Ghost Ship Games

Ghost Ship Games ApS is a Copenhagen-based Danish video-game developer and publisher established in 2016 by a team of five former employees of Press Play after that studio closed. The company emerged with support from Cap Nova, a Danish government-backed initiative focused on investment in video games. Shortly after the studio was formed, game director Mikkel Martin Pedersen invited Søren Lundgaard to join. Pedersen and Lundgaard had previously worked together for more than a decade at the defunct Danish developer Deadline Games; Lundgaard later became Ghost Ship Games' chief executive. The studio's first project was conceived as a cooperative game combining the construction and procedural exploration associated with Minecraft with the cooperative action and enemy pressure of Left 4 Dead. That concept developed into Deep Rock Galactic, a science-fiction first-person shooter in which teams of spacefaring dwarves mine procedurally generated environments, complete objectives, and fight hostile alien creatures. The game's focus on four-player cooperation, destructible terrain, class-based roles, repeatable missions, and ongoing community-supported development became central to Ghost Ship Games' identity. In February 2017, Swedish developer Coffee Stain Studios acquired a 30 percent stake in Ghost Ship Games and agreed to publish the studio's first title. Coffee Stain Publishing released Deep Rock Galactic in Steam Early Access on 28 February 2018. The early-access period allowed the developers to incorporate player feedback and refine the game's systems over more than two years. The title attracted strong early reviews and had reached approximately 300,000 players by September 2018. It formally left early access on 13 May 2020, expanding its availability beyond its initial development phase and becoming the studio's defining commercial and creative success. Ghost Ship's relationship with Coffee Stain later became part of the broader Embracer Group structure. In August 2021, Embracer acquired the remaining 70 percent of Ghost Ship Games, making the studio a subsidiary of Coffee Stain Holding. The transaction gave the developer access to the resources of a major international games group while preserving Ghost Ship as a distinct studio. Deep Rock Galactic continued to grow after its full release: the company announced three million copies sold in November 2021 and four million copies sold in June 2022. A PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 version was announced for release in January 2022. The company expanded beyond internal development in February 2023 by announcing a publishing label intended to support Danish game studios. Its announced publishing portfolio included Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor, a single-player spin-off based on the studio's flagship universe, as well as SpellRogue and DarkSwarm. This publishing activity broadened Ghost Ship's role from a single-project developer to a Danish games-industry publisher while retaining Deep Rock Galactic as its principal brand platform. Ghost Ship Games' business is therefore built around game development, publishing, downloadable and live-service content, and the expansion of the Deep Rock Galactic universe. Its public profile rests primarily on sustained support for a cooperative premium game rather than on a large catalogue of unrelated franchises. The studio is active and operates within Coffee Stain Holding and the wider Embracer Group.

Ghost Ship Games was founded in spring 2016 in Copenhagen by five former Press Play employees following the closure of that studio. Its early financing included support from Cap Nova, a Danish government initiative aimed at video-game investment. Game director Mikkel Martin Pedersen subsequently invited Søren Lundgaard to join the company. The two had previously been colleagues at Deadline Games for more than ten years, and Lundgaard became the new studio's chief executive. The founding team set out to create a cooperative game inspired by the combination of Minecraft-style exploration and construction with Left 4 Dead-style cooperative combat. Their concept became Deep Rock Galactic, a first-person science-fiction shooter featuring teams of dwarves mining procedurally generated caves and defending themselves from alien enemies. The design emphasized cooperation, distinct player classes, environmental destruction, and replayability. In February 2017, Coffee Stain Studios purchased a 30 percent interest in Ghost Ship Games and agreed to publish the studio's debut title. Deep Rock Galactic entered Steam Early Access on 28 February 2018 through Coffee Stain Publishing. The developers used the early-access period to respond to community feedback and adjust the game's mechanics and content. The game had attracted approximately 300,000 players by September 2018 and received highly positive early reviews. It left Early Access on 13 May 2020 after more than two years of development in that model. Ghost Ship Games became wholly owned within the Coffee Stain structure in August 2021, when Embracer Group acquired the remaining 70 percent of the studio. The acquisition placed Ghost Ship under Coffee Stain Holding while allowing it to continue operating as a separate development studio. The company reported three million copies sold for Deep Rock Galactic in November 2021 and four million copies in June 2022. Console expansion included versions for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 announced for January 2022. In February 2023, Ghost Ship announced a publishing label for Danish game studios. The initiative expanded the company beyond development of its own flagship title. Its announced projects included Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor, a single-player spin-off, together with SpellRogue and DarkSwarm. Ghost Ship Games is consequently both a developer and publisher, although its public identity remains strongly associated with the Deep Rock Galactic franchise.

• 2026

  Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core enters Early Access

  [1]Ghost Ship Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  The cooperative roguelite first-person shooter spin-off is reported as launching into Steam Early Access on 20 May 2026.

• 2023

  Ghost Ship launches a publishing label

  [1]Ghost Ship Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  The studio announces a label intended to publish games from Danish developers.

• 2022

  Deep Rock Galactic reaches four million copies sold

  [1]Ghost Ship Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  The studio announces that its flagship game has sold four million copies.

• 2021

  Embracer acquires full ownership

  [1]Ghost Ship Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Embracer Group purchases the remaining 70 percent of Ghost Ship Games through the Coffee Stain organization.

• 2020

  Deep Rock Galactic reaches full release

  [1]Ghost Ship Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  The game leaves Early Access on 13 May after more than two years of community-supported development.

• 2018

  Deep Rock Galactic enters Early Access

  [1]Ghost Ship Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  The studio's debut game launches in Steam Early Access on 28 February.

• 2017

  Coffee Stain becomes a minority investor and publisher

  [1]Ghost Ship Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Coffee Stain Studios acquires a 30 percent stake and agrees to publish Ghost Ship Games' first title.

• 2016

  Ghost Ship Games is founded

  [1]Ghost Ship Gamesen.wikipedia.org

  Five former Press Play employees establish the Copenhagen studio after Press Play closes, with support from Cap Nova.

A specialist cooperative-game studio and publisher centered on replayable, community-supported science-fiction experiences.

• Cooperative first-person shooter · 2018

  Deep Rock Galactic

  Ghost Ship Games' flagship title is a cooperative science-fiction first-person shooter built around teams of dwarven miners. Players choose specialized classes, explore procedurally generated caves, mine resources, complete mission objectives, and repel alien creatures. Destructible environments, class complementarity, repeatable missions, and sustained post-launch support are central to its design. The game entered Steam Early Access in February 2018 and received its full release in May 2020, later expanding to PlayStation platforms.

• Single-player roguelite spin-off

  Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor

  A single-player spin-off set in the Deep Rock Galactic universe. It adapts the franchise's mining, combat, and progression themes to a roguelite format rather than reproducing the original game's four-player cooperative structure. It was announced as one of the projects associated with Ghost Ship Games' publishing activity.

• Cooperative roguelite first-person shooter · 2026

  Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core

  A cooperative roguelite first-person shooter spin-off of Deep Rock Galactic. The title extends the franchise's team-based science-fiction action into a roguelite structure and is reported as entering Steam Early Access in May 2026.

• Video game

  SpellRogue

  A game announced as part of Ghost Ship Games' publishing label for Danish studios. The available reference material identifies the title and its publishing association but does not provide enough detail to describe its mechanics or release status reliably.

• Video game

  DarkSwarm

  A game announced among the first projects connected with Ghost Ship Games' Danish publishing label. The available reference material does not establish further product details or a confirmed release date.

• 2023

  Establish a publishing label for Danish studiosStrategy

  Background

  After establishing itself through Deep Rock Galactic, Ghost Ship sought to broaden its role in Denmark's games ecosystem.

  Action taken

  The studio announced a publishing label intended to support Danish game developers and identified Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor, SpellRogue, and DarkSwarm among its initial projects.

  Aftermath

  The initiative expanded Ghost Ship's business scope from internal development into publishing and portfolio support.

  Source

• 2021

  Join Coffee Stain Holding as a wholly owned studioM&A

  Background

  Coffee Stain's earlier minority position left Embracer Group with the opportunity to acquire the balance of the studio.

  Action taken

  Embracer Group acquired the remaining 70 percent of Ghost Ship Games through Coffee Stain Holding.

  Aftermath

  Ghost Ship became a subsidiary within the Embracer and Coffee Stain structure while continuing its development and publishing activities.

  Source

• 2018

  Use Early Access for Deep Rock GalacticStrategy

  Background

  The studio was developing a cooperative game whose balance, mission structure, and progression systems could benefit from direct player feedback.

  Action taken

  Ghost Ship Games released Deep Rock Galactic through Steam Early Access and iterated on the game for more than two years.

  Aftermath

  The title received positive early reviews, built a substantial player base, and reached full release in May 2020.

  Source

• 2017

  Accept Coffee Stain minority investment and publishing partnershipM&A

  Background

  As a newly established studio developing its first game, Ghost Ship Games needed production and publishing support for Deep Rock Galactic.

  Action taken

  Coffee Stain Studios acquired a 30 percent stake in Ghost Ship Games and agreed to publish the debut title.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement provided a publishing route for Deep Rock Galactic, which subsequently entered Early Access in 2018.

  Source

• 2021-08-05

  Coffee Stain agrees to acquire the remaining 70% of Ghost Ship Games[2]Coffee Stain同意收购Ghost Ship Games剩余70%股份vgchartz.com

  Reported: 2021-08-05

  Coffee Stain Holding AB entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of Ghost Ship Holding ApS, thereby acquiring the remaining 70% of Ghost Ship Games ApS.

• 2021-08-05

  Embracer Group acquires eight game studios[3]Embracer Group 收购八家游戏工作室kitguru.net

  Reported: 2021-08-05

  Embracer Group announced that it had acquired eight game studios, including 3D Realms, Crazy Labs, Digixart, Easy Trigger, Force Field, Ghost Ship Games, Grimfrost, and Slipgate Ironworks, for over $546 million. The purchases are intended to improve Embracer's position in the mobile market, expand its reach to indie developers, and support a push into VR.

1. 1Ghost Ship Gamesen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Coffee Stain同意收购Ghost Ship Games剩余70%股份vgchartz.com
3. 3Embracer Group 收购八家游戏工作室kitguru.net
4. 4Embracer acquires eight studios, including Crazy Labs, Ghost Ship Games, DigixArtgamesindustry.biz
5. 5Embracer Group acquires 8 studios including 3D Realms & Deep Rock Galactic devsshacknews.com
6. 6Embracer Group picks up eight independent studios in acquisition blitzdestructoid.com