Kuju (company)

{{More citations needed|date=August 2025}}{{Infobox company | name = Kuju Entertainment Ltd. | logo = Kuju Logo.jpg | type = Subsidiary | genre = | predecessor = Simis | foundation = {{start date and age|1998}} | founder = | location_city = | location_country = | location = | locations = | area_served = | key_people = | industry = Video games | products = | services = | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | assets = | equity = | owner = | num_employees = | parent = Catalis Group (2007–present) | divisions = | subsid = Headstrong Games (2000–2017) Doublesix (2009–2010) Vatra Games (2009–2012) Zoë Mode (2004–2016) | caption = | homepage = {{URL|kuju.com}} | footnotes = | intl = }}

'''Kuju Entertainment Ltd.''' was a British video game developer. It is a successor to '''Simis''', which was formed in 1989 and purchased by Eidos Interactive in 1995. Kuju was formed in 1998 in Shalford, Surrey, England, after a management buyout of Simis from Eidos. Kuju merged with Curve Games in 2016.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dring |first=Christopher |date=2019-05-15 |title=Curve Digital and Kuju merge to form ‘major new British publisher’ |url=https://mcvuk.com/business-news/consoles/curve-digital-and-kuju-merge-to-form-major-new-british-publisher/ |access-date=2025-12-28 |work=MCV |language=en |issn=1469-4832}}</ref>

Kuju released titles across different devices, ranging from ''Art Academy'' on the Nintendo DS, ''The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest'' and ''Battalion Wars 2'' for the Wii, and an Xbox One title, ''Powerstar Golf''.

==History== Ian Baverstock and Jonathan Newth opened Simis in 1989 and produced a number of flight simulator programs like MiG-29 Fulcrum. In 1995, the company was purchased by Eidos and operated as an in-house development studio. In 1998, Baverstock and Newth led a management buyout of the studio from Eidos Interactive, forming Kuju Ltd.

The name "Kuju" originates from the initials of the founders’ first names: Ian Baverstock and Jonathan Newth. Jonathan was leafing through a Japanese dictionary when he found the numbers nine and ten – "ku" and "ju" – corresponding to the positions of "I" and "J" in the English alphabet. The combined result was Kuju. Their first game was ''Tank Racer'',<ref>{{Cite web|date=2011-10-23|title=The 50 Best Video games: A Legend In Your Own Living-Room|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/the-50-best-video-games-a-legend-in-your-own-living-room-1068932.html|access-date=2021-04-28|website=The Independent|language=en}}</ref> a 3D action racer for PC, PlayStation and mobile.{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}

By 2001, Kuju was employing a team of 80 developers, in three separate offices around the UK in London, Surrey and Brighton. Their most notable project at the time was ''Microsoft Train Simulator''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vscaler.com/MSTS.html|title=MSTS: First of the Big Ones|author=Alfred Barten|access-date=1 October 2015|archive-date=28 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928111506/http://www.vscaler.com/MSTS.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2002, Kuju floated on the Alternative Investments Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange. Shortly thereafter the company signed its first game with THQ based on the Games Workshop franchise, ''Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior''. In the following years between 2002 and 2007, Kuju developed titles including ''SingStar'' games and the ''Battalion Wars'' franchise.{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}} Kuju was one of the companies considered to develop the game engine for BBC's game show ''FightBox''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Yarwood |first1=Jack |title=Remembering FightBox, BBC's Big-Budget Video Game Failure |url=https://www.timeextension.com/features/remembering-fightbox-bbcrs-big-budget-video-game-failure |website=Time Extension |publisher=Hookshot Media |access-date=23 March 2023 |date=22 March 2023}}</ref>

In 2007, Kuju Ltd. was acquired by a German media investment firm, Catalis SE. Soon after, Kuju Brighton was rebranded to Zoë Mode, and in 2008, Kuju London rebranded to Headstrong Games. In 2010, Headstrong Games completed development of ''Art Academy'' for the Nintendo DS console.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kuju.com/game-profile/?game=123&studio=headstrong_games|title=Kuju Entertainment - Art Academy|access-date=1 October 2015}}</ref> In June 2012, Dominic Wheatley, co-founder of Domark, was appointed as CEO; while Gary Bracey, former vice-president of development at Ocean Software, was appointed as commercial director.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2012-06-27-new-ceo-and-commercial-director-for-kuju|title=New CEO and commercial director for Kuju|date=27 June 2012 |publisher=GamesIndustry.biz|access-date=3 December 2019}}</ref>

==Studios==

=== Headstrong Games === The studio was formed in 2000 as Kuju London. In 2008, it was rebranded as Headstrong Games.<ref>{{cite web |date=29 July 2008 |title=Kuju London reborn as Headstrong Games |url=https://www.mcvuk.com/development-news/kuju-london-reborn-as-headstrong-games/ |access-date=4 August 2014 |publisher=MCV UK |quote=Headstrong launched today as the rebranded London studio of the Kuju Entertainment network.}}</ref>

Headstrong Games has developed versions of ''The House of the Dead: Overkill'', ''The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest'' and ''Top Gun: Hard Lock''. Original intellectual properties include ''Art Academy'', which was developed for and owned by Nintendo. They also developed the ''Battalion Wars'' series, installments in Nintendo's ''Wars'' series.

=== Doublesix === The studio was formed from the team that made ''Geometry Wars: Galaxies''. They also made the zombie themed shooter, ''Burn Zombie Burn!''. The company has received awards and nominations since its inception; notably that of the develop "Best New UK Studio 2008" and a nomination for best hand-held game (''Geometry Wars: Galaxies'') at the 2009 BAFTAs. They also worked on a successor to ''Burn Zombie Burn!'', entitled ''All Zombies Must Die!''.<ref>{{cite web |title=SQUARE ENIX ANNOUNCES DOUBLESIX'S ALL ZOMBIES MUST DIE! HEADING TO XBOX LIVE® Arcade |url=http://release.square-enix.com/na/2011/12/01_01.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111207141149/http://release.square-enix.com/na/2011/12/01_01.html |archive-date=December 7, 2011 |accessdate=December 1, 2011}}</ref> On 1 September 2010, Doublesix left Kuju label and became a separate entity.<ref name="MCV-Sep2010">{{cite web |title=Doublesix breaks away from Kuju |url=https://mcvuk.com/development-news/doublesix-breaks-away-from-kuju/ |website=MCV/Develop |access-date=8 April 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920023258/https://mcvuk.com/development-news/doublesix-breaks-away-from-kuju/ |archive-date=20 September 2021 |date=1 September 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> The studio side of Doublesix was closed in 2012 after handing development of Strike Suit Zero to Born Ready Games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pearson |first=Dan |date=2012-05-31 |title=Born Ready studios founded by Doublesix staff |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/born-ready-studios-founded-to-take-on-strike-suit-zero-from-doublesix |access-date=2024-03-24 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}}</ref>

=== Vatra Games === Vatra Games was a Czech video game studio founded in 2009<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |date=23 July 2012 |title=Silent Hill: Downpour dev Vatra Games in danger of closure |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-07-23-silent-hill-downpour-dev-vatra-games-in-danger-of-closure |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407053640/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-07-23-silent-hill-downpour-dev-vatra-games-in-danger-of-closure |archive-date=7 April 2017 |access-date=5 April 2017 |website=Eurogamer}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=9 April 2010 |title=Czech-Based Vatra Games Developing New Silent Hill |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/pc/czech-based-vatra-games-developing-new-i-silent-hill-i- |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230921114403/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/pc/czech-based-vatra-games-developing-new-i-silent-hill-i- |archive-date=21 September 2023 |access-date=7 October 2024}}</ref> when Kuju Entertainment was seeking developers to establish a new studio. At the same time, several developers from 2K Czech were retiring. These developers decided to form a new studio, which became Vatra Games. In July 2012, four months after the March release of ''Silent Hill: Downpour'', Kuju Entertainment Limited terminated its contract with Vatra Games. In September 2012, Vatra Games was declared bankrupt.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baird |first=Scott |date=2019-10-14 |title=We're Never Getting A New Silent Hill (Here's Why) |url=https://www.thegamer.com/were-never-getting-a-new-silent-hill-heres-why/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221113085616/https://www.thegamer.com/were-never-getting-a-new-silent-hill-heres-why/ |archive-date=13 November 2022 |access-date=2022-11-13 |website=TheGamer |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Zoë Mode === In 2003, Kuju Entertainment hired the Wide Games team to create the video games studio Kuju Brighton.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 May 2004 |title=Kuju acquires Wide, opens new Brighton studio |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/kuju-acquires-wide-opens-new-brighton-studio |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221032623/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/kuju-acquires-wide-opens-new-brighton-studio |archive-date=21 December 2023 |access-date=6 January 2021 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}}</ref> In 2007, Kuju Brighton was rebranded to Zoë Mode.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 July 2007 |title=Zoe Mode further explains their name |url=https://www.engadget.com/2007-07-27-zoe-mode-further-explains-their-name.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108210737/https://www.engadget.com/2007-07-27-zoe-mode-further-explains-their-name.html |archive-date=8 January 2021 |access-date=6 January 2021 |website=Engadget |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Jenkins |first=David |date=March 2007 |title=Kuju Brighton Studio Becomes Zoe Mode |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/kuju-brighton-studio-becomes-zoe-mode |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111023202/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/103897/Kuju_Brighton_Studio_Becomes_Zoe_Mode.php |archive-date=11 January 2021 |access-date=6 January 2021 |website=www.gamasutra.com |language=en}}</ref> The studio's first release under its new name was ''Crush'' for Sega.<ref name=":0" /> In 2009, Zoë Mode released the puzzle game ''Chime'', produced by the non-profit OneBigGame.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Purchese |first=Robert |date=4 November 2009 |title=OneBigGame reveals Zoe Mode's Chime |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/onebiggame-reveals-zoe-modes-chime |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221032651/https://www.eurogamer.net/onebiggame-reveals-zoe-modes-chime |archive-date=21 December 2023 |access-date=6 January 2021 |website=Eurogamer |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mulrooney |first=Marty |date=9 December 2010 |title=GAME REVIEW – Chime (PC) |url=https://alternativemagazineonline.co.uk/2010/12/09/game-review-chime-pc/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122164935/https://alternativemagazineonline.co.uk/2010/12/09/game-review-chime-pc/ |archive-date=22 January 2021 |access-date=6 January 2021 |website=Alternative Magazine Online |language=en}}</ref> In 2011, the studio signed the deal to develop ''Zumba Fitness 2''.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=10 May 2011 |title=Zoe Mode seals Zumba Fitness 2 project |url=https://www.mcvuk.com/development-news/zoe-mode-seals-zumba-fitness-2-project/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016045841/https://www.mcvuk.com/development-news/zoe-mode-seals-zumba-fitness-2-project/ |archive-date=16 October 2021 |access-date=6 January 2021 |magazine=MCV/DEVELOP |language=en-GB}}</ref> In June 2008, Zoë Mode signed the deal to develop ''Rock Revolution''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 June 2008 |title=Zoë Mode to develop Rock Revolution |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/zo-mode-to-develop-rock-revolution |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108044009/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/zo-mode-to-develop-rock-revolution |archive-date=8 January 2021 |access-date=6 January 2021 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}}</ref>

Zoë Mode have worked on the EyeToy series, Zumba dance franchise and ''Powerstar Golf''. They also developed games for Xbox's Kinect.

===Previous Kuju Studios=== * Kuju Surrey * Kuju Sheffield (latterly rebranded as Chemistry) * Nik Nak Games * Kuju America * Kuju Manila

==Games== {{div col}} * ''Microsoft Train Simulator'' (2001) * ''Lotus Challenge'' (2001) * ''Reign of Fire'' (2002) * ''Fire Blade'' (2002) * ''SingStar'' (with London Studio) (2002) * ''Warhammer 40,000: Fire Warrior'' (2003) * ''EyeToy: Play'' (2003) * ''GT-R 400'' (2004) * ''Crash Twinsanity 3D'' (2004) * ''Call of Duty: Finest Hour'' (with Spark Unlimited) (PS2 and Xbox versions only) (2004) * ''Battalion Wars'' (2005) * ''Conspiracy: Weapons of Mass Destruction'' (2005) * ''The Regiment'' (2006) * ''Sensible Soccer 2006'' (2006) * ''Pilot Academy'' (2006) * ''Crush'' (2007) * ''Geometry Wars: Galaxies'' (with Bizarre Creations) (2007) * ''Battalion Wars 2'' (2007) * ''Nucleus'' (2007) * ''Rail Simulator'' (2007) * ''Dungeons & Dragons Tactics'' (2007) * ''Dancing with the Stars'' (2007) * ''M.A.C.H. Modified Air Combat Heroes'' (2007) * ''Sensible World of Soccer'' (Xbox Live Arcade version) (2007) * ''Rock Revolution'' (2008–2009) * ''You're in the Movies'' (2008–2009) * ''The House of the Dead: Overkill'' (2009) * ''Disney Sing It'' (2008) * ''Art Academy'' (2009–2010) * ''The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest'' (2010) * ''Chime'' (2010) * ''Disney Sing It: Family Hits'' (2010) * ''Grease: The Game'' (2010) * ''Chime: Super Deluxe'' (2011) * ''Zumba Fitness 2'' (2011) * ''Rush 'N Attack: Ex-Patriot'' (2011) * ''Silent Hill: Downpour'' (2012) * ''Top Gun: Hard Lock'' (2012) * ''Haunt'' (2012) * ''Crush 3D'' (2012) * ''New Art Academy'' (2012) * ''Zumba Fitness Rush'' (2012) * ''Zumba Fitness Core'' (2012) * ''Rabbids Rumble'' (2012) * ''Zumba Fitness: World Party'' (2013) * ''Zumba Kids'' (2013) * ''Powerstar Golf'' (2013) * ''Pokémon Art Academy'' (2014) * ''Guitar Hero Live'' (2015) * ''Disney Art Academy'' (2016) * ''Marvel: Ultimate Alliance'' (2016) * ''Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2'' (2016) * ''Narcos: Rise of the Cartels'' (2019)

===Canceled=== * ''Knight Wars'' (2007) <ref>https://www.unseen64.net/2011/06/14/knight-wars-wii-cancelled/</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.catalisgroup.com Catalis Group, parent company] {{Authority control}}

Category:British companies established in 1998 Category:Video game companies established in 1998 Category:Mobile game companies Category:Video game companies of the United Kingdom Category:Video game development companies Category:Companies based in London Category:1998 establishments in England Category:Companies formed by management buyout Category:2007 mergers and acquisitions