Frost Bite is Born!
Grail Games and Frost Bite Games Announce Ongoing Strategic Partnership.
Grail Games is partnering with Frost Bite Games (formerly Maple Games), to enhance focus at both companies and reach a broader audience through collaboration. As part of this partnership, some upcoming releases will change hands.
Sydney, Australia – Friday, January 24, 2025. Today, Grail Games announced that it will be partnering with Frost Bite Games (formerly Maple Games) on an ongoing basis. This partnership will allow both studios to release board games aimed at focused customer groups. The partnership will also ensure both studios will be better equipped to meet the demands of the current board game market, thanks to the sharing of resources and talent.
Frost Bite Games is the new name for the studio formerly known as Maple Games, founded in 2018. After a number of releases across a number of genres, the new name reflects the studio’s desire to focus on releasing heavier strategy games in English and French, after its successful release of Expedition Northwest Passage: HMS Terror Edition in 2024. As part of this strategic partnership, Grail Games will be moving its Manhattan Project family of games (acquired from Minion Games in 2021) to Frost Bite Games.
Thanks to a recent strategic partnership with Matagot, Grail Games will now focus on small games and medium-weight strategy games, after moving its family-focused games to its partners at Matagot, and receiving some of Matagot’s strategy games in return. Grail’s upcoming heavier games (such as Manhattan Project: Energy Empire) will be moving to Frost Bite Games. In return, Frost Bite Games is moving its upcoming medium weight game, Valedictorian by Adrian Adamescu (Sagrada) and Florin Purluca (Sparks) to Grail.
David Harding, studio head of Grail Games, will also be working for the new Frost Bite Games as Production Director. Billy Chandler, former studio head of Maple Games, will remain as the Creative Director at Frost Bite Games.
“I have found it difficult to release a broad range of titles in today’s market and find a fanbase,” said Director David Harding. “With this new partnership, board game players will know what to expect from a Grail Games release. By staying focused on what we do well, but by sharing resources with other studios, we are much more likely to find continued success.”
“I am so happy to announce our new name, strategic direction, and partnership with Grail Games,” said Frost Bite Games Creative Director, Billy Chandler. “The Manhattan Project games are modern classics, and by working together with Grail Games, I know we will be able to bring the ultimate editions of these games to fans across the world.”
Manhattan Project: Energy Empire will be Frost Bite Games’s first crowdfunding campaign, due to launch on Kickstarter on February 28, 2025. David Harding and Grail Games will work with Frost Bite Games on the crowdfunding campaign and production of the game. Valedictorian is due to crowdfund later in 2025 from Grail Games.
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About Grail Games: Grail Games is a board and card game publishing studio located in Sydney, Australia. Our games, including Snowcrest, Fjords and Elevenses, are available worldwide. Our focus is on card games and medium weight strategy board games that are family friendly, fast to teach, and that offer depth and replayability. To find out more, please visit www.grailgames.games
About Frost Bite Games: Frost Bite Games is a board game publishing studio located in Toronto, Canada. Our previous release, Expedition Northwest Passage, is available worldwide. Our focus is on board games that offer a lot of complexity and strategy for experienced gamers. To find out more, please visit www.instagram.com/maplegames
