Double Helix Games
Corporate brand
UnclaimedAmerican video game development studio formed through the merger of The Collective and Shiny Entertainment.
Last updated August 22, 2026
Overview
Double Helix Games was an American video game development studio headquartered in Irvine, California. It was created through the merger of The Collective and Shiny Entertainment, two studios owned by Foundation 9 Entertainment. The merger brought together two established development teams under a single operating identity and was part of Foundation 9's effort to consolidate its studio network. The origins of Double Helix lay in Foundation 9's acquisition of Shiny Entertainment in October 2006. Following that acquisition, Shiny was expected to co-locate with The Collective, another Foundation 9-owned developer. On October 9, 2007, the companies announced that the two teams had moved into new approximately 60,000-square-foot offices in Irvine and would be merged. At the time, the companies indicated that the consolidation was not expected to cause job losses. The combined studio adopted the name Double Helix Games in March 2008 and was led by Michael Persson. Double Helix worked as a contracted and publisher-aligned developer on licensed and established game properties. Its output included projects associated with the Silent Hill, G.I. Joe, Front Mission, and Killer Instinct franchises. The studio's role varied by project, encompassing development of original releases, work on adaptations of existing intellectual properties, and continuing support for a live or post-launch title. Its most prominent late-period assignment was Killer Instinct, a fighting game released for Microsoft's Xbox One. Microsoft Studios, the game's publisher, later said it would work with a different development partner after Double Helix was acquired by Amazon. The studio experienced restructuring during Foundation 9's broader consolidation activities. In July 2009, Double Helix underwent staff reductions, although the number of affected employees was not publicly disclosed in the cited account. The cuts reflected the financial and organizational pressures facing the parent company's multi-studio structure rather than a publicly announced closure at that time. In February 2014, Amazon acquired Double Helix Games and integrated the studio into the Irvine operations of Amazon Game Studios, Amazon's video game division established in 2012. The acquisition ended Double Helix's independent identity as a Foundation 9 studio. After integration, the Double Helix name ceased to function as an independent development brand. The studio is therefore generally treated as defunct as a standalone company, while its personnel and capabilities became part of Amazon's game-development organization.
History
Double Helix Games was formed from the combination of The Collective and Shiny Entertainment, both of which were owned by Foundation 9 Entertainment. Foundation 9 acquired Shiny in October 2006 and arranged for it to co-locate with The Collective. This created the basis for a larger consolidated development operation rather than maintaining the two studios as fully separate entities. On October 9, 2007, the two teams announced that they had moved into new offices in Irvine, California. The facility was reported to cover approximately 60,000 square feet. The relocation accompanied the planned merger and was initially expected not to produce job losses. The combined organization adopted the Double Helix Games name in March 2008, with Michael Persson identified as its leader. The new studio inherited the development experience and intellectual-property relationships of both predecessor companies. Double Helix operated primarily as a console game developer working with publishers and owners of established entertainment properties. Its portfolio included projects connected with Silent Hill, G.I. Joe, Front Mission, and Killer Instinct. This work placed the studio within the contract-development segment of the games industry, where developers often build titles for external publishers rather than marketing a large proprietary portfolio under their own label. The studio's projects included action-oriented games and a fighting game, as well as adaptations of well-known media and game properties. The studio's corporate environment became more difficult during Foundation 9's restructuring. In July 2009, Foundation 9 undertook broader consolidation and Double Helix was reported to have suffered staff cuts. The available account does not give a precise number of layoffs. No separate public scandal is identified in the cited historical material; the workforce reduction is best understood as an organizational and business restructuring event. Double Helix later developed Killer Instinct for Microsoft Studios and the Xbox One. The title became the studio's most visible late-period project. Its position changed in February 2014, when Amazon acquired the company. Amazon incorporated the Irvine operation into Amazon Game Studios, the game division that Amazon had established in 2012. Microsoft stated that it would work with another development partner to continue development of Killer Instinct. Following the acquisition and integration, Double Helix no longer operated as an independent studio, and its standalone brand is generally regarded as defunct.
- 2014
Acquired and integrated by Amazon
[1]Amazon acquired Double Helix and incorporated the Irvine operation into Amazon Game Studios.
- 2009
Staff reductions during Foundation 9 consolidation
[1]Double Helix experienced undisclosed staff cuts during wider consolidation within its parent company.
- 2008
Double Helix Games name adopted
[1]The merged development organization formally began operating under the Double Helix Games name.
- 2007
Merger and Irvine relocation announced
[1]The Collective and Shiny Entertainment announced their move into new Irvine offices and their planned combination under Foundation 9.
- 2006
Foundation 9 acquires Shiny Entertainment
[1]Foundation 9 Entertainment acquired Shiny and planned for it to co-locate with the already-owned The Collective, setting up the later studio merger.
Products and positioning
A contract-oriented console game developer that combined the capabilities of The Collective and Shiny Entertainment and focused substantially on adaptations, established franchises, and publisher-led projects.
Survival horror video game · 2008
Silent Hill: Homecoming
A console and personal-computer entry in Konami's Silent Hill survival-horror series. Double Helix developed the title as a continuation of an established franchise, working within an externally owned intellectual property and adapting the series for its target platforms.
Action video game · 2009
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
An action title based on the G.I. Joe entertainment property and associated with the film-era revival of the franchise. The project illustrates Double Helix's role as a developer of licensed games built around recognizable external brands.
Third-person shooter · 2010
Front Mission Evolved
A third-person shooter set within Square Enix's Front Mission universe. Double Helix developed the game as a console-oriented expansion of an established Japanese strategy-game franchise.
Fighting game · 2013
Killer Instinct
A revival of Microsoft's Killer Instinct fighting-game franchise for Xbox One. The game was developed by Double Helix and became its most prominent late-period project. After Amazon acquired the studio, Microsoft announced that another development partner would continue work on the title.
Action video game · 2008
Harker
A planned Double Helix project listed as canceled. The available reference identifies the project and its cancellation but does not provide enough detail about its intended mechanics, publisher, or release plans.
Brand decisions
2014
Sell and integrate the studio into AmazonM&ABackground
Amazon was expanding its game-development organization through Amazon Game Studios, which had been established in 2012.
Action taken
Amazon acquired Double Helix and integrated its Irvine operation into Amazon Game Studios.
Aftermath
Double Helix ceased to operate as an independent studio. Microsoft said it would use a new development partner for continued Killer Instinct development.
- Microsoft Studios — Microsoft stated that it would work with a new development partner to continue development of Killer Instinct.
2007
Merge The Collective and Shiny EntertainmentM&ABackground
Foundation 9 owned both development studios and had already arranged for Shiny to co-locate with The Collective after acquiring Shiny.
Action taken
The two teams were relocated to a new Irvine facility and combined into one development organization, later named Double Helix Games.
Aftermath
The merger created a single Foundation 9 studio with a larger combined workforce and shared operating base.
Recent events
- 2014
Amazon acquires Double Helix Games[1]
M&A · Leadership change
Amazon acquired Double Helix and integrated the Irvine studio into Amazon Game Studios. Microsoft subsequently indicated that it would use a new development partner for continued Killer Instinct development.
- 2009
Double Helix affected by Foundation 9 staff reductions[1]
Other
As part of wider consolidation within Foundation 9 Entertainment, Double Helix experienced staff cuts. The reported account did not specify the number of employees affected.
- 2008
Combined studio adopts the Double Helix Games name[1]
Leadership change
The merged development organization formally took the Double Helix Games name and was led by Michael Persson.
- 2007
The Collective and Shiny Entertainment announce merger and Irvine relocation[1]
M&A
Foundation 9 Entertainment announced that its two development studios would relocate to new Irvine offices and operate as a combined team.
Sources1 sources
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