Coffee Stain signs new development studio Box Dragon

Coffee Stain Publishing has partnered with Box Dragon, a brand-new game studio set up by industry veterans from Riot Games and Battlerite developer Stunlock Studios. The studio is located in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The agreement will see Coffee Stain back the new studio, which is working on its first project, from the pre-development stage through to release.

Yet to be announced, the new IP from Box Dragon should continue Coffee Stain’s track record of supporting and publishing some of the most critically-acclaimed indie games released in recent years, joining the likes of Valheim, Deep Rock Galactic and Satisfactory in its impressive publishing portfolio.

Box Dragon already has gaming success in its DNA, having been co-founded by Kevin Chang and Karl Bergström, two Stunlock Studio veterans that were behind the team arena brawler Battlerite.

Chang, with a background in board game design alongside his previous position as Systems Designer and Product Owner, is now Game Director at Box Dragon, while former Battlerite Technical Director Bergström is now CEO and Tech Director for the team.

Aleks Nikonov, a familiar face in the art world as a fantastic talent and recognisable to many in the games industry as the mind behind some of League of Legends most iconic art, is also already in place as the Art Director. While the studio has also recently filled a variety of other roles, Box Dragon is still looking for a sound designer, a producer, and an additional programmer to make their mark on its exciting new project.

While so far very little has been revealed about Box Dragon and Coffee Stain’s upcoming project together, it will draw upon the team’s background in board game design and feature a lush semi-stylised post-apocalyptic world.

Albert Säfström, CEO of Coffee Stain Publishing, commented: “To have Box Dragon on board is another great moment for Coffee Stain. We want to be helping developers that are original, unique and ground-breaking, and the Box Dragon team are all those things and more.

“The Box Dragon team is already packed with incredible talent and features the minds behind some incredible, and even iconic, games. We’re really excited to be working with them, and can’t wait to share more details about the project when we can.”

Kevin Chang, Co-Founder and Game Director at Box Dragon added: “We are incredibly proud to be working with Coffee Stain, a publisher that has become synonymous with originality and creativity. They’ve helped support some of the industry’s best success stories, and we’re so excited for their support as we develop our first project. Things are under wraps at the moment given how early we are in the development process, but we’re looking forward to sharing more as soon as we can.

“The partnership has also empowered us to grow our team with even more talented and creative members as we continue development, and I can’t wait to see what we can create together with Coffee Stain.”