Human: Fall Flat veterans launch new UK studio Pretty Cool Games with funding from Arknights developer Hypergraph

Pretty Cool Games is a new UK studio co-founded by Human: Fall Flat veterans Sitara Shefta and Will Dudley, with undisclosed funding from Hypergryph, the Chinese developer behind Arknights: Endfield. The studio is fully remote and is positioning itself around a small, focused team rather than a traditional scale-up model.

Shefta, who previously led No Brakes Games Tenerife and directed Human: Fall Flat, says the goal is to build a sustainable studio that rewards employees for success. The team is aiming to avoid the boom-and-bust cycle that has hit much of the industry, including share schemes so staff benefit if the game succeeds. Shefta also serves on the TIGA Board and BAFTA Games Committee, while Dudley brings experience from Sony, Lionhead, Rare, and Marmalade.

Most of the funding is going into the studio’s first game, which is being shaped by Nintendo, Hazelight, Disney theme parks, and physical comedy films like The Pink Panther. The pitch is a game that gives players room to experiment, express themselves, and create wild scenarios through physics, systems, and level design. The studio is also looking for additional investment and a publishing partner.

Pretty Cool Games currently has four full-time staff and plans to grow to ten. Immediate hires include lead design, level design, environment art, and concept art, with future openings planned for QA, character art, audio, UI, and a composer. For developers, the interesting angle is the studio’s attempt to combine AAA discipline with indie speed while keeping scope tight and decision-making fast.