Game studio · Esports lab · Shoreditch
We forge worlds worth fighting for.
ShadowBattleForge is an independent game development studio and competitive esports lab in Shoreditch, London — building original titles, coaching ranked players, and running LAN nights across the UK.
Now in the forge
"Ashvault Legion" — our tactical extraction shooter enters closed beta this spring. Sign up for a playtest slot below.
14
Titles shipped
2,800+
Players coached
120
LAN nights hosted
Our story
From a Hoxton Square back room to a full-stack studio.
We started as three friends renting desk space above a coffee roaster on Hoxton Square. A decade later we design, build, and compete — all under one roof, ten minutes from Old Street station.
- 2014
The first build
Founded above a coffee roaster on Hoxton Square with a single arcade prototype and a borrowed projector for playtests.
- 2017
First title on storefronts
Released "Nightgale Drift", a neon racing game that reached 400,000 downloads and funded our move to a permanent studio.
- 2020
The esports lab opens
Launched dedicated coaching bays and a 16-seat bootcamp room, turning weekend scrims into a structured academy.
- 2023
Community LAN nights
Began hosting monthly LAN nights in Shoreditch, now drawing 200+ players and streamed across the London indie scene.
What we do
Three studios, one forge.
Whether you want a game built, your rank climbed, or an event that sells out, our team plugs in wherever you need it.
Original game development, start to ship
Concept, prototyping, art, and engineering under one roof. We build in Unreal and Unity for PC and console, with a dedicated producer assigned to every project.
From £24,000 · 3–9 month builds
- Discovery sprint & playable prototype in 3 weeks
- Dedicated producer and weekly build reviews
- Store-ready packaging for Steam & console
Selected work
Projects from the forge.
A slice of the games, coaching programmes, and events we have shipped from Shoreditch.
Ashvault Legion
Tactical extraction shooter · closed beta
Nightgale Drift
Neon arcade racer · 400k downloads
Forge Academy
6-week ranked coaching cohort
Shoreditch LAN #24
200-player community night
Aim Lab Intensive
FPS mechanics bootcamp
Hollow Sundown
Co-op survival prototype
Forge Invitational
£5,000 weekend tournament
Squad Scrim Series
MOBA team coaching block
Player & partner voices
What people say after a season with us.
I came in stuck in Platinum for two years. Eight weeks of VOD reviews and drills at the Forge Academy and I finally hit Diamond — the callout coaching alone changed how I play.
We briefed ShadowBattleForge on a mobile prototype and had a playable build in three weeks. Their producer kept us honest every Friday and the launch hit our window.
They ran our studio social as a 40-seat LAN night on Hoxton Square. Casters, brackets, bar tab — the whole team is still talking about it months later.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions.
Either works. Many clients arrive with a one-line pitch and we run a paid discovery sprint to turn it into a playable prototype and a costed roadmap. If you already have a design document, we will review it and slot straight into production.
Our coaches specialise in tactical FPS titles, MOBAs, and fighting games. Every coach is a former tier-1 competitor or analyst, and we match you to the person who best fits your game and rank goals.
All community LAN nights and private events run from our venue on Hoxton Square in Shoreditch, ten minutes from Old Street station. We can also bring a mobile 40-PC setup to a venue of your choice within Greater London.
The studio is open Monday to Friday 10am–7pm for development and coaching, with LAN nights running select evenings and weekends. Booked coaching sessions can be arranged outside these hours by request.
Development projects begin with a discovery sprint invoiced up front, followed by milestone billing. Coaching is paid per session or per academy block, and events require a 30% deposit to hold the date.
Get in touch
Tell us what you want to forge.
Pitch a game, book a coaching block, or hold a date for your LAN night. We reply to every message within one working day.
Studio details
- Phone+44 20 7424 3916
- Studio58 Hoxton Square, Shoreditch, London N1 6PB
- Email[email protected]
- HoursMon–Fri 10:00–19:00 · LAN nights select evenings