A new UK-based independent games publisher, The CoLab, has launched today. The company was co-founded by industry veterans Darren Newnham, Mark Faulkner, and John Lewis. Newnham previously worked at United Label, Fnatic, and Disney Interactive.
Faulkner has had stints at Jagex, PlayFusion, Bossa Games, and T-Mobile. Lewis is a veteran of Codemasters and Criterion. The CoLab aims to support indie developers through a collaborative process.
The publisher has announced three titles at launch: Team Emprenintes’ story-based sandbox Campfire, Shotgun Anaconda’s top-down cyberpunk shooter DeadWire, and Bjenssen’s strategy game Counter Clash.
New games publisher champions collaboration
The publisher has plans to release more titles later this year and into 2026.
The CoLab also intends to introduce educational sessions led by developers, with the first scheduled for late 2025. In a move that underscores its commitment to ethical practices, The CoLab has partnered with games industry mental health charity Safe in Our World. “We stand for cooperation and collaboration in an industry that desperately needs it,” said CEO Darren Newnham.
“Recent trends, such as mass redundancies driven by ‘greedification’, have underscored the need for a paradigm shift.”
Newnham explained that traditional publishers often prioritize shareholder value over the needs of gamers, resulting in unfinished games being released at inflated prices. Developers have faced numerous challenges, including cancellations, unpaid work, and the loss of intellectual property. “Our goal is to make every developer who joins The CoLab an integral part of our collective, fostering a supportive environment that promotes long-term relationships and rewarding returns,” Newnham said.
The CoLab aims to set a new standard in the industry by prioritizing the needs of both developers and gamers, fostering a more ethical, transparent, and cooperative environment.
Image Credits: Photo by Fausto Sandoval on Unsplash
Johannah Lopez is a versatile professional who seamlessly navigates two worlds. By day, she excels as a SaaS freelance writer, crafting informative and persuasive content for tech companies. By night, she showcases her vibrant personality and customer service skills as a part-time bartender. Johannah's ability to blend her writing expertise with her social finesse makes her a well-rounded and engaging storyteller in any setting.
