Iceberg Interactive

Iceberg Interactive is an independent video games publisher founded in 2009 by an international group of games industry veterans and headquartered in Haarlem, near Amsterdam, in the Netherlands.^[1][2] The company specializes in supporting indie developers by publishing high-quality PC and console titles for the global digital market while maintaining a presence in traditional retail.^[1] It has built a reputation for innovative and diverse games, focusing on genres such as action, horror, strategy, and simulation.^[3] Iceberg Interactive's portfolio includes notable franchises like Killing Floor 2, a co-op survival shooter co-published with Tripwire Interactive, Maneater, an action RPG where players control a bull shark on a revenge quest, and Circle Empires, a real-time strategy series featuring tactical empire-building.^[1][4] Recent successes highlight its commitment to unique indie experiences, including Strange Horticulture, a puzzle adventure involving occult plant identification that garnered critical acclaim for its atmospheric storytelling, and Land of the Vikings, a survival colony simulator set in a Norse world.^[1][5] The publisher has released over 100 titles since its inception, collaborating with developers worldwide to bring fresh narratives and gameplay mechanics to players.^[3] Iceberg Interactive's 2025 lineup features promising projects such as Strange Antiquities, a sequel-like occult mystery from the creators of Strange Horticulture, Circle Empires 2, expanding the strategy franchise, and Heroes of Valor, a tactical RPG emphasizing heroic narratives.^[1] With a team of avid gamers and industry experts, the company continues to prioritize creative freedom for developers while ensuring polished releases across platforms like Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.^[1][6]

History

Founding

Iceberg Interactive was established in 2009 by an international group of video game industry veterans from Europe and beyond.^[1] The company emerged following the sale of Lighthouse Interactive, a prior publishing venture co-founded by CEO Erik Schreuder, allowing the team to pivot toward a new model focused on independent titles.^[7] Schreuder, who had previously worked at publisher Project 3 Interactive, sought to build on lessons from traditional boxed retail amid the rising dominance of digital distribution.^[8] The founding team's motivations centered on addressing a gap in the European market for high-potential independent games, particularly in evergreen genres such as strategy, simulation, action, and adventure that were underserved by major publishers.^[7] By emphasizing quality indie projects with global appeal, Iceberg aimed to support developers while navigating the shift from physical to digital sales, a transition the founders anticipated early based on their retail backgrounds.^[9] Initially, the team comprised a mix of seasoned industry professionals and emerging talent, enabling a flexible approach to publishing.^[10] Headquartered in Haarlem, Netherlands—near Amsterdam—the startup operated with a lean structure suited to its early-stage focus on scouting and releasing promising titles across PC and console platforms.^[1]

Growth and milestones

Iceberg Interactive's early growth from 2010 to 2015 was marked by strategic publishing deals that expanded its presence in the PC gaming market. Following the 2009 European release of Killing Floor through a partnership with Tripwire Interactive, the company secured a deal with Amplitude Studios to publish the 4X strategy game Endless Space in 2012.^[11][12] This period saw Iceberg build a diverse portfolio, including adventure and strategy titles, culminating in over 20 publications by 2015 as it established itself among indie publishers. Key partnerships further fueled this expansion, notably ongoing collaborations with developers like Amplitude Studios and Tripwire Interactive for franchise titles. In 2009, Iceberg entered the Russian market via an agreement with Noviy Disk, distributing three adventure games there while gaining rights to publish Ninja Blade in the UK and other regions.^[13] By 2023, Iceberg had reached a major milestone with over 60 published titles across PC and consoles, reflecting steady accumulation through indie-focused releases. In 2024, the company launched the Iceberg Creator Collective, a program to support content creators with early access to games and collaboration opportunities.^[14] Recent developments highlighted continued momentum, including the February 2024 release of the narrative puzzle adventure CLeM, developed by Mango Protocol. In November 2025, Iceberg announced and launched Second Sun, a fast-paced shooter from Grey Wolf Entertainment. The publisher has actively participated in Dutch Games Industry events, amid the sector's double-digit growth, with industry revenue rising 10.5% to €763 million between 2021 and 2023.^[15][16][17] Despite these achievements, Iceberg has faced challenges in the saturated indie market, operating without major external funding and remaining unfunded as of 2025.^[18]

Company profile

Headquarters and leadership

Iceberg Interactive is headquartered in Haarlem, North Holland, Netherlands, at Belgiëlaan 63G, 2034 AW, where it has been based since its founding in 2009.^[19][20] This location serves as the primary hub for the company's European operations, facilitating coordination with international developers and partners across global digital and retail markets.^[1] The company maintains a small to medium-sized organizational structure, with 11-50 employees as of 2025, including roles in publishing, marketing, quality assurance, and business development.^[20] It incorporates international remote contributors across three continents—Europe, Africa, and Oceania—enabling a distributed team of industry veterans focused on supporting indie game projects.^[2] Leadership is headed by CEO Erik Schreuder, who co-founded the company in 2009 after serving as CEO of Lighthouse Interactive, bringing extensive experience in indie game publishing.^[21][1] Key figures include Sales Director Howard Newmark, Business Development Director Raymond Snippe, Art Director Michael van Zijl, and Diane Hutchinson in a senior role, though detailed public information on a formal board is unavailable.^[1] The company's culture emphasizes close collaboration with independent developers worldwide, staffed by passionate gamers who prioritize innovative PC titles in adventure and strategy genres.^[1]

Business model

Iceberg Interactive functions as an independent publisher dedicated exclusively to indie video games across PC and console platforms, offering developers a range of support services without assuming ownership of intellectual property or exerting creative control over the projects. The company provides expertise in worldwide distribution, quality assurance, beta testing, localization, marketing, and public relations to help optimize games for market success and maximize exposure. This approach emphasizes collaboration, where developers retain responsibility for the core product while benefiting from Iceberg Interactive's industry network and partnerships with major platforms like Steam and GOG.^[22][23] The publisher's revenue primarily derives from game sales through digital storefronts and console partnerships, sustaining operations via the profitability of its selective portfolio of over 100 titles since its inception.^[24][9][25] Without reliance on external venture capital, Iceberg Interactive maintains financial independence by focusing on high-quality indie releases that align with team passions and market potential.^[24][25] In terms of strategy, the company curates a targeted selection of titles annually, prioritizing unique indie games in genres such as strategy, adventure, and horror to build a diverse yet focused catalog. This selective process involves reviewing pitches submitted via email, assessing design documents and team capabilities to ensure strong potential for global appeal. Distribution efforts center on Europe and North America, leveraging regional strengths while expanding internationally through digital and retail channels.^[26][24] Developer relations are built on long-term partnerships, with Iceberg Interactive offering comprehensive assistance for porting to additional platforms and localization into multiple languages to broaden reach and sales opportunities. The company encourages ongoing communication post-publishing, providing tools like review codes and social media support to foster sustained collaboration and game longevity.^[22][26][27]

Published games

Notable titles

Iceberg Interactive has published several standout titles that have contributed to its reputation in strategy, sci-fi, and indie genres. Among these, Endless Space (2012), developed by Amplitude Studios, is a turn-based 4X strategy game set in a vast galaxy where players manage empires through exploration, expansion, and conquest. It received critical acclaim for its strategic depth and faction diversity, earning a Metacritic score of 77 based on 36 reviews.^[28] The game contributed to the Endless series surpassing 1 million copies sold by 2014, helping to establish Iceberg Interactive's prominence in the strategy genre.^[29] Another key release is Killing Floor (2009, with European distribution and later digital re-releases handled by Iceberg Interactive), a co-operative first-person shooter developed by Tripwire Interactive featuring survival horror elements against waves of zombie-like creatures. The title boosted Iceberg Interactive's visibility in the multiplayer market through its emphasis on team-based gameplay and modding community support.^[30][31] In the sci-fi space simulation niche, Starpoint Gemini 2 (2014), developed by Little Green Men Games, combines RPG elements with open-world exploration in a dynamic star system, allowing players to pilot customizable starships, engage in combat, and pursue story-driven quests. It garnered positive reviews for its relaxing yet engaging open-world mechanics, achieving an 80% score from PC Gamer and a Metacritic aggregate of 70 from 19 critics, solidifying Iceberg Interactive's sci-fi portfolio.^[32][33] More recently, Strange Horticulture (2022), a puzzle adventure game developed by Bad Viking, casts players as a shopkeeper dealing in mystical plants to solve occult mysteries in a cozy, narrative-driven setting. It became a Steam hit, amassing over 14,000 reviews with a 92% positive rating and generating an estimated gross revenue exceeding $9.9 million, underscoring Iceberg Interactive's success with indie cozy games.^[34][35][36] Iceberg Interactive's latest notable publication, CLeM (2024), a narrative puzzler developed by Mango Protocol, follows a protagonist uncovering psychological mysteries in a single, evolving house through metroidvania-style exploration and innovative item-based puzzles. The game received positive reviews for its storytelling and creative mechanics, earning a Metacritic score of 79 from six critics and praise for emotional depth in outlets like Adventure Game Hotspot (78/100).^[37][38][15]

Full list of publications

Iceberg Interactive has published over 70 titles as of 2025, with a primary focus on PC platforms and occasional ports to consoles such as PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.^[39][25] The company's portfolio emphasizes indie strategy, adventure, and simulation games, excluding minor co-publishing or localization roles unless they represent primary publication responsibilities.^[10] Below is a chronological catalog of key publications, grouped by year ranges, including select representative titles with their developers and primary platforms.

2009-2015

This period marks Iceberg Interactive's early years, with a focus on adventure and strategy titles for PC.

• Killing Floor (2009, developer: Tripwire Interactive, platforms: PC).^[40]
• Darkness Within: In Pursuit of Loath Nolder (2009 re-release, developer: Zoetrope Interactive, platforms: PC).^[41]
• Endless Space (2012, developer: Amplitude Studios, platforms: PC).^[42]
• Oil Rush (2012, developer: Unigine Corp., platforms: PC, Mac, Linux).^[43]
• Blades of Time (2012, developer: Gaijin Entertainment, platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360).^[10]
• Starpoint Gemini 2 (2014, developer: Little Green Men Games, platforms: PC).^[44]
• StarDrive (2013, developer: Zero Sum Games, platforms: PC).^[45]

2016-2020

Expansion into more diverse genres, including space simulation and horror, with growing console support.

• Killing Floor 2 (2016, developer: Tripwire Interactive, platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One).^[40]
• Starpoint Gemini Warlords (2017, developer: Kroko Games, platforms: PC).^[10]
• Conarium (2017, developer: Zoetrope Interactive, platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One).
• The Sojourn (2019, developer: RockSquare Interactive, platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One).^[10]
• Tech Support: Error Unknown (2019, developer: Dragon Slumber, platforms: PC).^[46]
• Transient (2020, developer: Stormling Studios, platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One).

2021-2025

Recent releases highlight simulation and tactical strategy, with continued PC emphasis and emerging console adaptations.

• Ambition: A Minuet in Power (2021, developer: Joy Manufacturing Co., platforms: PC).^[10]
• Strange Horticulture (2022, developer: Bad Viking, platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch).
• Land of the Vikings (2023, developer: LRDGames, platforms: PC).^[47]
• AirportSim (2023, developer: Aerosoft GmbH, platforms: PC).^[10]
• Doomblade (2023, developer: Lumen Games, platforms: PC).^[48]
• CLeM (2024, developer: Mango Protocol, platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One).^[15]
• Heroes of Valor (2025, developer: Nukenin Games, platforms: PC).^[49]
• Strange Antiquities (2025, developer: Bad Viking, platforms: PC).^[50]
• Second Sun (2025, developer: Playwood Studio, platforms: PC).^[10][51]