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, included designing and producing the first-person “House” story levels and their real-time cutscenes. The assignment brought together interactive level development and psychological narrative sequences within the game itself.

Other credited projects include Fortnite, its live events and Fortnite Festival, alongside Hogwarts Legacy, Call of Duty: Warzone, Cyberpunk 2077, and several Mortal Kombat titles. Its portfolio also includes cinematic, animation, technical art, or co-development contributions to LEGO 2K Drive, Judas, Fable, Back 4 Blood, and Injustice 2. These assignments reflect work across gameplay production, visual development, and cinematic presentation rather than a single production discipline.

Original worlds and publishing

Alongside client production, Frame Machine develops original entertainment properties through Space Engine, its internal intellectual property label. This initiative connects graphic novels, comics, animation, and video game concepts within broader story worlds.

Projects include Shatterforce, a science-fiction and fantasy property encompassing a graphic novel and Unreal Engine 5 action role-playing game development, and 18 Days, a mythological transmedia project associated with Grant Morrison. The original-content work extends the studio’s art and storytelling capabilities beyond individual game production assignments.