Longtime support developer PTW has changed its name to Side, a move that the company hopes will express its “commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions side-by-side with [our] global partners across a wider range of specialisms.”
In addition to landing it a new logo and mission statement, Side says that the rebranding also serves as a brand unification bid. The move will unite its multiple studios under a single, freshly rebranded umbrella.
As explained by comments from chief revenue officer Kaley Hurst: “This rebrand is the amalgamation of years of organic and inorganic growth, strategic planning for the future, and the realization that we are stronger together – in both brand and values.”
Side hopes its unified banner will convey its various services, like QA and localization, through a collaborative lens. Per CEO Deborah Kirkham, “At the core of the rebrand is the promise to infuse technology with human ingenuity across all Side solutions.” Those solutions and teams include over 40 studios in 14 countries and projects across Side’s 1518 Studios, Ghostpunch Games, PTW, and SIDE.
“For years now, our company has operated as one team, with one vision driving how we do business – I’m proud that all our employees are now united under one banner,” continues Kirham’s statement. “The new brand symbolizes our commitment to delivering innovative, tailored solutions that drive our partners’ successes around the world.”
Before its new name, Side opened a new studio in Charleston, South Carolina, its fifth in North America. It also opened a mocap studio in London and acquired Ghostpunch Games, a fellow co-development studio on Risk of Rain 2, for its AI-powered services. In early 2024, it laid off 45 employees across its global teams. The layoffs followed its contributions to 2023 games like Dead Island 2, Starfield, and Baldur’s Gate 3. More recently, Side’s portfolio includes Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II, Kingdom Come Deliverance II, and Sid Meier’s Civilization VII.
Update: This story has been updated to correctly identify the location of Side’s Charleston, South Carolina-based studio.