Certain Affinity expands studio in Toronto in spite of downturn

Certain Affinity, a recreation improvement firm that has partnered to make video games like Name of Obligation and Halo, made a dedication to Canada when it expanded from Austin, Texas to Toronto in 2019.

And now it’s increasing its Toronto workforce in a brand new location within the metropolis’s downtown, mentioned Paul Sams, COO of Certain Affinity in an interview with GamesBeat. It’s a uncommon case of an organization that’s nonetheless hiring within the midst of the downturn. In truth, Sure Affinity has gone 16 years with no layoff.

The brand new location is double the scale of the corporate’s earlier facility at 12,000 sq. ft. It wants the house now that the corporate has greater than 200 individuals — and despite the fact that a lot of its individuals select to work from home within the post-pandemic period. Toronto has about 30 individuals now and it might develop past 100.

“We first opened in 2019 with a a lot smaller web site, and we’ve doubled our house transferring simply down the road,” Sams mentioned. “We’re nonetheless in an awesome space, very central to town, and the workforce is admittedly enthusiastic about it. We’re actually focusing closely on doubling down on our funding in Toronto.”

Sure Affinity made a reputation for itself by partnering with main studios on world-renowned franchises like Name of Obligation, Halo, World of Tanks, Left 4 Lifeless, Hearthstone, Hogwarts Legacy, New World, and lots of extra. Through the years it has developed or co-developed greater than 39 video games and vital content material updates throughout 16 totally different franchises, together with the unique video games Age of Booty and Crimson Alliance. 

Recently, nonetheless, the corporate has been including employees and dealing by itself mental properties, along with its work-for-hire with different recreation publishers.

“Toronto is extremely supportive of recreation improvement, and we’re blown away by the up-and-coming expertise within the area,” mentioned Max Hoberman, Sure Affinity’s CEO, in a press release. “It’s an thrilling time for us as we make progress on an bold authentic recreation whereas persevering with to co-develop a few of the most fun video games within the trade. We’re thrilled to carry these video games and new worlds to life, and our rising Toronto studio continues to be vital to our long-term strategic plans and success.”

The facilities of the brand new house embrace a rooftop deck that sports activities views of town, a recreation room the place colleagues can play Ping-Pong and board video games, and the mandatory house to develop its present regional headcount to greater than 100 builders.

“The Toronto Area is drawing the eye of the world for its rising digital media and recreation improvement sectors, its numerous and welcoming group and its dynamic cultural scene,” mentioned Stephen Lund, CEO of Toronto International, in a press release. “I’m thrilled that after serving to Sure Affinity to launch right here in 2019, the corporate continues to succeed and develop its presence in Toronto, and contribute to our fame as a worldwide middle for innovation and creativity.”

Sams mentioned the workforce isn’t a part of a stand-alone studio simply because it’s in a distinct location from the Austin workforce. In that sense, it isn’t but engaged on totally different video games than the mom ship.

“Sure Affinity continues to set the usual for what the online game trade can accomplish in our province’s thriving techno-creative house. Since selecting to develop to Ontario in 2019 and dealing with Interactive Ontario as a Torchbearer member, Sure Affinity has had a profound and long-lasting influence on our sector,” mentioned Lucie Lalumière, CEO of Interactive Ontario, in a press release. “This subsequent chapter of the studio will create thrilling extra alternatives for the extremely expert techno-creative expertise that our province is understood for.”

Sure Affinity is looking for quite a lot of expert and passionate workforce members to hitch the corporate, together with artists, programmers, designers, producers, and extra. Anybody serious about try the jobs here.

Sure Affinity was based in 2006 as a bootstrap startup with the purpose of making progressive, top-quality motion video games.

Sams mentioned the Toronto authorities has spectacular subsidies and tax advantages that make it more cost effective than the U.S. The corporate checked out greater than 30 cities earlier than it settled on Toronto, “and I believe it was the mixture of the deep connection and integration with native universities and faculties, the dedication that the federal government was making, and expertise circulation,” Sams mentioned.

As for the brand new recreation, Sams mentioned the corporate isn’t speaking about it but. However the firm is self-funding it in the intervening time and is beginning to pitch it to publishers.

Sams mentioned that the corporate has operated with no “crunch tradition.” That’s one motive why Sams selected to hitch the corporate final fall as COO after serving as a strategic adviser for 3 years.

I requested Sams concerning the influence of generative AI, and he mentioned the corporate remains to be evaluating the way it might have an effect on recreation improvement. He mentioned the corporate isn’t going “all in” but on generative AI and it desires to carry the expertise in on the proper time.

“We don’t attempt to power it,” he mentioned. “We discover the best technique to make the most of and combine it.”