New Indie Publisher ‘The CoLab’ Launches, Calls For Rebellion Against The Industry’s Status Quo
Games veterans begin their mission of counter revolution against ongoing negative industry trends, and reveal their first slate of curated titles due for release in 2025
London, UK - April 2nd, 2025 - UK-based indie games publisher, The CoLab, officially launched today, setting out a positive vision and mission that runs counter to the many current negative trends in the wider games industry. The CoLab is dedicated to revitalising the joy and collaborative spirit in game development & publishing by providing a supportive, nurturing, and empowering environment where creativity can flourish and unique titles can find their audiences.
Established by a close team of experienced and passionate industry experts, including eSports and indie games veteran, Darren Newnham (formerly of United Label, Fnatic, and Disney Interactive), Mark Faulkner (of Jagex, PlayFusion, Bossa Games, T-Mobile) and John Lewis (Codemasters, Criterion).
The CoLab champions quality over quantity, ensuring every game signed has the best chance of becoming a commercial - and critically acclaimed - success through a mixture of collaboration and integrity, teamed with a wealth of industry knowledge and experience.
The CoLab has also announced its first curated set of titles that embody the company’s values:
Campfire (not final name!) - A cosy, safe place under the stars where you can gather around a campfire and become part of a collective story, sharing emotions and listening to the echoes of other people’s past thoughts.
DeadWire - a fast-paced top-down cyberpunk shooter, where you can create devastating chain reactions to outwit enemies, break records and save your childhood mentor from a ruthless syndicate.
Counter Clash - a lighthearted, cosy but action-packed strategy game, where players can choose their faction and hero, build and defend their base, train and upgrade troops and find the right strategy to defeat their opponents.
As part of their commitment to ethics, teamwork and transparency, The CoLab has partnered with UK charity Safe in Our World, to create and foster worldwide mental health awareness within the video game industry and ensure that all staff feel secure and protected in their roles.
Darren Newnham, CEO, The CoLab, said: “It’s time for a rebellion! We stand for cooperation and collaboration in an industry that desperately needs it. Recent trends, such as mass redundancies driven by ‘greedflation’, have underscored the need for a paradigm shift. Publishers often prioritise shareholder value over the needs of gamers, leading to a cycle of unfinished games released at inflated prices, while developers have faced challenges including cancellations, unpaid work, and even loss of intellectual property.
“The CoLab’s aim is to help effect change with a counter revolution in vision. We unite innovative game creators, share resources, and empower developers to thrive in a highly competitive market. Our goal is to make every developer who joins The CoLab an integral part of our collective, fostering a supportive environment that promotes long-term relationships and rewarding returns.”
With more titles coming in 2025 and a slate being filled for 2026, The CoLab also plans to introduce a series of industry-leading developer knowledge sharing sessions, with the first of these planned to land later in the year.
For more information about The CoLab, please visit www.thecolabgames.com
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Press Contact: Poppy Byron - Head of PR press@thecolabgames.com
About The CoLab
The CoLab is an indie game publishing company based in the UK, founded by a team of games industry veterans with over a century of experience under their belts. With a focus on empowering developers through kindness, collaboration and support, The CoLab’s aim is to nurture a select number of titles each year, providing resources, expertise, and connections for critical and commercial success. Its diverse portfolio includes exciting and unique games like Campfire, DeadWire, and Counter Clash. As a commitment to its values, the company has partnered with UK charity Safe in Our World to raise mental health awareness in gaming. For more information, visit www.thecolabgames.com
