Iron Galaxy

Iron Galaxy Studios, LLC
Company type	Private
Industry	Video game development
Founded	2008
Founder	Dave Lang
Headquarters	Chicago, Illinois, United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Chelsea Blasko (CEO), Adam Boyes (former Co-CEO), Dave Lang (co-founder)
Products	Video games, technical consulting, multi-platform game ports, collaborative development
Number of employees	Approximately 230 (as of 2021) (2021)
Website	irongalaxystudios.com

Iron Galaxy Studios, LLC is a United States-based video game developer headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with additional branches located in Orlando, Florida and Nashville, Tennessee. The firm partners with publishers and fellow developers to deliver technical consulting, multi-platform game ports, collaborative development, lead development roles, and ongoing support.

Iron Galaxy has gained recognition for leading development on titles such as Rumbleverse and the second and third seasons of Killer Instinct (2013), as well as extensive porting projects for both PC and console platforms.

Early endeavors

Established in 2008 by Dave Lang as a studio focused on contract work and consulting,^[1]^[2] Lang utilized his background at Midway Games and industry connections at Capcom to secure porting assignments for games including Bionic Commando and Dark Void.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name

Building a strong relationship with Capcom, Iron Galaxy developed Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike Online Edition in 2011,^[3] followed by ports of Marvel vs. Capcom Origins and Darkstalkers Resurrection.^[4]

Proprietary titles

In 2011, Microsoft approached Iron Galaxy to propose an original title for the Kinect. The studio created a motion-controlled concept where players demolish castles, reminiscent of Angry Birds. This led to the release of Iron Galaxy's inaugural original game, Wreckateer, in July 2012.

By 2013, Iron Galaxy teamed up with One True Game Studios to launch the satirical fighting game Divekick across PlayStation 3, Vita, and Windows platforms. To support this project’s development, a second studio was established in Orlando. An enhanced edition titled Divekick: Addition Edition later debuted on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Arkham series ports

Iron Galaxy was responsible for the Windows port of Batman: Arkham Origins in 2013; however, the release experienced numerous bugs and performance challenges. Although initial patches addressed some issues, Warner Bros. Games opted not to resolve many outstanding problems.

In 2015, Iron Galaxy undertook the PC port of Batman: Arkham Knight, which launched with significant performance difficulties. Within days of release, Warner Bros. removed the title from digital storefronts amid revelations they had prior knowledge of these problems. Rocksteady, the original developer of the console versions, collaborated with Iron Galaxy to rectify the PC version. After approximately four months of remediation efforts, the game was reissued on PC in October.

Killer Instinct revival

Iron Galaxy was among the finalists considered to develop the 2013 reboot of Killer Instinct, but lost the contract due to their commitment to Wreckateer. Following Amazon’s acquisition of Double Helix Games in 2014, Microsoft appointed Iron Galaxy as the ongoing developer for Killer Instinct.

Under Iron Galaxy’s stewardship, season two launched in October 2014, followed by season three in March 2016. A 10th anniversary update released in 2023 introduced enhancements including 4K resolution support, gameplay balance tweaks, and improved matchmaking systems.

In January 2015, Gearbox Software revealed Borderlands: The Handsome Collection, which bundled Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Iron Galaxy contributed to this porting effort and additionally developed the PlayStation Vita version of Borderlands 2.

Expansion into publishing

Iron Galaxy ventured into self-publishing in 2015, launching titles such as Capsule Force and Tim Rogers' Videoball in 2016. Despite these early efforts, the publishing branch faced difficulties, with the development of a third game, Gunsport, extending over several additional years.

Leadership transitions

In July 2016, Adam Boyes assumed the role of CEO, succeeding co-founder Dave Lang, who remained with the company focusing on prototype projects and business growth. At that point, the workforce numbered around 130 employees.

By June 2017, Iron Galaxy revealed Extinction, marking its first full-priced title, which was published by Maximum Games. The game became available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on April 10, 2018. Later, in October 2020, Chelsea Blasko was elevated to Co-CEO alongside Boyes.

Nintendo Switch adaptations

Following the Nintendo Switch's release, Iron Galaxy established a reputation for porting prominent games to the platform. In 2017, it collaborated with Bethesda to bring The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim to Switch. The studio partnered with Blizzard in 2018 to deliver Diablo III on the console, completing the port within nine months and receiving favorable reviews.

The company continued this trajectory by porting Dauntless and Overwatch in 2019 and later converting Apex Legends for Switch in 2021. Additionally, Iron Galaxy supported Retro Studios on the 2023 launch of Metroid Prime Remastered.

Rumbleverse

In December 2021, Iron Galaxy unveiled Rumbleverse, a free-to-play battle royale with a wrestling theme published by Epic Games, initially slated for release in February 2022. The concept originated in 2017 and underwent three years of development involving roughly 80 of the studio’s then-230 employees. However, its release was postponed indefinitely in January 2022 while playtesting continued.

A new launch window was announced for August 2022, yet Rumbleverse struggled to maintain a viable player base. By January 2023, Iron Galaxy declared the game’s closure effective the following month and offered refunds for any in-game purchases. A Nintendo Switch version was also under development at that time. The game's underperformance was attributed to fierce competition, limited multiplayer features, exclusivity on the Epic Games Store, and low streaming engagement, all contributing to inadequate revenue.

Aftermath of Rumbleverse

In the wake of Rumbleverse's disappointing outcome, Iron Galaxy avoided workforce reductions by reallocating staff and renewing partnerships with clients specializing in contract work such as Naughty Dog. The studio handled the PC port of the Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves collection in 2022 and worked on bringing The Last of Us Part I to PC in 2023. Although initially planned for a March 3 release date, it was postponed to March 23 and met with criticism due to its unfinished state. Iron Galaxy is also slated to develop the PC port for The Last of Us Part II.

The company expanded its footprint by opening a new office in Nashville, Tennessee in 2022 and moving into a larger facility by April 2024. Although plans were announced for an Austin location, these were delayed following the shutdown of Rumbleverse.

Co-CEO Adam Boyes resigned in August 2024, leaving Chelsea Blasko as sole CEO. In February 2025, Iron Galaxy implemented layoffs affecting 66 developers and support personnel as a final measure to preserve financial health.

In March 2025, Iron Galaxy revealed its involvement with Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4, a remake combining the third and fourth entries of the Tony Hawk's franchise, which launched on July 11 that year.

Original Creations

Year	Title	Platform(s)
2012	Wreckateer	Xbox 360
2013	Divekick	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3
2014	Divekick: Addition Edition	PlayStation 4, Xbox One
2016	Killer Instinct Season Two	Microsoft Windows, Xbox One
2016	Killer Instinct Season Three	Microsoft Windows, Xbox One
2018	Extinction	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
2022	Rumbleverse	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
2025	Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2

Published Titles

Year	Title	Platform(s)	Template:Reference column heading
2015	Capsule Force	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4	^[5]
2016	Videoball	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One	^[6]

Ports and Support Contributions

Year	Title	Platform(s)	Template:Reference column heading
2009	Snood	iOS	^[7]
2009	Bionic Commando	Xbox 360	^[1]
2010	Kinect Adventures	Xbox 360	^[8]
	Dark Void	PlayStation 3, Xbox 360	^[6]
	Supreme Commander 2	Xbox 360	^[7]
	The Lord of the Rings Online	Microsoft Windows	^[7]
	BioShock 2	PlayStation 3	^[1]
	Tron: Evolution	PlayStation 3	^[7]
	Sleeping Dogs	PlayStation 3, Xbox 360	^[8]
rowspan="6"\|2011	You Don't Know Jack	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360	^[3]
BioShock 2: Minerva's Den	Microsoft Windows
Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike Online Edition	PlayStation 3, Xbox 360	^[3]
Scribblenauts Remix	Android, iOS
Ms. Splosion Man	Windows Phone
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North	PlayStation 3
rowspan="3"\|2012	Back to the Future: The Game	Wii
Borderlands 2	PlayStation Vita
Marvel vs. Capcom Origins	PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
rowspan="9"\|2013	Darkstalkers Resurrection	PlayStation Network platforms
BioShock Infinite	Multiple platforms
Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii U, Xbox 360
Epic Citadel	Android
Batman: Arkham Asylum	Microsoft Windows
Batman: Arkham City	Microsoft Windows
Batman: Arkham Origins	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3
Crimson Dragon	Xbox One
rowspan="3"\|2014	D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die	Various platforms
Destiny	PlayStation 3
The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited	Xbox One, PlayStation 4
rowspan="4"\|2015	Borderlands: The Handsome Collection	Multiple platforms
Batman: Arkham Knight	Microsoft Windows
Deadpool	PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Destiny: The Taken King	Xbox 360
rowspan="5"\|2016	Lichdom: Battlemage	Xbox One
7 Days to Die	Xbox One, PlayStation 4
Dreadnought	Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4
Alekhine's Gun	Xbox One
Dungeon Defenders II	Xbox One, PlayStation 4
rowspan="4"\|2017	Batman: Arkham Underworld	iOS, Android
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim	Nintendo Switch
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR	Microsoft Windows
Fallout 4 VR	Microsoft Windows
rowspan="6"\|2018	Conan Exiles	Xbox One
Fortnite	PlayStation 4, Xbox One, iOS
Quake Champions	Microsoft Windows
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy	Microsoft Windows
Diablo III	Nintendo Switch
Fallout 76	Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4
	2019		Spyro Reignited Trilogy		Microsoft Windows			Overwatch		Nintendo Switch			Dauntless		Nintendo Switch
		2021		Apex Legends			2022		Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection		Microsoft Windows			Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time		Steam
		2023		Metroid Prime Remastered		Nintendo Switch	2022			The Last of Us Part I		Microsoft Windows			Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2		Microsoft Windows
	2025			The Last of Us Part II Remastered

External links

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