Heavy Iron Studios
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Predecessor | Chemistry Entertainment |
| Founded | August 31, 1999 in Manhattan Beach, California, United States |
| Founder | Steve Gray |
| Fate | Acquired by Keywords Studios |
| Headquarters | Manhattan Beach, California , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Lyle Hall (CEO) |
| Products | Licensed video games |
| Owner | Keywords Studios (since 2021) |
Number of employees | 43 (2021) |
| Parent | Keywords Studios |
Heavy Iron Studios, Inc. is a United States-based video game developer located in Manhattan Beach, California. The company originated in August 1999 when THQ purchased Steve Gray's Chemistry Entertainment. In June 2009, as part of THQ's expense-cutting measures, Heavy Iron was separated to operate independently. Later, in January 2021, Keywords Studios acquired the firm.
History
Steve Gray, who founded the company, initially worked in visual effects before transitioning to the gaming sector with EA Canada, subsequently overseeing development for Parasite Eve at Square USA. In 1997, he launched Chemistry Entertainment, which created several projects that were never released and briefly functioned under the name Rainmaker Interactive. After securing a contract with THQ to develop an Evil Dead title, the studio was acquired by THQ and renamed Heavy Iron Studios on August 31, 1999. The studio then launched Evil Dead: Hail to the King in 2000.
Due to financial difficulties faced by THQ, Heavy Iron was divested as an independent entity on June 1, 2009. The workforce was reduced from 120 employees to 60 by the end of that year. In September 2020, Keywords Studios agreed to purchase Heavy Iron for $13.3 million, finalizing the acquisition in January 2021 when the company employed 43 individuals.
Heavy Iron’s operational strategy centers on producing licensed titles and partnering with prominent entertainment franchises, strengthening its reputation in family-oriented and licensed video games. Under CEO Lyle Hall’s guidance, the studio prioritizes utilizing well-known intellectual properties to sustain a competitive edge within the global gaming market.
Games developed
Co-developed Games
| Release Year | Game Title | Supported Platform(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Ratatouille | Various systems including PC, Mac, and gaming consoles |
| 2008 | WALL-E | Platforms such as PC, Mac, and PlayStation Portable among others |
| 2009 | Up | Multiple platforms including PC and PSP |
| 2012 | Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two | Wii U |
| 2013 | Disney Infinity | Consoles and Wii U |
| 2014 | South Park: The Stick of Truth | Leading consoles and PC systems |
| Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes | PC, Wii U, iOS devices | |
| Disney Infinity: Toy Box | PC and iPad platforms | |
| 2015 | Disney Infinity 3.0 | PC, Wii U, iOS |
Games Cancelled
| Year | Title | Platform(s) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Scooby-Doo! Night of 100 Frights | PlayStation | Initial version featured a different storyline and gameplay mechanics. |
| 2007 | Toy Story 3 | Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii | Early iteration was discarded; final product developed by Avalanche Software. |
| 2008 | SpongeBob SquarePants: Happiness Squared | PlayStation 2, Wii | Reimagined into SpongeBob's Truth or Square. |
| 2010 |
Saints Row: The Cooler' ' |
Fighting game spin-off designed for Kinect/PlayStation Move controls. ' | |
|
Disney’s E-Ticket' ' |
Xbox 360 ' |
Predecessor to Kinect: Disneyland Adventures, later handled by Frontier Developments. ' | |
|
Family Guy: Road to Death' ' |
Transformed into Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse. ' | ||
| 2011 |
Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse' ' |
Wii, Nintendo 3DS ' |
Cancelled versions with alternate gameplay styles. |