Companies & Studios

Rebellion Developments

2000 AD custodians

The Oxford-based studio founded by the Kingsley brothers that acquired legendary comic publisher 2000 AD and built franchises including Sniper Elite and Zombie Army.

cross-platformoxford2000-adsniper-eliteindependentpublishing1992–present

Overview

Rebellion Developments is an Oxford-based independent game developer founded by brothers Jason and Chris Kingsley. Beyond games, Rebellion uniquely acquired comic publisher 2000 AD in 2000, becoming custodians of Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper, and other British comic icons. They remain one of the few large independent studios in the UK.

Fast Facts

Aspect Detail
Founded 1992
Location Oxford, UK
Founders Jason and Chris Kingsley
Employees 500+
Status Independent

The 2000 AD Acquisition

In 2000, Rebellion purchased 2000 AD and associated properties from Fleetway:

Property Status
Judge Dredd Ongoing publication, multiple games
Rogue Trooper 2006 game adaptation
ABC Warriors Available for development
Strontium Dog Cross-media potential

Major Game Franchises

Franchise First Entry Sales
Sniper Elite 2005 35+ million
Zombie Army 2013 Spin-off success
Strange Brigade 2018 Co-op adventure

Technical Innovation

Technology Application
Asura engine In-house, cross-platform
X-ray kill cam Sniper Elite signature feature
Co-op systems Up to 4-player campaigns

Publishing Division

Rebellion also publishes:

Division Output
2000 AD Weekly comic anthology
Rebellion Publishing Novels, graphic novels
Treasury of British Comics Classic reprints

Independence

Unlike most large UK studios, Rebellion remains independent:

Factor Benefit
Self-funding Creative freedom
IP ownership Long-term value
Vertical integration Games + comics + publishing

Legacy

Rebellion proves that UK studios can remain independent at scale while preserving culturally significant properties. Their stewardship of 2000 AD ensures British comic heritage continues.

See Also