FunPlus Launches Lisbon Video Game Company Studio Ellipsis

“State of Survival” and “King of Avalon” maker FunPlus has opened Studio Ellipsis in Lisbon, a new creative hub focused on expanding the indie gaming company’s IP across entertainment platforms.

Led by FunPlus’ Alexandre Amancio, head of studio and senior vice president and head of world building and IP strategy, Studio Ellipsis’s ambition is described as creating “entertainment experiences that cater to the evolving expectations of modern audiences.”

The first project from Studio Ellipsis is FunPlus’ “Sea of Conquest: Cradle of the Gods,” a comic series based on strategy game “Sea of Conquest: Pirate War.”

Per FunPlus, “Through a combination of cross-platform game development and transmedia storytelling, the studio will bring FunPlus’s IP to life in new ways, inviting fans to explore fresh lore, characters, and stories. In the coming months, the studio will unveil additional projects that expand FunPlus’ portfolio of worlds, as well as original IPs designed for cross-medium development.”

Amancio, who joined FunPlus in August 2023 after founding Montreal-based game studio Reflector Entertainment and servings as creative director on Ubisoft’s “Assassin’s Creed” franchise, will oversee the team as they branch out from mobile-first games into PC and console-focused titles and focus on transmedia storytelling across platforms.

“FunPlus has made cross-platform games, but they were mobile-first and free-to-play games Studio Ellipsis was built to expand the horizons on that,” Amancio told Variety. ” The idea of experimenting and trying out new mediums and new approaches to making games and even blending genres together, doing it in a fast, iterative, low-cost way, which is kind of the DNA of it. This is FunPlus’ way of breaking free from what they’re typically used to doing and exploring new potential markets in the future. FunPlus is actually quite a forward looking company. This idea of building IP and having this philosophy of being world-first is actually the reason that I joined FunPlus a little while ago. And I think that Studio Ellipsis is a natural evolution to that first step.”

FunPlus chose Lisbon as the location for Studio Ellipsis because of the Portuguese capital’s “burgeoning potential as a creative and technological hub” and “recognition as a dynamic environment for game development and digital entertainment.” Over the next three years, FunPlus says Studio Ellipsis plans to create more than 50 jobs, with a focus on attracting both local professionals as well as international talent eager to push the boundaries of storytelling and IP development.

As part of the launch of its new studio, FunPlus is collaborating with local universities and organizations like the APVP (Associação de Produtores de Videojogos Portugueses) and The Gaming Hub by Unicorn Factory Lisboa to foster local talent and the development economy.

“The launch of Studio Ellipsis marks a pivotal moment in FunPlus’ journey to become a global powerhouse in entertainment, extending far beyond our roots in the strategy genre” FunPlus chief business officer Chris Petrovic said. “By establishing a dedicated studio in a vibrant city like Lisbon, we are not only expanding our existing worlds but also laying the foundation for new IPs that can thrive across multiple mediums. This studio represents our commitment to evolving with our audiences, meeting their demand for immersive storytelling, and creating experiences that resonate deeply within our fans.”

Mayor of Lisbon Carlos Moedas added: “I am incredibly proud to welcome Studio Ellipsis from FunPlus to Lisbon, the European Capital of Innovation. Thanks to initiatives like the Unicorn Factory, our city has transformed into a global hub for innovators and unicorn companies, where some of the most groundbreaking and disruptive tech products and services are being developed. This unprecedented effort is changing lives across the city, with over 15,000 job opportunities being created in under three years. We are thrilled to include FunPlus as a new member of our exciting and diverse tech community. Welcome to Lisbon!”

Watch the Studio Ellipsis announcement video below.