HandyGames

www.handy-games.com GmbH, doing business as HandyGames, is a German video game developer and publisher based in Giebelstadt. In July 2018, the company was acquired by THQ Nordic.

www.handy-games.com GmbH
HandyGames
Subsidiary
IndustryVideo games
FoundedApril 25, 2000 (2000-04-25)[1]
Founders
  • Christopher Kassulke
  • Markus Kassulke
  • Udo Bausewein
Headquarters
Giebelstadt
,
Germany
Number of employees
60[2] (2020)
ParentTHQ Nordic (2018–present)
Websitehandy-games.com

History

The company was founded in 2000 by brothers Christopher and Markus Kassulke along with Udo Bausewein. In 2006, HandyGames released its first free, ad-funded game and began the gradual transition to a largely ad-funded business model. Since 2010, all new HandyGames mobile titles are either free or freemium. By 2014 HandyGames had 150,000 app downloads per month and more than 100 million downloads in total.[3]

In 2012, HandyGames expanded onto other platforms like PC or Smart TVs. In January 2014 and 2015, the company were main sponsors for the "HandyGames Charity Day" in Würzburg, which aimed to raise funds for cancer research. On both occasions the event was able to raise roughly 50000 Euros.[4][5]

HandyGames was one of the first companies to launch games for wearable technology in 2014.[6] The games are compatible with Android Wear devices, including the Moto 360 by Motorola, the Huawei Watch, the Sony SmartWatch and the LG G Watch.[7]

The company began developing VR (Virtual Reality) Games 2015 and released titles like "Hidden Temple – VR Adventure".[8] They can be played in 360° mode or in VR using one of the supported head-mounted displays like Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear VR, or Google Cardboard.[9] Simultaneously, HandyGames began developing games for the Eighth generation of video game consoles like the PlayStation 4, Xbox One[10] or later the Nintendo Switch.

On 9 July 2018, THQ Nordic announced that it had acquired HandyGames and all of its intellectual property. THQ Nordic said that the studio management and all employees remain with the company.[11][12]

Townsmen Expeditions (Working Title), which will mark the most recent entry in the Townsmen IP, received €150,000 development funding from Creative Europe.[13] As of June 2019, HandyGames employs 53 people.[14]

Awards
  • Deutscher Entwicklerpreis — Bestes Studio (Best German Studio)[15]

Games

2018-present
Title Platform Release date Developer
Aces of the Luftwaffe: Squadron Microsoft Windows July 24, 2018 HandyGames
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams - Owltimate Edition Nintendo Switch September 28, 2018 Black Forest Games
Townsmen Nintendo Switch November 9, 2018 HandyGames
Aces of the Luftwaffe: Squadron - Nebelgeschwader Microsoft Windows November 13, 2018 HandyGames
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Jagged Alliance: Rage! Microsoft Windows December 6, 2018 Cliffhanger Productions
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Clouds & Sheep 2 Nintendo Switch December 21, 2018 HandyGames
Dynamite Fishing: World Games Nintendo Switch December 21, 2018 HandyGames
Stunt Kite Party Nintendo Switch February 8, 2019 HandyGames
Rad Rodgers: Radical Edition Nintendo Switch February 26, 2019 Slipgate Studios
Townsmen: A Kingdom Rebuilt Microsoft Windows February 26, 2019 HandyGames
SpellForce: Heroes & Magic Android April 26, 2019 Hex Games
iOS
Stunt Kite Party Microsoft Windows June 7, 2019 HandyGames
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
ChessFinity Android July 4, 2019 Orkitec
iOS
Battle Chasers: Nightwar - Mobile Edition Android August 1, 2019 Airship Syndicate
iOS
This Is the Police 2 Android September 12, 2019 Weappy
iOS
Lock's Quest Android September 26, 2019 Digital Continue
iOS
Little Big Workshop Macintosh October 17, 2019 Mirage Game Studios
Microsoft Windows
Through the Darkest of Times Macintosh January 30, 2020 Paintbucket Games
Microsoft Windows
Townsmen: A Kingdom Rebuilt PlayStation 4 February 20, 2020 HandyGames
Xbox One
Townsmen: A Kingdom Rebuilt – The Seaside Empire Microsoft Windows February 20, 2020 HandyGames
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Spitlings Stadia February 25, 2020 Massive Miniteam
Rebel Cops Android April 23, 2020 Weappy
iOS
Through the Darkest of Times Android May 7, 2020 Paintbucket Games
iOS
Aces of the Luftwaffe: Squadron – Extended Edition Android 2020 HandyGames
iOS
Chicken Police: Paint it Red! Microsoft Windows 2020 The Wild Gentlemen
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
El Hijo Microsoft Windows 2020 Honig Studios
Pile Up! Microsoft Windows 2020 Seed by Seed
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Airhead Microsoft Windows 2021 Octato
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
A Rat’s Quest: The Way Back Home Microsoft Windows 2021 The Dreamerians
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Endling: Extinction is Forever Microsoft Windows 2021 Herobeat Studios
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
One Hand Clapping Android 2021 Bad Dream Games
iOS
Microsoft Windows
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Spitlings Microsoft Windows TBA Massive Miniteam
Nintendo Switch
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Townsmen VR HTC Vive TBA HandyGames
Oculus Rift
PlayStation VR

References
  1. "8th Birthday". GamesIndustry.biz. 25 April 2008.
  2. Fröhlich, Petra (10 January 2020). "Die größten Spiele-Entwickler in Deutschland 2020" [The largest game developers in Germany 2020]. GamesWirtschaft (in German).
  3. "Ins Spiel gebracht: Effektiv werben in Mobile Games von HandyGames". finanzen.ch. February 4, 2014.
  4. "Gummersbach kommt: Großer Handball-Benefiztag für Krebshilfe". mainpost.de. January 17, 2014.
  5. "HandyGames Charity Day 2015 – ein voller Erfolg". www.b4bmainfranken.de. February 2, 2015.
  6. "HandyGames' CEO on why he's looking to take a leading role in the world of wearables". pocketgamer.biz. August 26, 2014.
  7. "Handy Games on why it's backing smartwatch gaming not VR". pocketgamer.biz. November 19, 2014.
  8. "HandyGames released a VR Game on Google Play". www.androidpit.de. January 13, 2015.
  9. "Play Hidden Temple – VR Adventure with Google Cardboard". www.droidgamers.com. January 13, 2015.
  10. "Aces of the Luftwaffe Review – Bogeys Spotted PS4". www.playstationlifestyle.net. March 5, 2015.
  11. "What has 100 legs, is from Germany and has been acquired by THQ Nordic?". THQ Nordic. 9 July 2018.
  12. "THQ Nordic acquires the German game developer and publisher HandyGames". Embracer Group. 9 July 2018.
  13. "Game Play mit MEDIA – siebenstelliger Rekord für deutsche Projekte". www.creative-europe-desk.de. Creative Europe MEDIA. 9 October 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  14. Wingefors, Lars (27 August 2019). "THQ Nordic Annual Report 2018/19" (PDF). Cision.
  15. "HandyGames". Deutscher Entwicklerpreis.
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