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This is a press release posted in addition to our usual editorial content.
Cooldown Games proudly announces its official launch as an independent publisher of PC and console games. Founded by a collective of seven industry veterans with experience from multiple top-tier game companies including Gearbox Entertainment, id Software, and Warner Bros, the publisher will focus on delivering engaging gaming experiences that can seamlessly fit into the hectic work-and-game-life balance of modern gamers.
The founders are:
- Steve Gibson, Chief Executive Officer
- Matt Charles, Chief Product Officer
- Erick Cobbs, Chief Business Officer
- Jackson Hardesty, Chief Operations Officer
- Brad Schliesser, Chief Revenue Officer
- Jimmy Sieben, Chief Technology Officer
- Jeff Skal, Chief Marketing Officer
Steve Gibson, who most recently led Gearbox Publishing as President, will serve as CEO of Cooldown Games. He will apply his 30 years of experience to lead the team that strengthens game makers and delights game players of the next generation of amazing titles. The company is bolstered by six additional co-founders who previously worked together in publishing where they were responsible for generating over $1B USD in revenue for the business. Their successes included 8 games that each surpassed 1 million units sold and the creation of a worldwide cross-platform videogame gift card business. The team is dedicated to Cooldown Games’ core belief that great games don’t need to be all-consuming and can still fit seamlessly into a busy lifestyle.
“Our team is confident rational business models will be a long-term strength of Cooldown Games and that just might be a refreshing contrast from many recent industry trends,” said Steve Gibson, CEO of Cooldown Games. “My passion of helping game makers reach as many game players as possible while making sure that it’s a rewarding experience for everyone involved is at the center of all of this. Let’s make some great games together.”
“Over the last five years, we all individually noticed that we’ve been gravitating away from many of the predictable new releases,” said Jeff Skal, Chief Marketing Officer of Cooldown Games. “We noticed that was because most of us already have ‘forever’ games—for me and Brad that’s World of Warcraft, and for Jackson that’s DayZ—and most of these giant new releases were just asking for more than we could give. When we started Cooldown Games, we quickly realized that there’s a ton of gamers out there just like us—and we wanted to find the best games that can fit in between our sessions, or seasons, or even just after raid night.”
The company will focus on premium titles that emphasize bringing more refined gaming experiences that players can enjoy at their own pace without the need of large time investments to join in or keep up.
“Many talented developers weathered the recent industry turbulence and now more than ever seek a partner that understands their project’s vision and how it will resonate with an audience,” said Matt Charles, Chief Product Officer of Cooldown Games. “We are looking to work with astute and passionate teams that share our philosophy and observation about player behavior, and we can create a force-multiplying partnership on the path to release.”
Developers interested in contacting Cooldown Games about potential partnerships are encouraged to contact them via the website at cooldowngames.com. For additional details about Cooldown Games, visit their official website and follow them on Bluesky, and LinkedIn.
