Studio Cast Iron Games has opened in Tileyard North, Wakefield in the UK, with a focus on triple-A co-development and game porting services.
Set up by veterans Arden Aspinall (former studio head at Rebellion North) and Jon Seymour (most recently business development manager at Double Eleven and Rebellion North before that), the company is part of Pneuma Games Group, the parent company of Double Eleven.
Several projects are already underway. The origins of the studio come from the existing personal connections between the leadership of Double Eleven and Pneuma with Aspinall and Seymour, according to the announcement.
“I have wanted to have Jon and Arden join our group of companies for many years now and I am thrilled to finally be able to welcome Cast Iron Games to Pneuma Games Group to sit aside its sister Studio Double Eleven,” said Lee Hutchinson, CEO of Double Eleven and Pneuma Group chairman in a statement.
The studio is currently focused on expanding its porting and co-dev portfolio, but also has an eye on full game development as its team grows. The intention with this new studio is to demonstrate commitment to local talent in the north of England, which has an incredibly rich game development history.
“I wanted the company to reflect the name, a company that’s Cast Iron in its reliability and the quality of results it delivers for clients,” Aspinall said in the announcement. “I’ve always been inspired by the way that Lee and his leadership team have grown Double Eleven – a company based on sound principles which we share.
“We have a strong synergy with the Double Eleven vision, and we will seek to align our pathways wherever possible. These values now underpin the way we operate as a team in Cast Iron. A safe pair of hands forging partnerships that are built to last.”