Saber Porto
A Portuguese video-game development studio founded as Bigmoon and rebranded as Saber Porto after joining Saber Interactive in 2019.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Saber Porto is a Portuguese video-game development studio based in Porto. The company was established in 2008 by Paulo J. Gomes under the name Bigmoon Animation Studios, initially combining game development ambitions with animated entertainment for children. Its early audiovisual work included TIC TAC TALES, a 39-episode television animation series created by Gomes and broadcast through Portuguese public and international channels, and PIKABOO, a set of animated television musicals associated with Canal Panda and later distributed on DVD. The company subsequently created Bigmoon Interactive Studios to develop games, including a game adaptation of TIC TAC TALES. During the early 2010s, Bigmoon moved progressively toward external video-game development. It worked with publishers and developers including Milestone, bitComposer, Headup Games, Maximum Games, Astragon Entertainment, Camel 101 and others. The studio contributed to a broad range of projects, including racing titles, action role-playing games, strategy games, mobile software and console ports. Its racing-related work became a recurring part of its profile, with contributions connected to the WRC series, MotoGP 13 and FlatOut 4: Total Insanity. It also provided technical and development support on projects such as Jagged Alliance: Back in Action, Trapped Dead: Lockdown and Citadels. A significant corporate change occurred in 2014. After publisher partner bitComposer entered insolvency and ongoing projects were cancelled, the separate Bigmoon animation and interactive entities were consolidated into Bigmoon Entertainment, which operated as a developer and publisher. The studio then released console versions of Lichdom: Battlemage and Alekhine's Gun in 2016, while also developing or supporting projects such as Police Simulator: Patrol Duty, Syndrome and Demons Age. Syndrome, a survival-horror game developed with Camel 101, became one of Bigmoon's self-published releases in 2017. Bigmoon's most ambitious independent project was Dakar 18, a rally-raid game based on the Dakar Rally. Gomes pursued the project as a way to establish a rally-raid-focused subgenre in games, and Bigmoon reached an agreement with Koch Media in 2017. Released in 2018 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC, Dakar 18 represented a major investment in Portuguese game development and strengthened the studio's association with motorsport software. In 2019, Bigmoon collaborated with Saber Interactive on the Nintendo Switch version of Call of Cthulhu. Following that work, Saber Interactive acquired Bigmoon Entertainment in an agreement completed in October 2019, and the Porto studio was renamed Saber Porto. The renamed studio continued working as part of Saber’s international development network. Its later work included participation with other Saber teams and Crytek on Crysis Remastered Trilogy, released in 2021. Saber Porto then developed Dakar Desert Rally, its first original game released as part of Saber Interactive. The title was announced in December 2021 and launched on 4 October 2022 for major console and PC platforms. The studio’s public identity is therefore rooted in two phases: Bigmoon’s Portuguese independent-development period and its subsequent role as Saber Interactive’s Porto-based production studio.
History
Saber Porto began in 2008 in Porto as Bigmoon Animation Studios, founded by Paulo J. Gomes. Its earliest work focused on animated entertainment. TIC TAC TALES, a 39-episode children's television series created by Gomes, was broadcast by RTP, RTP África and RTP Internacional and distributed in Europe by Panini Media during the early 2010s. In 2009, the company produced animated musicals for Canal Panda under the PIKABOO name, with DVD distribution handled by Info Capital. Following TIC TAC TALES, Bigmoon created a separate interactive operation to develop games. This unit worked on D-TEAM: The Kidnapping of Professor Zig, a game related to the animated property. By 2012, Bigmoon Interactive Studios had shifted much of its attention toward contracted video-game development. It worked with Milestone on WRC-related projects and MotoGP 13, with bitComposer on North & South and Jagged Alliance: Back in Action, and with other partners on mobile, role-playing and action projects. In 2013, Headup Games contracted the studio to develop Trapped Dead: Lockdown, while bitComposer also asked it to help resolve problems affecting Citadels. The collapse of bitComposer in 2014 disrupted several projects and contributed to a corporate consolidation. Bigmoon Animation and Bigmoon Interactive ceased operating as separate entities and were replaced by Bigmoon Entertainment, a combined development and publishing company. Bigmoon then delivered or supported console projects including Lichdom: Battlemage and Alekhine's Gun, both released in 2016. Other work during this period included Police Simulator: Patrol Duty, later developed from the Police Simulator 18 concept, the survival-horror title Syndrome with Camel 101, and the role-playing game Demons Age. Syndrome was released in 2017 as Bigmoon's first self-published title. The studio's most distinctive independent undertaking was Dakar 18. Gomes pursued an agreement to develop and publish a game based on the Dakar Rally, with the intention of bringing rally raid to greater prominence as a game genre. A 2017 agreement with Koch Media supported production. Dakar 18 was released in September 2018 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC and was described in contemporary accounts as one of the largest Portuguese investments in video-game development. Bigmoon worked with Saber Interactive in 2019 on the Nintendo Switch port of Call of Cthulhu. The collaboration preceded Saber Interactive's acquisition of Bigmoon Entertainment, completed in October of that year. The Porto studio was rebranded Saber Porto and became part of Saber’s international development structure. In 2021, it worked with other Saber teams and Crytek on Crysis Remastered Trilogy. Saber Porto's next major project was Dakar Desert Rally, announced in December 2021 during a Saber Interactive presentation at The Game Awards. The game continued the studio's Dakar association while representing its first original release under the Saber Interactive identity. It launched on 4 October 2022 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC.
- 2022
Dakar Desert Rally launched
[1]The studio's first original game as part of Saber Interactive was released on 4 October.
- 2021
Crysis Remastered Trilogy collaboration
[1]Saber Porto participated in the remastering project alongside other Saber studios and Crytek.
- 2019
Acquired and renamed Saber Porto
[1]Saber Interactive completed its acquisition of Bigmoon Entertainment, which became Saber Porto.
- 2018
Dakar 18 released
[1]The Dakar Rally game launched for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC after a development agreement with Koch Media.
- 2017
Syndrome self-published
[1]Bigmoon released its survival-horror collaboration with Camel 101 as a self-published game.
- 2016
Alekhine's Gun and Lichdom: Battlemage released
[1]Bigmoon released console versions of both titles during its independent-development period.
- 2014
Bigmoon Entertainment formed
[1]Following bitComposer's insolvency, the animation and interactive operations were consolidated into a single development and publishing company.
- 2012
Expansion into contracted game development
[1]Bigmoon began substantial work with Milestone, bitComposer and other partners on racing, strategy and action projects.
- 2010
TIC TAC TALES distributed in Europe
[1]The 39-episode children's series reached Portuguese and international broadcasters and received European distribution through Panini Media.
- 2009
PIKABOO animation productions
[1]The company produced animated television musicals associated with Canal Panda and later distributed them on DVD.
Products and positioning
A Porto-based game developer with a history spanning independent publishing, co-development, technical support, console adaptation and racing-game production. Its strongest identifiable specialization is motorsport and rally-raid software, particularly the Dakar game franchise, although its portfolio also covers horror, role-playing, action, strategy and simulation projects.
Racing video game · 2018
Dakar 18
A rally-raid game based on the Dakar Rally and developed as Bigmoon's largest independent project. It sought to represent the endurance-racing format through off-road driving, navigation and long-distance competition. Koch Media supported the project through an agreement reached in 2017. The game was released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC in September 2018.
Racing video game · 2022
Dakar Desert Rally
A Dakar Rally game and Saber Porto's first original title under Saber Interactive. It continued the studio's rally-raid focus while being produced within Saber Interactive's wider development network. The game was announced in December 2021 and released on 4 October 2022 for PlayStation and Xbox consoles and PC.
Survival-horror video game · 2017
Syndrome
A survival-horror game developed with Camel 101. It was released in September 2017 and became Bigmoon Entertainment's first self-published game, expanding the studio's portfolio beyond contracted work and racing projects.
Stealth action video game · 2016
Alekhine's Gun
A game for which Bigmoon developed and completed PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions under contract from Maximum Games. The console work followed the studio's earlier involvement in porting other PC-originated titles.
Action role-playing video game · 2016
Lichdom: Battlemage
A PC game ported by Bigmoon to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One using CryEngine 3. Maximum Games contracted the studio for the console adaptation, which was released in 2016.
Remastered first-person shooter collection · 2021
Crysis Remastered Trilogy
A remastered collection on which Saber Porto worked with other Saber studios and Crytek. Its involvement demonstrated the Porto team's role in larger multi-studio technical and production assignments after joining Saber Interactive.
Simulation video game
Police Simulator: Patrol Duty
A police-patrol simulation project developed for Astragon Entertainment. It originated under the working title Police Simulator 18 and was later renamed Police Simulator: Patrol Duty.
Brand decisions
2021
Announcement of Dakar Desert RallyProduct launchBackground
After the acquisition, Saber Porto continued its association with the Dakar Rally game property.
Action taken
Saber Interactive presented Dakar Desert Rally during its showcase at The Game Awards.
Aftermath
The game was released on 4 October 2022 as Saber Porto's first original title within Saber Interactive.
2019
Acquisition by Saber InteractiveM&ABackground
Bigmoon and Saber Interactive had collaborated on the Nintendo Switch port of Call of Cthulhu.
Action taken
Saber Interactive finalized the acquisition of Bigmoon Entertainment and rebranded the Porto operation as Saber Porto.
Aftermath
The studio became part of Saber Interactive's international development network and took part in larger multi-studio projects.
2017
Agreement to develop Dakar 18Product launchBackground
Founder Paulo J. Gomes sought to establish a rally-raid-focused game property based on the Dakar Rally.
Action taken
Bigmoon entered an agreement with Koch Media to proceed with development and publishing of Dakar 18.
Aftermath
The project became the studio's largest independent undertaking and led to a continuing Dakar game line, including Dakar Desert Rally.
2014
Consolidation into Bigmoon EntertainmentStrategyBackground
Bigmoon's principal publishing partner, bitComposer, entered insolvency, disrupting ongoing projects and changing the conditions under which the separate animation and interactive companies operated.
Action taken
Bigmoon Animation Studios and Bigmoon Interactive Studios were discontinued as separate entities and consolidated into Bigmoon Entertainment, which combined development and publishing activities.
Aftermath
The consolidated company continued independent production, contracted development and self-publishing, including later work on Dakar 18 and Syndrome.
Recent events
- 2022
Dakar Desert Rally released[1]
Product launch · Product generation
Dakar Desert Rally launched on 4 October 2022 after its release date and gameplay had been presented through pre-order and Gamescom promotional material.
- 2021
Saber Porto contributes to Crysis Remastered Trilogy[1]
Product launch · Other
Saber Porto was identified as one of the studios involved with Saber Interactive and Crytek in the remastering of the Crysis trilogy.
- 2021
Dakar Desert Rally announced as Saber Porto's first original game under Saber Interactive[1]
Product launch
The Dakar Rally game was presented during Saber Interactive's showcase at The Game Awards as the studio's first original title within the Saber organization.
- 2019
Bigmoon Entertainment acquired by Saber Interactive and renamed Saber Porto[1]
M&A · Leadership change
Saber Interactive completed the acquisition of Portuguese developer Bigmoon Entertainment after the companies worked together on the Nintendo Switch version of Call of Cthulhu. The studio subsequently adopted the Saber Porto name.
Sources4 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/saber-porto · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled