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

Three seasoned veterans from the UK gaming scene have banded together to establish an exciting new indie publisher known as The CoLab. This fresh initiative is spearheaded by Darren Newnham, Mark Faulkner, and John Lewis. Newnham brings experience from his time at United Label, Fnatic, and Disney Interactive. Faulkner has honed his skills at Jagex, PlayFusion, and Bossa over the years, while Lewis has deep roots with industry giants Codemasters and Criterion.

Already, The CoLab is nurturing three intriguing projects: the cozy game, codenamed Campfire; the cyberpunk shooter, DeadWire; and a strategy title, Counter Clash. Notably, the company has partnered with the charity Safe in Our World to place a strong emphasis on the mental well-being of those laboring in the gaming sector. During a period that’s proving to be quite challenging for the industry, The CoLab aspires to provide much-needed support for indie developers.

“It feels like the right moment for a shake-up. We’re all about fostering collaboration and teamwork in an industry that sorely needs more of it,” explained CEO Newnham.

“Too often recently, we’ve seen mass layoffs resulting from what I call ‘greedflation.’ This points to an immediate need for a shift in the way we do things. Publishers tend to focus on enriching shareholders rather than truly addressing what gamers want. This has resulted in a loop where unfinished games come out with hefty price tags, and developers face challenges like project cancellations, unpaid hours, and even loss of their intellectual property.

“The CoLab’s mission is to serve as a catalyst for change by introducing a counter-revolution in gaming vision. We’re bringing together creative game makers, pooling resources, and giving developers the tools to flourish in a cutthroat market. We strive to make every developer who joins The CoLab a vital member of our community, fostering an environment where both enduring partnerships and satisfying rewards can thrive.”