Today, Ubisoft Toronto has announced the top five finalists of the 2024 Ubisoft Indie Series presented by National Bank. The Indie Series is 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.
The studios named to this year’s shortlist are:
- 13AM Games
- Bloom Digital Media
- Lithic Entertainment
- Play Underground Games!
- TITAN1STUDIOS
This year’s submissions were reviewed by a jury comprised of Ubisoft and National Bank experts on overall concept, marketing and business plan, among other elements. Jury members include Andy Schmoll (Jury Chair), Billy Gregory, Navid Khavari, Fotis Prasinis, Matt Woelk, as well as Matthew Persram from National Bank.
What’s next?
Finalists will have a chance to participate in a pitch session at Ubisoft Toronto on Thursday, Feb. 8. 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.
Get to know the finalists
13AM Games
13AM Games is an independent video game studio focused on stylish action and multiplayer games. The studio has developed Runbow, Double Cross and Dawn of the Monsters. Their team comes from a variety of diverse backgrounds – creative advertising, civil engineering, film, writing, graphic design, programming—to make video games, the one thing they’re all passionate about.
They believe games should be as fun to play as they are to make.
Bloom Digital Media
Bloom Digital Media is an idealistic studio that makes games for a hopeful and loving future. They explore transformative change by creating playful experiences focused on compassion, curiosity and conversation.
They write stories that show the power of meaningful relationships to shape more inclusive communities.
Lithic Entertainment
Lithic Entertainment is an independent developer and publisher of games for PC and Consoles. Located primarily in Toronto, they aim to engage audiences with games that are thoughtfully designed with wide and inclusive appeal.
Play Underground Games!
Play Underground Games! is a brand-new Toronto-based studio, recently formed by a crew of collaborative friends. They love to mesh their vibrant, varied skill sets together to create games that people won’t forget. The studio is composed entirely of up-and-coming LGBTQ+, BIPOC creators aiming to make art that resonates with their communities.
PUG! believes games are an artful, meaningful medium and that self-publishing is powerful. They aim to make space, inspire and uplift their contemporaries to fight for their weird stories too.
TITAN1STUDIOS
Founded in 2016, TITAN1STUDIOS is an award-winning Cross-Media Content & Technology Studio specializing in Original IP. The studio embraces diversity and representation across all facets of the creative process, which is reflected in their executives, artists and technology talent.
While their stories span the far reaches of time and space, the themes often hit much closer to home with a key emphasis on family, identity, mental health, and building a better tomorrow.
For updates on the Indie Series in Ontario, follow Ubisoft Toronto on X, Instagram and LinkedIn.
