Slitherine Software

Slitherine Software UK Limited, commonly known as Slitherine Software or Slitherine Strategies, is a British video-game developer and publisher focused on strategy, historical, science-fiction, and military-themed games. The company was founded on 25 June 2000 and built its identity around computer wargames and historically oriented strategy products rather than mass-market action releases. Its catalogue has grown to more than 200 games, spanning both internally developed titles and products published in collaboration with external studios and license holders. The company’s portfolio includes licensed games based on properties such as Battlestar Galactica, Warhammer 40,000, Starship Troopers, Horrible Histories, and The History Channel. Alongside these licensed products, Slitherine has developed or published games centered on ancient and modern warfare, operational planning, naval and air combat, and large-scale military decision-making. This mix has allowed the business to serve both entertainment players interested in detailed strategy systems and specialist audiences looking for more demanding simulations. A major turning point came in 2010, when Slitherine merged with Matrix Games. Matrix Games brought a strong association with computer wargaming and military simulation, while the combined organization expanded the group’s publishing, development, and distribution capabilities. Matrix Games became the part of the wider Slitherine operation associated particularly with professional and defense-oriented applications. The group subsequently broadened its development network through the 2014 acquisition of Shenandoah Studio, an American developer known for Battle of the Bulge and Drive on Moscow. Slitherine’s activities extend beyond commercial games. The company publishes rules and companion manuals for Field of Glory, a tabletop wargame focused primarily on ancient and medieval European and Middle Eastern conflicts, with planned or discussed extensions into later historical periods. It has also developed technology used in other media: an engine created by Slitherine was used on the television program Deadliest Warrior. The company’s military-simulation work is an important part of its distinctive position. Slitherine and Matrix Games have worked with or identified relationships involving defense and government organizations including the United States Air Force, the United Kingdom’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Navy, the Luftwaffe, Boeing, BAE Systems, and Lockheed Martin. A professional version of Command: Modern Air/Naval Operations has been used to model military scenarios and support analysis. In 2015, Slitherine collaborated with BAE Systems on applications of the Command simulation, and in 2016 developers demonstrated the Command series at the Pentagon. These activities place Slitherine at the intersection of specialist entertainment software, tabletop rules publishing, and professional wargaming technology. Slitherine’s positioning is therefore built on depth, historical and technical subject matter, and a specialist community. Its products generally emphasize planning, logistics, historical context, operational trade-offs, and replayability. The available reference material does not establish a current headquarters location, ownership structure, public listing, or named executives. The company remains presented as an active British developer and publisher operating through the Slitherine Group.

Slitherine Software was founded in the United Kingdom on 25 June 2000. From its early development, the company concentrated on computer strategy and war games, a specialist area requiring detailed rules, historical research, and systems for representing campaigns, logistics, and military decision-making. Rather than positioning itself primarily as a general entertainment publisher, Slitherine developed a reputation around strategy-focused products and a community interested in historically grounded and technically demanding games. Over time, the company produced and published a catalogue of more than 200 strategy and war games. Its work covered original and licensed properties. Licensed projects included games connected with Battlestar Galactica, Warhammer 40,000, Starship Troopers, Horrible Histories, and The History Channel. These projects gave Slitherine access to established fictional, educational, and historical brands while retaining a focus on strategy-oriented gameplay. In 2010, Slitherine merged with Matrix Games. The transaction was significant because Matrix Games had a strong presence in computer wargaming and military simulation. The combined group broadened its publishing and development resources and strengthened its ability to serve both hobbyist wargamers and professional users. Matrix Games became particularly associated with the group’s simulation work and defense-related applications. Slitherine also expanded into tabletop gaming. It publishes rules and supporting manuals for Field of Glory, a tabletop wargame focused chiefly on ancient and medieval conflicts in Europe and the Middle East. The Field of Glory line is organized around distinct historical settings, with each setting supported by its own rules and companion material. The reference material also describes plans or intentions to extend the system into the Renaissance and Napoleonic periods. In 2014, Slitherine Group acquired Shenandoah Studio, an American developer known for Battle of the Bulge and Drive on Moscow. The acquisition added another specialist development team with experience in historical conflict games and reinforced Slitherine’s concentration on digital wargaming. The company’s technology has also been used outside conventional game releases. A Slitherine-built game engine was used on the television series Deadliest Warrior, demonstrating that the company’s technical capabilities could support interactive or broadcast representations of combat and historical scenarios. Military applications became an increasingly visible part of the group’s activities. Slitherine and Matrix Games have worked with or listed relationships involving military organizations, government laboratories, and defense contractors, including the United States Air Force, the United Kingdom’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Navy, the Luftwaffe, Boeing, BAE Systems, and Lockheed Martin. One of the main professional tools is a defense-oriented version of Command: Modern Air/Naval Operations, which can be used to simulate air and naval operations and examine potential scenarios. In 2015, Slitherine collaborated with BAE Systems on professional applications of the Command simulation. In 2016, developers were invited to the Pentagon to demonstrate how the Command series could be used for scenario analysis. A company representative later characterized the software as providing substantial utility to Pentagon users compared with internally produced wargames, although the available reference does not provide independent technical or financial verification of that claim. Slitherine’s historical development is consequently defined by the combination of commercial strategy publishing, specialist computer wargames, tabletop rules, licensed properties, external studio acquisitions, and defense simulation. The available sources do not document a current headquarters, named leadership team, public listing, or detailed ownership structure. They do establish Slitherine as an active British company operating within the broader Slitherine Group.

• 2016

  Pentagon demonstration

  [1]Slitherine Softwareen.wikipedia.org

  Slitherine developers demonstrated potential military-simulation uses of the Command series at the Pentagon.

• 2015

  BAE Systems simulation collaboration

  [1]Slitherine Softwareen.wikipedia.org

  Slitherine collaborated with BAE Systems on professional applications of Command: Modern Air/Naval Operations.

• 2014

  Acquisition of Shenandoah Studio

  [1]Slitherine Softwareen.wikipedia.org

  Slitherine Group acquired Shenandoah Studio, the American developer associated with Battle of the Bulge and Drive on Moscow.

• 2010

  Merger with Matrix Games

  [1]Slitherine Softwareen.wikipedia.org

  Slitherine merged with Matrix Games, strengthening its position in computer wargames and professional simulation.

• 2000

  Company founded

  [1]Slitherine Softwareen.wikipedia.org

  Slitherine Software was founded in the United Kingdom on 25 June 2000.

A specialist strategy and wargaming company combining commercial historical games, licensed strategy properties, tabletop rules publishing, and professional military simulation technology.

• Military simulation and strategy game

  Command: Modern Air/Naval Operations

  Command: Modern Air/Naval Operations is a detailed air and naval warfare simulation associated with Slitherine’s commercial and professional activities. The system models modern military scenarios and has been adapted for defense-related use, including work involving BAE Systems and demonstrations to Pentagon personnel. Its role illustrates the company’s effort to bridge enthusiast wargaming and professional analytical simulation.

• Tabletop wargame system

  Field of Glory

  Field of Glory is a tabletop wargame system supported by Slitherine-published rules and companion manuals. Its principal settings cover ancient and medieval conflicts in Europe and the Middle East. The system is organized into historical periods with dedicated rules and supporting books, with later expansion toward Renaissance and Napoleonic-era warfare described as planned.

• Historical strategy game

  Battle of the Bulge

  Battle of the Bulge is a historical computer wargame associated with Shenandoah Studio. It depicts the Second World War campaign commonly known as the Battle of the Bulge and became part of the Slitherine Group’s portfolio following the acquisition of Shenandoah Studio.

• Historical strategy game

  Drive on Moscow

  Drive on Moscow is a historical strategy title developed by Shenandoah Studio and incorporated into the Slitherine Group’s portfolio after the studio’s acquisition. It focuses on the German advance toward Moscow during the Second World War and reflects the group’s emphasis on compact, historically themed wargaming.

• Licensed video games

  Licensed strategy games

  Slitherine has developed or published strategy-oriented games using licenses including Battlestar Galactica, Warhammer 40,000, Starship Troopers, Horrible Histories, and The History Channel. These projects extend the company’s specialist strategy approach into established science-fiction, military, educational, and historical properties.

• 2015

  Expand Command into professional defense simulationStrategy

  Background

  The Command: Modern Air/Naval Operations system had applications beyond entertainment-focused wargaming.

  Action taken

  Slitherine collaborated with BAE Systems on professional uses of the Command simulation.

  Aftermath

  The collaboration reinforced Slitherine’s position in defense-related modeling and simulation.

  Source

• 2014

  Acquire Shenandoah StudioM&A

  Background

  Shenandoah Studio had developed historical strategy games including Battle of the Bulge and Drive on Moscow.

  Action taken

  Slitherine Group acquired the American studio.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition added a specialist historical-game developer to the group’s portfolio.

  Source

• 2010

  Merge with Matrix GamesM&A

  Background

  Slitherine sought to combine its strategy publishing and development activities with Matrix Games’ established expertise in computer wargames and simulation.

  Action taken

  The two businesses merged into a broader group operating across commercial games and professional simulation.

  Aftermath

  The merger expanded the group’s wargaming capabilities and supported later defense-oriented work.

  Source

1. 1Slitherine Softwareen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Slitherine official websiteslitherine.com