Bristol independent games developer Auroch Digital is poised for strong growth and the launch of two highly original games after receiving funding from a group of private investors in the city.
Bristol Private Equity Club’s £200,000 investment in the firm, based in the Bristol Games Hub in Stokes Croft, coincides with an undisclosed cash injection from Miniclip, the world’s largest privately-owned online gaming website, and other backers. 
Auroch Digital was set up in 2010 by Tomas and Debbie Rawlings and has already grown into a world-leading independent development studio and games consultant, working on its own original titles and work for hire projects, creating games for partners large and small.
Among its own titles are Mars Horizon, Last Days of Old Earth and Dark Future: Blood Red States (pictured).
Tomas Rawlings, design and production director at Auroch Digital, said: “We’re using the investment to fund new original IP (intellectual property) games.
“We have a strong track record of partnering with other major IP holders’ games companies.
“What this investment allows us to do is take our creativity and development skills to the next level and invest in two new, totally original game ideas.
“We’ve got huge ambitions for new titles and this investment boosts those ambitions. The newest IP we’re building up was backed by the UK Games Fund, which gave us a huge boost when we started talking to investors.
“Having Miniclip onboard is also a major vote of confidence in our ideas, the team and our plans for the future.”
The company currently employs around 15 people – depending on specific project requirements. It is also a co-founding member of the non-profit Bristol Games Hub.
“So this investment also helps boost opportunities for others in the space as we’ve been drawing on more local talent in delivering our ambitions,” added Tomas.
“In five years’ time we hope to have established several new gaming IPs and to continue to build acclaimed games without partners.”
Allan Rosengren from Bristol Private Equity Club said: “Game development has emerged from relatively humble beginnings to become a major worldwide growth industry.
“Auroch Digital is clearly a major force in this market and has already established impressive connections to some truly global brands.
“The company is constantly evolving and our investors are always keen to identify businesses capable of keeping pace with these rapidly advancing technologies.”
Miniclip is majority owned by Chinese tech conglomerate Tencent, which has extensive games investments including in Epic Games (creators of Fortnite and the Unreal game engine) and Supercell (creators of Clash Royale and Clash of Clans).
