Veterans from Disney, Jagex, and Codemasters Launch New Publisher: The CoLab

Three seasoned professionals from the UK gaming scene have come together to launch an exciting new indie publisher known as The CoLab. This venture is spearheaded by Darren Newnham, Mark Faulkner, and John Lewis. Newnham brings experience from his time at United Label, Fnatic, and Disney Interactive. Faulkner’s impressive resume includes work at Jagex, PlayFusion, and Bossa. Meanwhile, Lewis boasts a rich background with Codemasters and Criterion.

Already, The CoLab is championing three intriguing projects: a heartwarming game temporarily called Campfire, a cyberpunk shooter titled DeadWire, and a strategic offering known as Counter Clash. Notably, they’ve teamed up with the charity Safe in Our World, highlighting a commitment to supporting mental wellbeing within the gaming industry. Their initiative seems to address the turbulent times faced by indie developers, offering a beacon of support.

“It’s time for a rebellion. We stand for cooperation and collaboration in an industry that desperately needs it,” says CEO Newnham. He’s not holding back in expressing his dissatisfaction with current industry trends. “The mass layoffs driven by what he calls ‘greedflation’ have shown just how vital it is to change the way we do things. Too often, publishers care more about investors than they do about the players.”

He explains how this leads to games being rushed out the door, unfinished, and with prices that aren’t justified. On the developers’ side, it’s been rough—projects canceled, people working for nothing, and losing their creative rights.

Newnham is clear about The CoLab’s mission: “We’re aiming for a ‘counter revolution’ in the industry. By uniting creative minds, sharing resources, and empowering developers, we hope our collective becomes a nurturing ground for talent. We want every developer who joins us to feel like they’re an essential part of something bigger, establishing an environment that thrives on support, long-term collaboration, and mutual success.”