We build games
Mobile, console, PC, web, VR. Any genre, any platform. We turn ideas into games people actually finish.
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Who we are
A full-stack game studio inside Ikaroa
Ikaroa Gaming Lab is a dedicated studio within Ikaroa focused entirely on game development. Designers, engineers, artists, composers, and producers working on everything from viral mobile titles to story-driven console games.
We ship original IP, co-develop with publishers, build advergames for agencies, and help existing teams finish what they started. No genre is off limits. No platform is too niche. If you can dream it as a game, we can build it.
Platforms
Any screen, any controller
From a phone on the subway to a living room 4K TV to a VR headset, we build for wherever your players are.
Mobile (iOS/Android)
Casual, hyper-casual, puzzle, and mid-core titles built with Unity and native SDKs for App Store and Google Play.
Console
PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch releases with full platform certification support.
PC & Steam
Indie and AA titles shipped through Steam, Epic Games Store, and direct distribution with anti-cheat and multiplayer netcode.
Web & Browser
WebGL and HTML5 games for portals, ads, education, and branded experiences that run anywhere without a download.
VR & AR
Immersive experiences for Meta Quest, Vision Pro, and mobile AR with spatial audio and hand tracking.
Cloud Gaming
Streaming-ready builds for GeForce Now, Xbox Cloud, and custom cloud runtime deployments on Fluid Compute.
Capabilities
Everything under one roof
One studio, one contract, every discipline you need to ship. No stitching vendors together.
Game Design
Core loops, economy design, progression systems, and level architecture that keep players engaged for the long haul.
- ▸Concept and pitch docs
- ▸Core loop design
- ▸Economy and progression
- ▸Level and mission design
- ▸Narrative and dialogue
- ▸Playtest facilitation
Engineering
Gameplay programming, netcode, physics, tooling, and platform integrations across every major engine.
- ▸Gameplay systems
- ▸Authoritative netcode
- ▸Tooling and editors
- ▸Save and cloud sync
- ▸Platform SDK integration
- ▸Performance profiling
Art & Animation
Concept art, 2D/3D characters, environment design, rigging, VFX, and animation that gives your game its signature feel.
- ▸Concept and key art
- ▸2D illustration and sprites
- ▸3D modelling and sculpting
- ▸Rigging and skinning
- ▸Skeletal and procedural animation
- ▸Real-time VFX and shaders
Audio & Music
Original scores, adaptive audio, SFX design, and voice direction that make the world come alive.
- ▸Original scores
- ▸Adaptive and layered music
- ▸Sound effect design
- ▸Foley and ambience
- ▸Voice casting and direction
- ▸Localised VO pipelines
Multiplayer & Netcode
Real-time multiplayer, matchmaking, and anti-cheat built on Photon, Mirror, Unity Netcode, and custom authoritative stacks.
- ▸Real-time PvP and PvE
- ▸Matchmaking and lobbies
- ▸Relay and dedicated servers
- ▸Authoritative servers
- ▸Anti-cheat integration
- ▸Cross-play and cross-save
QA & Certification
Functional QA, compatibility testing, and platform certification so your title passes first submission on every store.
- ▸Functional and regression QA
- ▸Device and OS compatibility
- ▸Localisation QA
- ▸Accessibility review (XAG, CVAA)
- ▸Platform cert (TCR, XR, Lotcheck)
- ▸Age rating (PEGI, ESRB, IARC)
LiveOps
Events, seasons, battle passes, A/B testing, and content pipelines that keep your game fresh long after launch.
- ▸Season and event calendars
- ▸Battle pass design
- ▸Live content pipelines
- ▸Feature flags and A/B tests
- ▸Player segmentation
- ▸Remote config at scale
Monetisation
Ads, IAP, subscriptions, and ethical economy design. We build systems players enjoy spending in, audited for dark patterns.
- ▸IAP catalogue and pricing
- ▸Rewarded and interstitial ads
- ▸Subscription tiers
- ▸Bundle and offer design
- ▸Storefront and shop UI
- ▸Anti-fraud and chargebacks
Analytics & Growth
Telemetry, funnel analysis, retention modelling, and user acquisition that tells you where the real levers are.
- ▸Event taxonomy and tagging
- ▸Funnel and cohort analysis
- ▸Retention and LTV modelling
- ▸Predictive churn scoring
- ▸Paid UA and creative testing
- ▸ASO and store optimisation
Publishing & Porting
Self-publishing support, publisher negotiations, and full ports to every major platform with source or binary.
- ▸Steam, Epic, and direct PC
- ▸iOS and Google Play
- ▸PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
- ▸Meta Quest and Vision Pro
- ▸Engine-to-engine ports
- ▸Store listings and trailers
Narrative & Writing
Story bibles, branching dialogue, character development, and localisation pipelines that scale to 20+ languages.
- ▸World building and lore
- ▸Branching dialogue trees
- ▸Character and faction design
- ▸Quest and mission writing
- ▸Localisation (20+ languages)
- ▸Voice and tone guides
Community & Support
Discord and forum moderation, creator programs, bug triage, and player support workflows you can hand us or run yourself.
- ▸Discord server setup
- ▸Creator and streamer programs
- ▸Bug triage and repro
- ▸Player support (tier 1-3)
- ▸Moderation and trust & safety
- ▸Feedback loops to product
Platform deep dive
Every target, fully supported
Specific devices, stores, and certification requirements we handle end to end.
Mobile
Devices
iOS 15+, Android 9+, iPad, foldables
Stores
App Store, Google Play, Amazon, Galaxy Store, Huawei AppGallery
Certification
Age ratings (IARC, PEGI, ESRB), ATT/privacy, regional compliance
Console
Devices
PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Stores
PS Store, Microsoft Store, Nintendo eShop
Certification
TRC/XR/Lotcheck, TCR, full platform cert support
PC
Devices
Windows 10/11, macOS (Apple Silicon), Linux
Stores
Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, itch.io, direct sale
Certification
Steamworks integration, Epic Online Services, DRM strategy
Web
Devices
Chrome, Safari, Firefox, mobile web, Meta Instant Games
Stores
Poki, CrazyGames, Kongregate, your own domain
Certification
WebGL2, WebGPU, WASM optimisation
VR / AR
Devices
Meta Quest 2/3/Pro, Apple Vision Pro, mobile AR (ARKit/ARCore)
Stores
Meta Store, Steam VR, App Lab, App Store
Certification
Motion sickness review, accessibility, comfort ratings
Cloud Gaming
Devices
GeForce Now, Xbox Cloud, Luna, custom pixel-streaming stacks
Stores
N/A - streaming layer on top of PC/console builds
Certification
Latency budgeting, input lag tuning, multi-region deploy
Engines
We pick the right engine, not the fashionable one
Deep expertise across the engines that matter, and the honest judgement to tell you when none of them fit.
Unity
Mobile, cross-platform, 2D and 3D. Our most-shipped engine, with deep expertise in DOTS, Addressables, and custom render pipelines.
Unreal Engine 5
AA console and PC titles that need Nanite, Lumen, and MetaHuman. Blueprint and C++ gameplay, with source access.
Godot
Lightweight 2D and simple 3D. Open-source friendly, great for jam-scale prototypes and educational titles.
Native (Swift / Kotlin)
When we need absolute performance on iOS or Android, or tight integration with platform APIs that engines hide from you.
WebGL / Three.js / PixiJS
Browser-first games, ads, and marketing experiences. Shipped alongside React or vanilla for zero-install play.
Custom Engines
When off-the-shelf does not fit, we build bespoke engines in C++, Rust, or Go. Most common for server-authoritative multiplayer.
How we work together
Engagement models that flex around you
Pick the model that matches where your project is right now. We are happy to switch gears as things evolve.
Original IP Co-Development
You bring a pitch and a budget, we co-create the game with you and share in the upside. Royalty splits, revenue shares, or equity structures considered.
Best fit:Studios with IP and funding who want a delivery partner
Work For Hire
Fixed scope, milestone-based delivery with a clear SOW. You own 100% of the IP and source. Our teams work as an extension of yours.
Best fit:Publishers, studios, and brands with a clear spec
Staff Augmentation
Embed senior engineers, designers, or artists into your team on a monthly rate. Onboard in days, not months.
Best fit:Studios with a team that needs specialist horsepower
Advergames & Branded
Custom games built for agencies and brands. From playable ads to full Metaverse activations. Timeline-driven, IP usually reverts to client.
Best fit:Agencies, FMCG brands, media companies
Game Rescues
Taking over a troubled project. We audit the codebase, deliver a stabilisation plan, and ship the rest. Fixed fee for the audit, milestone-based for delivery.
Best fit:Projects in production trouble or publisher ultimatums
LiveOps Retainer
Post-launch monthly retainer to run content calendars, A/B tests, analytics, and community. Scales up or down as your game matures.
Best fit:Live games that need a growth and content partner
Monetisation
Make money without making enemies
Every monetisation model you might want, designed around the player experience rather than against it.
Free-to-play + IAP
Classic F2P with consumable, non-consumable, and time-limited offers. Ethical design without pay-to-win pitfalls.
Premium / Paid
One-time purchase with optional expansions. Works best for deep narrative games with strong review momentum.
Subscription
Monthly or annual access tiers, battle-pass style. Increasingly popular for live service titles and educational apps.
Rewarded Ads
Opt-in ad viewing for in-game rewards. Works brilliantly in casual games when built around natural pause points.
Hybrid-Casual
The model that took hyper-casual to scale. Casual gameplay with meta-progression and IAP. Our specialty on mobile.
Web3 & NFTs
Only when it makes sense. We build the tech but advise honestly on whether players actually want it for your game.
Proof
What we have shipped
Representative results from recent engagements. Full case studies available under NDA on request.
Mobile Publisher
8M downloads in 90 days
Built and launched a hyper-casual puzzler end to end. Full art, engineering, LiveOps, and UA creative. Peaked at #3 in the Puzzle category in 14 countries.
PC Indie Studio
92% positive on Steam
Co-developed an action-roguelike over 18 months. Handled engine work, netcode, and platform integration. Shipped on Steam, Epic, and Switch.
FMCG Brand
12M plays across social
WebGL advergame tied to a summer campaign. Built in 6 weeks, integrated with the brand CRM, and deployed to Meta Instant Games and their own domain.
Console Studio
Passed cert first submission
Took over a troubled Unreal project with 4 months to milestone. Stabilised the build, hit performance targets on Xbox and PS5, and passed all platform cert first time.
The toolkit
Tools, engines, and services we work with daily
Vendor-neutral. We pick what fits the game, not what is on a brochure.
Genres
Every flavour of game
Our process
Concept to live game
A proven path from napkin sketch to live game with real players. No wasted sprints.
Discovery
We dig into the pitch, audience, platform, and KPIs. You leave with a one-pager that aligns the whole team before a line of code is written.
Prototype
Two to four week playable prototypes. We test the core loop with real players before committing to a full production budget.
Vertical Slice
A polished slice of the game that looks and feels like the final product. Ready for pitching to publishers, platforms, and investors.
Full Production
Dedicated squads for engineering, art, design, and QA. Weekly playtests, milestone reviews, and transparent sprint planning.
Launch & Certification
Platform submissions, age ratings, store assets, trailers, and a launch playbook that covers PR, influencers, and paid UA.
LiveOps & Growth
Post-launch updates, seasonal content, A/B testing, and analytics. We stay on as your partner for as long as the game lives.
FAQs
Things studios ask us
Do you work on original IP or for hire?▼
Both. Some studios bring us a full pitch and we co-develop. Others hand us a concept and a budget, and we ship it end to end. We also build advergames and branded experiences for agencies.
What engines do you use?▼
Unity and Unreal Engine most of the time. Godot for lightweight 2D work. Native Swift, Kotlin, and WebGL when a custom engine fits better than an off-the-shelf one.
Do you handle publishing and distribution?▼
We can. We have shipped titles to the App Store, Google Play, Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, and Meta. We handle certification, store listings, and launch assets, or plug into your existing publisher.
How do you price a game project?▼
Prototypes are fixed price, production is usually milestone based, and LiveOps is a monthly retainer. We share a detailed breakdown before anything is signed and keep the numbers honest as scope evolves.
Can you help with multiplayer and netcode?▼
Yes. We have shipped real-time multiplayer on Photon, Mirror, and custom authoritative server stacks. Matchmaking, anti-cheat, leaderboards, and cross-platform play are all in scope.
Do you do work for hire on existing codebases?▼
Absolutely. We jump into existing Unity and Unreal projects, pay down tech debt, ship features, and stabilise LiveOps pipelines. We are happy running alongside your internal team.
★ Bonus Round ★
Still thinking? Take a break
No pitch, no upsell. Just a little Snake to kill five minutes.
High score is bragging rights.
★ Insert coin ★
SNAKE
Eat the red dots. Don't hit the walls or yourself. Arrow keys or swipe.
or press Space
Arrow keys / WASD to move
Ikaroa Gaming Lab
Got a game to build?
Tell us the vision, the platform, and the audience. A producer replies within one working day with a recommended scope, a budget option, and how soon we could have a playable prototype.
See our work