Big Ant Studios Pty Ltd

An Australian video game developer founded in 2001, known for developing sports titles and porting major franchise games.

Sports

Strategy

Tactics

Driving

Racing



Website

Founded

2001

Acquired

2021

HQ

Melbourne, Australia

Parent

Nacon

Known for

Sports simulation / Sports / Multiplayer

33

Games

2009–2023

Years

12

Platforms

$10.60

Ø CIB

+12.1%

24M change

About

Big Ant Studios was founded in Melbourne, Australia, by Ross Symons. The studio initially gained traction by developing ports and companion titles for major franchises, such as the PlayStation Portable versions of Cars and Hellboy. They later became highly regarded for their dedicated sports simulations, particularly in cricket, rugby league, and tennis.

Following the 2005 UMD release of Hellboy, the studio secured contracts with THQ to deliver Cars in 2006. This title achieved significant commercial success, leading to multiple budget-line re-releases including Cars [Greatest Hits], Cars [Platinum], and Cars [Platinum Hits]. During this same period, the company expanded its catalog with the shooter Pirate Blast (2006).

To support its diverse output, the developer created a proprietary multi-platform game engine, allowing for efficient cross-platform deployment. This technological foundation facilitated a transition into long-running annual franchises. In January 2021, French video game publisher Nacon acquired the studio for €35 million. This acquisition integrated the developer into a global publishing network, securing increased funding and resources to expand its development operations while maintaining its specialized focus on realistic physics and community-driven content creation tools.