Kepler Interactive is a video game publisher founded in September 2021. Based in London and Singapore, it is co-owned by a group of independent game developers. Its published games include Tchia, Scorn, and Sifu.

Kepler Interactive
IndustryVideo games
FoundedSeptember 29, 2021; 3 years ago (2021-09-29)
Headquarters
Key people
Alexis Garavaryan (CEO)
Websitekepler-interactive.com

History

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Kepler Interactive was founded in September 2021 by CEO Alexis Garavaryan, the co-founder behind Kowloon Nights, a game development fund.[2] Self-described as a "super developer" publishing group, Kepler was initially co-owned by seven independent studios: A44 (known for developing Ashen), Alpha Channel, Awaceb, Ebb Software, Shapefarm, Sloclap (known for developing Absolver) and Timberline Studio. Each participating studio had "equal say" on the publishing label's decision-making process and were able to share resources and financial gains, but Kepler itself will not interefere with the operations of each studio, allowing them to stay independent.[3][4] Kepler received $120 million in funding from Chinese gaming company NetEase, which became a minority shareholder.[1] The studio's revenue reached $50 million in 2022, boosted by the release of Ebb Software's Scorn and Sloclap's Sifu.[5]

In 2023, Kepler also launched Kepler Ghost, a white-label publishing service, providing marketing and publishing for game developers. Eternights from Studio Sai was the first video game project to benefit from this program.[6] Additional developers, including The Gentlebros (the developer behind the Cat Quest series) and new studio Sandfall Interactive also joined Kepler.[5] It also partnered with Ironwood Studios for the publishing and release of Pacific Drive.[7]

Games published

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Year Title Platform(s) Developer Ref
2022 Sifu Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S Sloclap
Scorn Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S Ebb Software
2023 Tchia Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S Awaceb
2024 Ultros Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 Hadoque [8]
Pacific Drive Windows, PlayStation 5 Ironwood Studios
Cat Quest III Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S The Gentlebros
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S A44
2025 Bionic Bay Windows, PlayStation 5 Mureena, Psychoflow Studio [9]
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S Sandfall Interactive [10]

Games published via Kepler Ghost

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Year Title Platform(s) Developer Ref
2023 Eternights Windows, Playstation 4, Playstation 5 Studio Sai
En Garde! Windows Fireplace Games
Apocalypse Party Windows Breaker Games
Battle Shapers Windows Metric Empire
2024 Windblown Windows Motion Twin [11]
Unrailed 2: Back on Track Windows, macOS, Linux Indoor Astronaut [12]

References

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  1. ^ a b Mukherjee, Supantha (September 28, 2023). "Gaming company Kepler raises $120 mln from China's NetEase". Reuters. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  2. ^ Partis, Danielle (September 29, 2021). "Publisher Kepler Interactive launches, raises $120m". Gameindustry.biz. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  3. ^ Partis, Danielle (October 14, 2021). "Introducing Kepler Interactive, a publisher run by independent developers". Gameindustry.biz. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  4. ^ Denzer, TJ (September 28, 2021). "Kepler Interactive 'super developer' publisher group formed with $120m in funding". Shacknews. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Kaser, Rachel (March 17, 2023). "Kepler Interactive begins 2023 with new partnerships". VentureBeat. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  6. ^ Rousseau, Jeffery (March 17, 2023). "Kepler Interactive hits $50m in 2022 and unveils new partnerships". Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  7. ^ Romano, Sal (June 10, 2023). "Pacific Drive to be published by Kepler Interactive". Gematsu. Archived from the original on June 10, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  8. ^ Donnelly, Joe (2024-02-12). "Ultros review: 'A drop-dead gorgeous head trip of a Metroidvania game set in a cosmic uterus sarcophagus'". GamesRadar. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
  9. ^ Reuben, Nic. "Cinematic platformer Bionic Bay is incredibly impressive even beyond its 250,000 pixel trees". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  10. ^ Valentine, Rebekah (June 10, 2024). "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 From Sandfall Interactive Announced for 2025". IGN. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  11. ^ Evans-Thirlwell, Edwin (2023-12-08). "Dead Cells creators Motion Twin reveal cute and gory new roguelike Windblown". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  12. ^ Romano, Sal (2023-11-30). "Unrailed! 2: Back on Track announced for PC". Gematsu. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
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