Atooi
An independent video-game development and publishing brand founded by Jools Watsham.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Atooi is an independent video-game development and publishing brand founded by Jools Watsham in 2015 in the United States. It emerged from the breakup of Renegade Kid, the Austin-based studio that Watsham had co-founded with Gregg Hargrove in 2007. Renegade Kid became known for independent games designed primarily for Nintendo platforms, including the Mutant Mudds series, Xeodrifter, Dementium: The Ward, Moon Chronicles, and other projects. When Renegade Kid closed in 2016, its intellectual property was divided between Watsham's Atooi and Hargrove's Infitizmo. Atooi received the rights to Renegade Kid's two-dimensional properties, including Mutant Mudds and the then-unreleased Treasurenauts, while Infitizmo received the studio's three-dimensional properties, such as Dementium and Moon Chronicles. The Atooi brand therefore functions both as a continuation of Watsham's independent development work and as the custodian of a substantial part of Renegade Kid's catalog. Its portfolio is associated with compact, stylized games that draw on classic platforming, action-adventure, exploration, and arcade design. The company's work has had a particularly close relationship with Nintendo hardware and digital storefronts, although its games have also appeared on other platforms. Atooi's inherited properties include Mutant Mudds, a retro-inspired platform game; Treasurenauts, an exploration-focused project that originated at Renegade Kid; and other two-dimensional titles from the former studio. One of the brand's notable catalog initiatives was Atooi Collection, a compilation of five games from the former Renegade Kid portfolio. The collection was released for Nintendo 3DS by Limited Run Games on August 7, 2020. It was notable as the final physical game released for the Nintendo 3DS before Nintendo officially discontinued the system. The compilation placed Atooi's connection to Renegade Kid's two-dimensional catalog at the center of a preservation-oriented product. Atooi's corporate identity is closely tied to Watsham, who had spent more than a decade working with Hargrove at Iguana Entertainment before the pair established Renegade Kid. Following Renegade Kid's closure, Watsham continued developing and maintaining games under the Atooi name. After Hargrove died from pancreatic cancer in 2018, Watsham negotiated with Hargrove's widow to acquire Infitizmo's intellectual properties and later released remastered versions of the Dementium games. This expanded Atooi's relationship with the former Renegade Kid catalog beyond the two-dimensional properties initially assigned to it. Atooi is best understood as a privately held independent game creator and publisher rather than a mass-market entertainment conglomerate. Publicly available reference material does not establish a stock-market listing, revenue figures, employee count, or a parent corporation. Its importance comes from its role in sustaining the work of a prominent independent development partnership and from its focus on original and revived games for digital and specialist physical distribution.
History
Atooi's history is rooted in the long professional partnership between Jools Watsham and Gregg Hargrove. Before creating their own studio, the two developers worked together at Iguana Entertainment for approximately twelve to thirteen years. Their experience with Nintendo 64 development influenced the design approach of their later independent work; Watsham characterized the Nintendo DS as effectively a portable Nintendo 64, and Renegade Kid made the handheld a major target platform. Watsham and Hargrove launched Renegade Kid in early 2007. The studio's first announced project was Dementium: The Ward, a horror-oriented game announced in March 2007. By June of that year, Gamecock Media Group had become its publisher, and the studio reportedly had three employees. Renegade Kid subsequently developed a range of independent games, including the Mutant Mudds series, Moon Chronicles, and Xeodrifter. The studio's work was especially associated with downloadable games and Nintendo's digital ecosystem. In 2012, Renegade Kid released Mutant Mudds, its first game funded and published independently. The studio later resumed working with outside publishers, but a proposed licensed-game arrangement became an important turning point in its business strategy. Under the proposed arrangement, the publisher would have committed a budget of $500,000 while initially making only $125,000 available and retaining the balance until later development stages. Renegade Kid rejected the terms and subsequently concentrated on independent game development rather than accepting a structure that would have placed much of the financing risk on the developer. The company nevertheless faced financial pressure. Moon Chronicles performed poorly commercially, while the studio continued to operate with limited resources. The release of Xeodrifter helped stabilize the situation, but the financial demands of maintaining the company contributed to the decision by Watsham and Hargrove to separate their business activities. Atooi had been founded by Watsham in 2015, and Hargrove established Infitizmo in 2016. When Renegade Kid announced its closure on August 29, 2016, the partners divided the intellectual property between those successor companies. Atooi obtained the two-dimensional properties, including Mutant Mudds and Treasurenauts, while Infitizmo received three-dimensional titles such as Dementium and Moon Chronicles. Atooi continued to develop and distribute games under Watsham's ownership. The company's catalog relationship with Renegade Kid was later highlighted by Atooi Collection, a compilation containing five games from the former studio. Limited Run Games released the collection physically for Nintendo 3DS on August 7, 2020. Its release was historically notable because it became the final physical title for the Nintendo 3DS before Nintendo's official discontinuation of the platform. The company's history expanded again after Gregg Hargrove died of pancreatic cancer in September 2018. Watsham negotiated with Hargrove's widow to acquire Infitizmo's intellectual properties and subsequently released remastered versions of the Dementium games. This transaction brought additional former Renegade Kid properties into the orbit of Atooi and reinforced the brand's role as the continuing custodian of the partnership's game legacy. Public sources do not provide reliable financial statements, listing information, or a detailed current organizational chart. Atooi is consequently best described as a private, creator-led independent game developer and publisher.
- 2020
Atooi Collection launches on Nintendo 3DS
[1]Limited Run Games publishes the compilation physically on August 7, 2020, making it the Nintendo 3DS's final physical game release.
- 2018
Atooi expands its former Renegade Kid catalog
[1]Following Gregg Hargrove's death, Watsham negotiates to acquire Infitizmo's intellectual properties and later releases Dementium remasters.
- 2016
Renegade Kid shuts down
[1]Renegade Kid closes, with its intellectual property divided between Atooi and Infitizmo.
- 2015
Atooi is founded
[1]Jools Watsham establishes Atooi as an independent game company.
Products and positioning
Independent, creator-led game development and publishing focused on stylized, retro-influenced games, Nintendo-platform releases, and preservation or continuation of the Renegade Kid catalog.
Platform video game · 2012
Mutant Mudds
Mutant Mudds is a retro-influenced platform-game property created at Renegade Kid and assigned to Atooi after the studio's 2016 closure. It is one of the principal two-dimensional properties associated with Watsham's company and represents Atooi's focus on compact, stylized independent games with classic platforming design.
Platform and exploration video game
Treasurenauts
Treasurenauts is a two-dimensional game project originating at Renegade Kid. Its intellectual property transferred to Atooi when Renegade Kid was divided between Watsham and Hargrove's successor companies. The title is part of the inherited portfolio that defines Atooi's connection to Renegade Kid's side-scrolling game development.
Video-game compilation · 2020
Atooi Collection
Atooi Collection is a physical Nintendo 3DS compilation containing five games from the former Renegade Kid catalog. Limited Run Games released it on August 7, 2020. The collection is significant both as a convenient package of Atooi-associated properties and as the final physical game released for the Nintendo 3DS.
Remastered video games
Dementium remasters
After Watsham negotiated to acquire Infitizmo's intellectual properties, Atooi released remastered versions of the Dementium games. These releases extended Atooi's role from steward of Renegade Kid's two-dimensional properties to a broader successor of the studio's catalog.
Brand decisions
2016
Dividing Renegade Kid's intellectual propertyStrategyBackground
Watsham and Hargrove decided to end Renegade Kid's joint operation after financial and operational difficulties.
Action taken
Atooi received the studio's two-dimensional properties, while Infitizmo received its three-dimensional properties.
Aftermath
Atooi became the continuing home for properties including Mutant Mudds and Treasurenauts, while the former Infitizmo catalog was later brought partly into Atooi's portfolio.
2012
Rejecting a publisher financing structureStrategyBackground
Renegade Kid considered a licensed-game publishing arrangement in which a publisher would provide a nominal budget of $500,000 but initially release only $125,000, retaining the remainder until later development stages.
Action taken
The studio rejected the arrangement and moved toward an entirely independent development model.
Aftermath
The decision placed Renegade Kid's future more firmly around self-directed indie development, although the company continued to face financial pressure.
Recent events
- 2020
Atooi Collection released for Nintendo 3DS[1]
Product launch
Limited Run Games released Atooi Collection, a physical compilation of five games from the former Renegade Kid portfolio, for Nintendo 3DS.
- 2016
Renegade Kid closes and divides its intellectual property[1]
Other
After Renegade Kid shut down, Atooi received the studio's two-dimensional game properties, including Mutant Mudds and Treasurenauts.
- 2015
Atooi founded by Jools Watsham[1]
Other
Jools Watsham established Atooi as an independent game company before the later closure of Renegade Kid.
Sources3 sources
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