Hexworks

Hexworks is a video game development studio focused on dark fantasy action role-playing games. Established by CI Games in early 2020, it brings together development teams in Barcelona and Bucharest with distributed remote developers. Its work combines demanding combat, interconnected environments and the systems associated with the Souls-like genre.

The studio was created as CI Games brought development of its fantasy RPG franchise into an internal team, following earlier development efforts with external contractors. Production began in Barcelona in March 2020, with the Romanian team following a few weeks later. This structure gave the publisher an internal studio dedicated to developing its fantasy action-RPG projects.

Games and development

Hexworks' debut release, Lords of the Fallen (2023), reimagined the franchise using Unreal Engine 5. Released on October 13, 2023 for Windows PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, the game centres on two interconnected realms: Axiom, the world of the living, and Umbral, the world of the dead. Moving between these realms is integral to exploration and gameplay, making parallel-world design a defining feature of the production.

The studio's capabilities span game design, gameplay programming, systems engineering, environment and character art, animation, visual effects and sound design. Its production work also includes graphics optimization, technical maintenance and continued development after release.

Following the launch of Lords of the Fallen, Hexworks delivered numerous patches and larger updates addressing performance and expanding game features. These included the “Master of Fate” Version 1.5 update and subsequent Versions 1.6 and 1.7. The game surpassed one million units sold within ten days of release.

As of November 2026, Hexworks continues to support Lords of the Fallen while developing Lords of the Fallen II, internally known as Project 3. The studio remains part of CI Games, with its creative and engineering work organized around its two European development hubs.