A Bristol-based games studio, founded in 2010, best known for Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun and board game adaptations.
Auroch Digital is a games studio in Bristol, England. It is known for turning tabletop and board games into video games, such as Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun, Ogre, Dark Future and Chainsaw Warrior, and for its own space game Mars Horizon. It also makes console versions of PC games, including Wildermyth, Democracy 4 and Megaquarium. The studio also made Brewmaster and Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War, and has worked on Warhammer Survivors and later Boltgun sequels.
Auroch says its games are made "by fans for fans" and that its goal is to keep up its passion for making great games and gaming moments. Its values include openness, job satisfaction, and chances to learn and grow. It is a registered Disability Confident Committed Member.
The studio was founded in 2010 by Thomas and Debbie Rawlings, with Thomas as studio director. In 2021 it joined the Sumo Group and had about 48 staff based in Bristol's St Paul's area (a dated figure). Thomas said the two companies shared values including quality, a respectful workplace, investment in new talent and making engaging, fun games. It is now part of Roundtable Interactive, and its own site describes a remote-first set-up with around 100 developers across the country.
The company has also done development work on other studios' games, including Sea of Thieves, V Rising, Wobbledogs, Fury of Dracula: Digital Edition and Plague Inc. It describes itself as a small, carefully selected team with a strong work ethic. As a result of being remote-first, its people work from different parts of the UK, not only Bristol. Its Mars Horizon 2 was announced as part of a partnership with Secret Mode, the publisher, showing how UK games companies often work together.
A studio like this employs programmers, artists, designers, producers, QA testers and operations staff. Because many of its projects start from board games, it is also a good example of how a love of tabletop games can turn into a games career. Auroch's website lists a presskit and an about page and describes the work as a mix of its own games, adaptations and ports. A good way to prepare is to play and analyse board games and make small games of your own, learning rules, balance and clear design. Skills in programming, art and writing about design are all useful in a studio that turns tabletop games into video games.
Website: aurochdigital.com
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