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

In an exciting development for the gaming scene, three well-seasoned professionals from the UK have teamed up to create a new indie publishing venture named The CoLab.

Darren Newnham, Mark Faulkner, and John Lewis are the masterminds behind this initiative. Newnham offers a wealth of experience with his background at places like United Label, Fnatic, and Disney Interactive. Faulkner brings his expertise from his time at Jagex, PlayFusion, and Bossa. Rounding out the trio, Lewis has honed his skills at industry giants like Codemasters and Criterion.

The CoLab already has a trio of promising projects lined up. Among them is a cozy game known by its codename, Campfire; the futuristic action-packed DeadWire; and a strategy title called Counter Clash. Another admirable aspect of their approach is their partnership with the mental health charity Safe in Our World, highlighting their commitment to the well-being of the people creating these games. The CoLab’s mission is clear: offer a solid backbone of support to indie developers during what can be an unpredictable time for the industry.

“It’s time for a rebellion. We stand for cooperation and collaboration in an industry that desperately needs it,” says Newnham, taking the helm as CEO.

He further elaborates on the pressing issues confronting the gaming world today. “We’ve seen recent trends, such as widespread layoffs triggered by what some call ‘greedflation,’ making a compelling case for a substantial change. Too often, publishers put the interests of shareholders above those who play the games, resulting in a pattern of incomplete games released at sky-high prices. Meanwhile, developers find themselves grappling with project cancellations, unpaid labor, and even losing their hard-earned intellectual property.”

Newnham explains that The CoLab is setting out to spearhead a counter-revolution. “Our vision is to help usher in change. By bringing together innovative game creators and sharing resources, we empower developers to truly shine in a cutthroat market. We want every developer who becomes part of The CoLab to feel like an essential member of our community, with an environment that nurtures long-lasting partnerships and fruitful outcomes.”