Third Kind Games

Third Kind Games is a British AAA game-development and co-development studio founded in 2016 by nine former Activision and FreeStyleGames veterans. Headquartered in Royal Leamington Spa, the studio provides full-cycle development support for partners across PC, console, mobile, and Web3/cloud platforms.

Development capabilities

The studio combines engineering, art, design, production, and quality-assurance disciplines to support games from early development through launch and ongoing delivery. Its work includes client/server and systems architecture, graphics rendering, engine optimisation, gameplay programming, multiplatform porting, technical art and animation, VFX, rigging, and certification QA.

Third Kind Games works with Unreal Engine and Unity, with capabilities spanning:

• Gameplay, systems, level, and economy design
• 2D and 3D concept art, character and environment modelling
• Tool development, performance optimisation, and cross-platform engineering
• Functional, regression, and platform-certification testing

Projects and partnerships

Its co-development and engineering credits include Fable, Forza Horizon 4, Sea of Thieves, Hearthstone, Blankos Block Party, and Predecessor. The studio has also developed original projects including The DRG Initiative and MAVRIX, an open-world mountain-biking title made with Red Bull athlete Matt Jones.

Third Kind Games expanded its development presence with studios in Poland and Spain, supporting teams across its international operations. In August 2024, Virtuos acquired the company to establish a UK operational footprint. Third Kind Games continues to operate under its own brand and existing management team as a Virtuos Studio.

The company is legally registered as THIRD KIND GAMES LIMITED and remains active in interactive entertainment software development.