IllFonic
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Founder | Charles Brungardt, Kedhrin Gonzales, Raphael Saadiq |
| Headquarters | Golden, Colorado , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Charles Brungardt (CEO), Gio Corsi (Chief Product Officer) |
| Products | Friday the 13th: The Game, Predator: Hunting Grounds, Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed, Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game, Nexuiz, Dead Alliance, Arcadegeddon |
Number of employees | 78 (2019) |
IllFonic, LLC is a United States-based video game developer with its main office located in Golden, Colorado, alongside additional branches in Tacoma, Washington and Austin, Texas. Established in 2007 by Charles Brungardt, Kedhrin Gonzales, and Raphael Saadiq, IllFonic focuses on creating asymmetric multiplayer titles connected to well-known movie franchises such as Friday the 13th: The Game, Predator: Hunting Grounds, Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed, and Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game.
History
Charles Brungardt, who serves as IllFonic’s founder and CEO, initially partnered with R&B musician Raphael Saadiq, who also became a co-founder. After moving from Los Angeles to Denver, Brungardt and Kedhrin Gonzales launched IllFonic from a garage setting. The company expanded through multiple locations before establishing formal offices within Denver’s Golden Triangle district by June 2013.
In 2010, IllFonic revealed plans to redevelop Nexuiz, with publishing managed by THQ Partners. Although THQ's bankruptcy resulted in server closures and unsold intellectual property rights, the project provided IllFonic valuable console development experience. In 2013, the studio was commissioned to create the "Star Marine" segment for Star Citizen, but integration was delayed due to incompatible assets. By August 2015, while nearing completion of this contract, IllFonic underwent restructuring that included laying off six developers.
The MMORPG project Revival, announced in 2013, was placed on indefinite hold by 2016. Towards the end of 2014, IllFonic collaborated with Gun Media on Slasher Vol. 1: Summer Camp, an asymmetrical action title that transformed into the officially licensed Friday the 13th: The Game after discussions with franchise producer Sean S. Cunningham. At this stage, IllFonic’s workforce had grown to approximately 50 employees. The game launched in May 2017 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One platforms but stopped receiving new content updates by June 2018 due to ongoing legal disputes surrounding franchise ownership. A Nintendo Switch version was released in August 2019.
In partnership with Psyop Games and publisher Maximum Games, IllFonic co-developed the multiplayer first-person shooter Dead Alliance, which debuted in August 2017. The company expanded its presence by inaugurating a Tacoma office in November 2018 staffed by seven employees and relocated its Denver headquarters to Golden by January 2019. By mid-2019, total staff numbers had increased to 78.
One of IllFonic’s more recent releases, Predator: Hunting Grounds, became available for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 4 in April 2020. In January of the same year, Gio Corsi—formerly an executive at Sony Interactive Entertainment—joined as chief product officer coinciding with the launch of a third office based in Austin, Texas.
This expansion underscores IllFonic’s strategic approach in capitalizing on licensed intellectual properties within the competitive asymmetric multiplayer sector, bolstering its global operations and market presence.
Games developed
| Year | Title | Platform(s) | Publisher(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Nexuiz | Xbox 360, Windows | THQ |
| 2017 | Friday the 13th: The Game | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One | Gun Media |
| Dead Alliance | PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One | Maximum Games | |
| 2020 | Predator: Hunting Grounds | PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S | Sony Interactive Entertainment, IllFonic |
| 2021 | Arcadegeddon | PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | IllFonic |
| 2022 | Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed | PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | IllFonic |
| 2024 | Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game | PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S | IllFonic |
Ongoing assistance
Terminated initiatives
- Ghetto Golf
- Project Advena
- Revival