5 Video Game Studios You Should Know About in 2023

Every year, the video game industry pushes new boundaries and expands gaming's potential to previously unimagined horizons. This is due in part to the fact that it is currently one of the fastest and most profitable industries, grossing more revenue than both the film and music industries annually. As a result, the battle for video game studios to deliver something fresh, original, and innovative to gamers is ongoing, especially given how many ideas have already been taken, or ones that have been stretched out as far as they can; take the battle-royale genre for example. Nonetheless, some studios continue to make waves and produce titles that astound us. Here are the video game studios doing just that in 2023, and consequently the ones you should keep an eye on.

5. Fntastic

Fntastic is one developer with one of the most wish-listed and highly anticipated games of 2023, that being The Day Before. Set in post-pandemic America, more specifically New York, players must scavenge the abandoned cityscape for food, weapons, and resources to help them survive against infected foes and other survivors. Consider it a mash-up of DayZ, Escape From Tarkov, and The Division series, with base-building, colonies, weapon customization, and other elements thrown into the mix. Basically the whole charade you could ask for in a survival game set on a supermassive scale. If you want to get into more specifics, we have an article covering everything there is to know about The Day Before here.

Nonetheless, some gamers are skeptical that Fntastic is biting off more than they can chew, given how much the game promises. While that certainly could be the case, if they prove the nay-sayers wrong, the survival genre will see a new standard set for what is achievable in the premise. Fntastic even blatantly states on its website, “We are creating one of the most anticipated games in the world”. They certainly understand what's at stake, but if they succeed, they'll undoubtedly secure a spot as one of the best video game studios of 2023 that have pushed gaming's horizons.

4. Guerilla Games

PlayStation's highly anticipated second-gen VR headset, the PSVR 2 is due to release on February 22, 2023. Obviously, VR is the latest trend in gaming that many video game studios are attempting to expand into due to its untapped potential. One studio leading the pack on PSVR 2 is Guerilla Games with Horizon Call of the Mountain, a day-one release for the PSVR 2. This is not just a VR spin-off experience of the Horizon series but a full game set in VR.

Guerilla Games, the original developers of the Horizon series are taking it upon and pushing themselves to expand the renowned series for a new experience on VR. And, based on what we've seen so far, the game looks like it will set the PSVR 2 off to a good start, pushing the boundaries of what games are capable of achieving on the next-gen series of VR headsets. If they succeed, surely enough more publishers will be knocking on their door to develop more astounding VR titles. At the same time, they're challenging other video game studies to be a double-edged sword that can develop both console and VR Games to a high degree.

3. Supergiant Games

Every year, there is a slew of incredible Indie games that fly under the radar. Indie studio Supergiant Games, on the other hand, has managed to rise above the crowd and carve out a name for itself. Best known for its award-winning title Hades in 2018, this studio has yet to disappoint with its catalog.

keep your eye on this studio in 2023 because Hades II has been announced. Despite the lack of a firm release date, it is very likely to arrive in 2023. That's why, of all the indie video game studios out there – which is a lot, most gamers have their eyes set on Supergiant Games' proclaimed sequel, which we have no doubt will rise above its predecessor. So, keep an eye out for the Hades II release date, as well as what Supergiant Games will announce for new games in development this year.

2. Telltale Games

Telltale Games is a studio that most of us are familiar with or have heard of. They've made quite a stir in the gaming scene over the last decade with their episodic, story-driven games that feature simple controls and a consequential decision-based story at the forefront. Needless to say, they are compelling games and their most profound titles such as The Wolf Among Us, The Walking Dead, and The Batman Telltale series are sheer evidence of that.

Despite their prior success, they've taken a bit of a break over the last couple of years as they cook up new immersive Telltale games. However, 2023 is the year they resurface in the headlines. They are releasing The Wolf Among Us 2, as well as a new series called The Expanse. So, don't sleep on Telltale games, as these new releases will undoubtedly propel the video game studio back into the spotlight in 2023.

1. Annapurna Interactive

Simply put, if you haven't heard of Annapurna Interactive, you must be living under a rock. Without a doubt, they are one of the best video game studios of the last decade and surely a name to watch in 2023 and beyond. They're a developer without a single-set genre for their games and really get their hands on everything, inventing new ideas in old concepts that no one else is considering. The Artful Escape, Neon White, and, of course, the award-winning indie game Stray are among their most recent notable titles.

Did we mention they are an independent studio as well? Which is just remarkable considering the caliber of games they release. In 2023, they currently have COCOON set on the horizon for a release. The official description states, “COCOON takes you on an adventure through worlds within worlds. Master the world-leaping mechanics to unravel a cosmic mystery”. We're not exactly sure what that entails, but we're confident it will be an immersive and interactive adventure nonetheless.

So, what's your take? Do you agree with our top five? Are there other video game studios that we should know about in 2023? Let us know in the comments below or over on our socials here!