Tequila Works

Tequila Works S.L. was a Spanish independent video-game development studio founded in Madrid in 2009 by Raúl Rubio Munárriz, Lauren Manuel Garcia Carro, and German Martinez. The company operated as a developer and, in some cases, as a publisher or co-development partner. Its work was associated with stylized visual direction, atmospheric settings, puzzle mechanics, narrative experimentation, and projects designed for both traditional consoles and emerging virtual-reality platforms. The studio announced its first project, Deadlight, in January 2012. Developed as a side-scrolling action and survival game, Deadlight used a post-apocalyptic setting and silhouette-based presentation to distinguish itself from conventional three-dimensional action titles. The game was published for Xbox 360 and later appeared on additional platforms, establishing Tequila Works as a recognizable independent developer in the international games market. Tequila Works' most prominent original project was Rime, a puzzle-adventure game built around exploration, environmental challenges, and a largely wordless presentation. The project was initially planned as a PlayStation 4 exclusive. During development, however, Tequila Works acquired the intellectual property from Sony and expanded the release plan to additional platforms. Rime was released in May 2017 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows, and Nintendo Switch, and later reached other platforms. The title became the studio's best-known original property and reflected its emphasis on visual atmosphere and emotionally driven storytelling. The company also worked beyond conventional console and PC development. In collaboration with GameTrust Games, it developed The Invisible Hours, a virtual-reality murder-mystery experience in which players observe and investigate events from an immersive environment. Tequila Works subsequently worked with Sony Pictures Virtual Reality on Groundhog Day: Like Father Like Son, a virtual-reality game set decades after the 1993 film Groundhog Day. The project was announced for PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vive and extended the studio's interest in licensed worlds and immersive formats. Tequila Works also participated in publishing and external-studio partnerships. In 2017 it partnered with British developer Cavalier Game Studios to publish The Sexy Brutale and provide additional development support. It also published WonderWorlds, created by Guildford-based start-up Glowmade. These activities broadened the company’s role from a single-studio developer to a small creative label supporting projects from other teams. In May 2019, Tequila Works stated that it had two projects in production and another in pre-production, indicating an active development pipeline. In March 2022, Tencent invested in the studio. The amount was not disclosed, but the investment made Tencent a major investor and was described as supporting studio growth and the development of additional original intellectual property. In November 2024, Tequila Works was reported to have filed for insolvency, citing prolonged market conditions. This marked the end of the studio's known period as an operating independent developer. Publicly available reference material does not establish a precise liquidation date, the final disposition of every project, or the treatment of its intellectual-property portfolio.

Tequila Works was established in Madrid in 2009 by Raúl Rubio Munárriz, Lauren Manuel Garcia Carro, and German Martinez. It emerged as an independent Spanish game studio at a time when smaller developers were increasingly able to reach international audiences through digital distribution and multi-platform publishing. The founders positioned the company around original intellectual property and visually distinctive experiences rather than a single long-running commercial franchise. The studio's first publicly announced project was Deadlight, revealed on 18 January 2012. The game combined side-scrolling movement with action, survival, and puzzle elements in a post-apocalyptic setting. Its silhouette-oriented visual style helped separate it from more conventional games in the same categories. Deadlight established Tequila Works as a developer capable of producing commercially visible work with a comparatively focused independent scope. The studio then developed Rime, a puzzle-adventure title centered on exploration, environmental interaction, and a mysterious island setting. The project was initially intended to be exclusive to PlayStation 4. During production, Tequila Works acquired the intellectual property from Sony, allowing the studio to pursue a broader platform strategy. Rime was released in May 2017 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows, and Nintendo Switch, with additional releases following. The title became the company's signature original game and reinforced its reputation for atmospheric presentation and restrained storytelling. Alongside its original properties, Tequila Works experimented with virtual reality. In partnership with GameTrust Games, it developed The Invisible Hours, a virtual-reality murder mystery in which the player investigates a complex event by moving through an unfolding scene and observing its participants. The project represented a shift from conventional screen-based adventure design toward spatial storytelling and player-directed investigation. In 2017, the company expanded its publishing and partnership activities. It worked with British developer Cavalier Game Studios on The Sexy Brutale, publishing the game and contributing additional development support. It also published WonderWorlds, a project from Guildford-based start-up Glowmade. These relationships gave Tequila Works a role in helping other studios bring projects to market, in addition to creating its own games. The studio continued its work in licensed virtual reality with Groundhog Day: Like Father Like Son. Sony Pictures Virtual Reality announced the project in February 2019. Set 26 years after the events of the film Groundhog Day, it was planned for PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vive. The project illustrated Tequila Works' ability to work with established entertainment properties while adapting them to an interactive and immersive format. In May 2019, Tequila Works said that two projects were in production and one was in pre-production, although the available reference material does not identify all of those projects or document their eventual release. In March 2022, Tencent invested in the studio. The investment amount was not disclosed. It was described as making Tencent a major investor and was intended to help Tequila Works grow and develop more original intellectual property. The company’s later operating history was affected by difficult market conditions in the games industry. In November 2024, Tequila Works was reported to have filed for insolvency, citing prolonged market conditions. Available sources do not provide a definitive liquidation date, a complete account of employees or creditors, or a final inventory of projects and intellectual property. Accordingly, the studio is treated here as defunct following the insolvency filing, while the legal and commercial status of individual works remains only partly documented.

• 2024

  Insolvency filing

  [1]Tequila Worksen.wikipedia.org

  Tequila Works files for insolvency in November, citing prolonged market conditions.

• 2022

  Tencent becomes a major investor

  [1]Tequila Worksen.wikipedia.org

  Tencent makes an undisclosed investment intended to support studio growth and original intellectual-property development.

• 2019

  Groundhog Day virtual-reality game is announced

  [1]Tequila Worksen.wikipedia.org

  Sony Pictures Virtual Reality announces Groundhog Day: Like Father Like Son, developed by Tequila Works.

• 2017

  Rime is released

  [1]Tequila Worksen.wikipedia.org

  Rime launches in May after Tequila Works acquires the intellectual property from Sony and expands the planned platform release.

• 2017

  Publishing partnerships broaden the studio's activities

  [1]Tequila Worksen.wikipedia.org

  Tequila Works partners with Cavalier Game Studios on The Sexy Brutale and publishes WonderWorlds from Glowmade.

• 2012

  Deadlight is announced

  [1]Tequila Worksen.wikipedia.org

  Tequila Works announces its first project, Deadlight, an atmospheric side-scrolling action and survival game.

• 2009

  Tequila Works is founded in Madrid

  [1]Tequila Worksen.wikipedia.org

  Raúl Rubio Munárriz, Lauren Manuel Garcia Carro, and German Martinez establish the Spanish video-game studio.

An independent Spanish game studio focused on visually distinctive, atmospheric, narrative-led experiences across console, PC, and virtual-reality platforms, with additional activity in publishing and partnerships with external developers.

• Video game · 2012

  Deadlight

  Tequila Works' first announced project is a side-scrolling action and survival game set in a post-apocalyptic world. It combines traversal, combat, environmental puzzles, and a strong silhouette-based visual presentation. Deadlight established the studio's early creative identity and became its debut internationally visible title.

• Puzzle-adventure video game · 2017

  Rime

  Rime is a stylized puzzle-adventure game focused on exploration, environmental challenges, and visual storytelling. Originally planned as a PlayStation 4 exclusive, it became a multi-platform release after Tequila Works acquired the intellectual property from Sony during development. The game was released in May 2017 and became the studio's best-known original property.

• Virtual-reality video game

  The Invisible Hours

  Developed in collaboration with GameTrust Games, The Invisible Hours is a virtual-reality murder mystery. Its design allows players to observe characters and events from an immersive environment while reconstructing the circumstances of the crime, making spatial observation and narrative discovery central to the experience.

• Virtual-reality video game · 2019

  Groundhog Day: Like Father Like Son

  Groundhog Day: Like Father Like Son is a virtual-reality game developed by Tequila Works in partnership with Sony Pictures Virtual Reality. Set 26 years after the film Groundhog Day, it adapts the film's premise and setting into an interactive experience planned for PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vive.

• Published video game · 2017

  The Sexy Brutale

  Tequila Works partnered with Cavalier Game Studios to publish The Sexy Brutale and provide additional development support. The game was an external-studio publishing and collaboration project rather than a Tequila Works-created original property.

• Published video game

  WonderWorlds

  WonderWorlds was created by Glowmade, a Guildford-based start-up studio, and published by Tequila Works. Its inclusion in the company's catalogue reflects Tequila Works' activity as a publishing partner for smaller external developers.

• 2024

  File for insolvencyOther

  Background

  The studio faced what was described publicly as prolonged market conditions affecting its ability to continue operating.

  Action taken

  Tequila Works filed for insolvency in November 2024.

  Aftermath

  The filing marks the end of the studio's known operating period, although the final legal disposition of its assets, projects, and intellectual property is not documented in the supplied sources.

  Source

• 2022

  Accept Tencent investment to support growth and original IPStrategy

  Background

  Tequila Works announced that Tencent had invested in the studio during a period in which the company was seeking to expand its development capacity.

  Action taken

  The studio accepted an undisclosed investment that made Tencent a major investor and said the funds would support growth and new original intellectual property.

  Aftermath

  The available reference material does not disclose the investment amount, ownership percentage, or the complete list of projects financed by the investment.

  Source

• 2017

  Acquire Rime intellectual property and pursue a multi-platform releaseStrategy

  Background

  Rime had initially been conceived as a PlayStation 4-exclusive project associated with Sony, but Tequila Works sought greater control over the property and its distribution strategy.

  Action taken

  Tequila Works acquired the intellectual property from Sony during development and brought the game to additional platforms.

  Aftermath

  Rime was released in May 2017 across multiple console and PC platforms and became the studio's most prominent original title.

  Source

1. 1Tequila Worksen.wikipedia.org