Disney, Jagex, and Codemasters Veterans Launch New Publishing Company, The CoLab

Three seasoned professionals from the UK gaming scene have come together to launch a fresh indie publishing house, aptly named The CoLab.

Darren Newnham, Mark Faulkner, and John Lewis are the minds behind this new venture. Newnham brings experience from his time at United Label, Fnatic, and Disney Interactive. Faulkner has honed his skills at Jagex, PlayFusion, and Bossa. Meanwhile, Lewis brings his seasoned expertise from Codemasters and Criterion to the table.

Already, The CoLab is nurturing three distinct projects: a heartwarming game tentatively titled Campfire, a cyberpunk shooter named DeadWire, and a strategy game called Counter Clash. They’ve also aligned with the charity Safe in Our World, highlighting their commitment to mental health advocacy within the gaming community. The CoLab aims to support indie developers during what many see as a challenging period for the industry.

“It’s time for a shakeup,” CEO Newnham stated passionately. “We’re all about cooperation and collaboration, something this industry truly needs.”

He continued, “The recent spate of industry-wide layoffs and what we call ‘greedflation’ demonstrates a pressing need for a new approach. Too often, publishers focus on shareholder profits instead of gamer satisfaction. This results in unfinished games hitting the market at sky-high prices, while developers endure project cancellations, unpaid labor, and even the loss of their own creations.”

The CoLab wants to spearhead a change with what they describe as a counter-revolutionary vision. Bringing innovative game creators together, they aim to share resources and empower developers to thrive in a competitive landscape. Their ambition is for every developer partnered with The CoLab to become a core member of their collective, fostering an environment where long-term relationships flourish and everyone benefits.