After thoughtful deliberation and discussion, Ubisoft Toronto has announced the top 10 finalists of the 2023 Ubisoft Indie Series presented by National Bank in Ontario, an annual competition for independent game development studios, offering cash prizes, mentorship, and creative and financial tools to help local studios and their games reach new heights.
Here are the top 10 finalists (in no particular order):
- Thousand Stars Studio Inc
- Rocket Adrift
- Computechnosoft Corp
- MANGLEDmaw Games
- Alientrap Games Inc
- Insanity CORR Ltd
- Kitten Cup Studio
- Code Blue Games Inc
- Shmowie Games Inc
- Pushing Vertices Inc
This year’s jury members include Andy Schmoll (Jury Chair), Billy Gregory, Navid Khavari, Fotis Prasinis, Jasmine Wong, and Matt Woelk.
So, what’s next?
All finalists will have a chance to participate in a pitch session at the studio on Thursday, Feb. 9. The jury will then select two winners.
The Grand Prize winner will receive a $50,000 cash prize and the National Bank Special Prize winner will receive a $25,000 cash prize. Both studios will gain access to creative and marketing tools as well as mentorship and financial counsel from Ubisoft and National Bank.
Learn more about the finalists!
Rocket Adrift
Game designers Sloane Smith, Lindsay Rollins, and Titus McNally formed Rocket Adrift with a mission to tell personal narratives that highlight LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC experiences and depict Canadian culture through an outsider’s lens.
Thousand Stars Studio Inc
Thousand Stars Studio Inc is a Toronto-based design studio that creates immersive video games and interactive experiences. Co-founded by Sally Luc and Parth Soni in August 2017, the studio aims to create story-driven imaginative games with a multi-cultural approach. The studio’s titles include Botabot and Milkyway VR.
Computechnosoft Corp
When an artist met a programmer, Computechnosoft Corp was formed. The studio is comprised of people who believe that artificial intelligence is the natural culmination of our evolutionary path and are embracing the future of AI by using Reinforcement Learning AI to power the behaviour of characters in their games.
MANGLEDmaw Games
A small Ontario-based studio, MANGLEDmaw Games is dedicated to making bizarre and spooky yet fun games. Always looking for something creative in the uncanny and something special in the scary, the studio utilizes unconventional methods of storytelling to create weirdly beautiful games.
Alientrap Games Inc
Grand Prize winner of the 2018 Ubisoft Indie Series, Alientrap Games Inc is a Toronto-based indie studio. Titles include Nexuiz (2005), Capsized (2011), Apotheon (2015), Cryptark (2017), Modbox (2018), and most recently, Wytchwood (2021).
Insanity CORR Ltd
Insanity CORR Ltd was founded by graduates from Ontario Tech University and Fanshawe College with the aim of producing widely successful, genre-bending indie games. The studio firmly believes in the prospects of innovation and works to stay ahead of industry standards.
Kitten Cup Studio
Kitten Cup Studio is a Toronto-based indie studio and National Bank Special Prize Winner of the 2020 Ubisoft Indie Series. On a mission to create cozy games, the studio is primarily made up of POC and LGBTQ+ developers.
Code Blue Games Inc
Code Blue Games was founded by alumni of Sony, Disney, and Bethesda with the aim of creating and being the premier source of genre-bending black sci-fi games. The studio is dedicated to providing high-quality entertainment without the high costs associated with it.
Schmowie Games Inc
Schmowie Games Inc believes in developing engaging and unique experiences with a non-violent approach to game design. The studio strives to build and promote a more positive and inclusive community for players all around the world.
Pushing Vertices Inc
Pushing Vertices Inc focuses on developing relaxing and delightful games for people who do not often see themselves in existing games and aims to create transformative stories that put representation at the forefront.
For updates on the Indie Series in Ontario, follow Ubisoft Toronto on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
