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Skytale is a non-profit video game studio founded in 2019, run by 80 volunteers and no employees. You will find here everything you need to write about us without having to ask, and a way to reach us when you do.
The studio in 3 minutes
The Last Artifact
A free narrative adventure, played on one of the largest distribution platforms in the world: Minecraft. Cutscenes, dialogue, combat and symphonic music are all computed by our servers through our own game editor, in development for 5 years.
- Type
- Co-operative narrative adventure
- Release
- 2027, window detailed in the press kit
- Platform
- Minecraft Java, nothing to install on the player's side
- Prix
- Free, no in-app purchases, no advertising
- Age rating
- 14 and over
- Languages
- French, English
Those who said yes
Each of them said yes after looking at the work, not the budget.
One of the best-known voices in French dubbing lends her voice to the character of Venet.
He plays Vorôcko, after already voicing the Cheshire Cat in Z'Wonder Battle.
La European Recording Orchestra di Sofia
110 musicians and singers recorded the original score at the National Radio Hall of Bulgaria, conducted by our volunteer composer.
Read the story of the recording
A certified game
The game is registered with the Games Made in France label of the Syndicat national du jeu vidéo, which recognises productions developed in the country.
E tutto questo è fatto da volontari
No employees, no capital, 80 people across France and abroad working remotely in their spare time, covering every role of a real studio. The games are free, and every euro raised at our charity events goes to the charities we support.
What is at stake here is not an economy, it is a demonstration: you can hold to the standards of a professional production without a single euro of salary changing hands, as long as the demand for quality is shared.
What this model has produced
55,412 euros donated
Raised at our charity events, played live by the community. The money never passes through the studio: it goes straight to the charities we support.
2 awards
The Tous Bénévoles audience award, presented at Paris City Hall for our work on volunteer employability, and a gold Marketing Gaming & Digital award.
2 public or joint commissions
An awareness campaign run with ADEME, and an experience presented at the Olympic Village during the Paris 2024 Games.
5 departments, a remote production
Art, development, design, communication and support. Schools invite us to come and explain how it holds together, and the studio has hosted 62 interns since 2021.
See how the team is organised
What we can provide
A review build before release
Guided access, with a volunteer available to walk you through the session.
Accreditation for an event
Our events are played live. Tell us the date and your outlet.
An interview
The president, a developer of the editor, the composer, or a volunteer who turned professional in the games industry.
One single file to download
Everything is in there, up to date and ready to use. Editorial use, credit Skytale. Do not distort or recolour the logos or the mascot.
- Press release, boilerplate and key figures
- Brand guidelines
- Skytale and Nimbus logos, transparent background
- The Last Artifact: artwork, environments, characters
- Progetti ed eventi
- Studio and team: portraits and group photos
Our latest news
Scrivici
One address, two people behind it. We answer within 48 working hours, faster if you tell us your deadline.
Presidente e cofondatore
He answers in person, and speaks about the studio, the non-profit model and the game.
Public relations officer
She arranges access, accreditations and requests for visuals.
No phone number listed. If a call is needed, ask by email and we will call you back.
Le domande che ci fanno
What exactly is Skytale?
An independent non-profit video game studio, founded in 2019 and run today by more than 80 active volunteers, with no employees at all. We create free games and events, with the roles and the standards of a professional studio. 10 projects delivered since 2019, and one flagship adventure, The Last Artifact.
80 people, no salaries: how does that hold together?
Through organisation, and through what each person comes looking for. The studio is split into departments, each team has its lead, and assignments are defined with the volunteer rather than imposed. We work 100 % remotely, in our spare time, in a healthy environment free of financial stakes.
What do volunteers get out of it?
Real hands-on practice, and a springboard. CV and interview workshops, mentoring, skills built through the project: several volunteers have moved into the games industry after passing through here. It is this work on employability that earned Skytale the 2022 Young Volunteer Award, the audience prize, presented at Paris City Hall.
What is The Last Artifact?
Our major narrative adventure, free to play. You are Valar, the King's Claw, sent into a sea of clouds to save a land torn apart by magic. 5 floating islands, puzzles of light, combat, around 12 hours of play. All of it on a perfectly standard Minecraft.
When does the game come out?
In 2027. We do not give an exact date until we know we can hold it: the game is built in people's spare time, and we would rather announce late than postpone. The release window is detailed in the press kit.
Why five years of development?
Because everything is handmade, and because the tool had to be built before the game. 1,100 3D models, 120 fully voiced characters, 3,128 lines of dialogue, more than 45 narrative cutscenes, 25 original tracks. Nearly 400 contributors have taken part since 2020.
Microsoft e Mojang vi lasciano fare?
Our productions follow Minecraft's usage guidelines: free, non-commercial, and with nothing modified on the player's side.
Why Minecraft rather than a conventional game engine?
Because tens of millions of players already have it installed. No download, no setup, no barrier: we hand out a server address and the adventure begins. The cutscenes, dialogue, combat and music are all computed by our editor.
What is the Skytale Map Editor?
Our in-house game editor, built on top of Minecraft, and the real foundation of our productions. 5 years of research and development, 16 libraries, more than 30 modules. It is what lets us build islands, animate characters and script every puzzle.
If everything is free, who funds the studio?
No capital, no shareholders, no revenue from the games. Running costs — servers, licences and travel — are carried by the association, and not one euro goes to salaries.
Do you use generative AI?
No, and that is not up for debate. Not one image, not one piece of music, not one line of text in our games is produced by generative AI. It all comes from a human hand, and that is one of the three commitments we stand by, alongside free access and fully volunteer work.
Come ci si cita?
Skytale, with no accent and no article. A non-profit video game studio founded in 2019. Visuals are credited to Skytale.
Can we play the game before release?
Yes, on request. Access is guided, and a volunteer stays available during the session to answer your questions. Write to presse@skytale.fr telling us your outlet and your deadline.