Digital Bros
Digital Bros is an Italian video-game company that develops, publishes, and distributes games through brands and studios including 505 Games and Halifax.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Digital Bros is an Italian video-game company headquartered in Milan. Founded in 1989 by brothers Abramo and Raffaele Galante, the business began as Halifax S.p.A., a distribution company focused on bringing international publishers’ games to the Italian market. Halifax became associated with major global game properties during the 1990s, including Pro Evolution Soccer, Tomb Raider, and Resident Evil. Although the corporate group later adopted the Digital Bros name, Halifax continued to be used as a distribution brand. The company expanded beyond conventional distribution through a series of media, online, digital, publishing, and development initiatives. From 1999 to 2006, it operated the European television channel Game Network. It also managed European servers for The Legend of Mir series and other online games under the Game Network identity until 2009. In 2000, Digital Bros was admitted to the STAR segment of the Italian Stock Exchange, marking an important transition from a privately established distributor to a publicly traded games group. A major strategic development was the creation of 505 Games, initially known as 505 GameStreet, in 2006. The subsidiary became Digital Bros’ principal international publishing and development brand. In the following years, the group adapted to the expansion of digital distribution by beginning to publish games on Steam, PlayStation Network, and Xbox Live in 2012. It established a mobile-games division, 505 Games Mobile, in 2013, reflecting the growing importance of downloadable and mobile software alongside physical retail distribution. Digital Bros subsequently increased its ownership and control of development capabilities. In 2014, it established the Digital Bros Game Academy, a video-game development school. In 2015, it acquired DR Studios, a Milton Keynes-based developer, and assigned it responsibility for free-to-play games. The group also acquired a 49 percent stake in Ovosonico, a Varese-based studio. In 2017, it acquired Kunos Simulazioni, an Italian developer known for driving simulation games. Other studios and businesses associated with the group have included Infinity Plus Two, Ingame Studios, Kunos Simulazioni, DR Studios, Avantgarden, Hawken Entertainment, Nesting Games, and Supernova Games. In 2020, Digital Bros stated an intention to derive half of its revenue from internally owned games, indicating a desire to reduce dependence on third-party publishing and strengthen the value of its own intellectual property. On March 3, 2020, it acquired 51 percent of the remaining shares in Ovosonico from Massimo Guarini. The Ovosonico name remained the property of Guarini through Guarini Design, while the development studio and its employees became part of Digital Bros. The group faced a more difficult market environment after the pandemic-era expansion of the games industry. In November 2023, Digital Bros announced a restructuring involving approximately 30 percent of its global workforce, or about 130 employees. The company attributed the review to changing industry conditions and altered consumer behavior, including stronger demand for established intellectual properties. Its revised approach emphasized sequels and new versions of successful games while reducing the number of new large-budget projects. The restructuring continued in 2024 with the closure of 505 Games offices in Germany, Spain, and France. Digital Bros therefore combines legacy Italian distribution, international publishing through 505 Games, ownership or control of development studios, and educational activity in game creation.
History
Digital Bros was established in Milan in 1989 as Halifax S.p.A. by brothers Abramo and Raffaele Galante. Its initial business was the Italian distribution of games made by international publishers. During the 1990s, the Halifax brand distributed prominent properties including Pro Evolution Soccer, Tomb Raider, and Resident Evil, helping the company build a position in the Italian retail market. The Halifax name remained in use for distribution after the group developed its broader Digital Bros identity. The company pursued media and online opportunities as the games market expanded. It operated the European television channel Game Network between 1999 and 2006. Under the same brand, it operated European servers for The Legend of Mir series and other online games until 2009. Digital Bros became a public company in 2000 when it was listed on the STAR segment of the Italian Stock Exchange. In 2006, the group created 505 Games, originally called 505 GameStreet. The subsidiary became a central vehicle for international publishing. Digital Bros responded to the shift from physical retail toward digital storefronts by publishing through Steam, PlayStation Network, and Xbox Live from 2012. It launched 505 Games Mobile in 2013 and created the Digital Bros Game Academy in 2014, extending its activities into mobile publishing and professional game-development education. The group also developed a network of studios and investments. It acquired British developer DR Studios in 2015 and placed it in charge of free-to-play development. That year it took a 49 percent stake in Ovosonico, a studio based in Varese. In 2017, it acquired Kunos Simulazioni, an Italian developer specializing in driving simulations. The broader group has also been associated with studios and labels including Infinity Plus Two, Ingame Studios, Avantgarden, Hawken Entertainment, Nesting Games, and Supernova Games. Digital Bros announced in 2020 that it aimed to obtain 50 percent of its revenue from its own games, signaling a strategic effort to strengthen proprietary intellectual property. On March 3 of that year, it acquired 51 percent of the remaining shares in Ovosonico from Massimo Guarini. The Ovosonico brand itself remained with Guarini through Guarini Design, while the development operation and its employees were acquired by Digital Bros. After the rapid changes in the games market associated with the pandemic, Digital Bros reviewed its organization and portfolio strategy. In November 2023, it announced plans to cut approximately 30 percent of its worldwide workforce, or about 130 positions. The company said that industry conditions and consumer preferences had changed, with players showing stronger demand for established intellectual properties. It consequently intended to place greater emphasis on sequels and new versions of successful games and to reduce the number of new large-budget projects. In 2024, the restructuring included the closure of 505 Games offices in France, Germany, and Spain. Digital Bros remains an active Italian games group whose activities span distribution, publishing, digital and mobile games, development studios, and game-development education.
- 2024
European 505 Games office closures
[1]The restructuring continues with the closure of 505 Games offices in France, Germany, and Spain.
- 2023
Global workforce review
[1]The company announces plans to reduce its global workforce by approximately 30 percent, or around 130 employees, and to focus its portfolio more heavily on established intellectual properties.
- 2020
Proprietary-game strategy and Ovosonico acquisition
[1]Digital Bros states an objective of generating half of its revenue from its own games and acquires 51 percent of Ovosonico's remaining shares.
- 2017
Kunos Simulazioni joins the group
[1]Digital Bros acquires Kunos Simulazioni, a developer specializing in driving simulations.
- 2015
DR Studios acquisition and Ovosonico investment
[1]Digital Bros acquires DR Studios in the United Kingdom and takes a 49 percent stake in Ovosonico in Italy.
- 2014
Digital Bros Game Academy is established
[1]Digital Bros creates a school focused on training video-game developers.
- 2013
505 Games Mobile is launched
[1]The group establishes a mobile-games division under the 505 Games identity.
- 2012
Expansion into major digital storefronts
[1]Digital Bros begins publishing games on Steam, PlayStation Network, and Xbox Live.
- 2006
505 Games is established
[1]The group creates 505 GameStreet, later known as 505 Games, as an international publishing subsidiary.
- 2000
Stock-market listing
[1]Digital Bros is listed on the STAR segment of the Italian Stock Exchange.
Products and positioning
An Italian games group combining international publishing, legacy distribution, digital and mobile publishing, and ownership or management of specialized development studios. Its portfolio strategy has increasingly emphasized internally owned intellectual property and established game franchises.
Video-game publishing · 2006
505 Games
505 Games is Digital Bros' international publishing subsidiary, created in 2006 as 505 GameStreet. It publishes games for console, PC, digital storefronts, and other platforms, and became the group's principal outward-facing publishing brand.
Video-game distribution · 1989
Halifax
Halifax is the distribution identity inherited from the company's original business as Halifax S.p.A. It distributed international publishers' games in Italy during the 1990s, including Pro Evolution Soccer, Tomb Raider, and Resident Evil, and continued to be used after the corporate group adopted the Digital Bros name.
Mobile-game publishing · 2013
505 Games Mobile
505 Games Mobile is the group's mobile-games division, established as Digital Bros expanded beyond traditional physical distribution and console publishing. The division reflects the company's participation in downloadable and mobile game markets.
Driving-simulation development
Kunos Simulazioni
Kunos Simulazioni is an Italian development studio specializing in driving simulations. Digital Bros acquired the studio in 2017, adding a specialized development capability to its publishing and studio portfolio.
Free-to-play game development
DR Studios
DR Studios is a developer based in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom. Digital Bros acquired it in 2015 and assigned it responsibility for the group's free-to-play games.
Video-game education · 2014
Digital Bros Game Academy
The Digital Bros Game Academy is an educational institution established by the group to train people for careers in video-game development. It broadens Digital Bros' role from game production and distribution into skills development.
Brand decisions
2023
Portfolio restructuring and workforce reductionStrategyBackground
Digital Bros cited changes in the global games industry and consumer preference for established intellectual properties after the pandemic period.
Action taken
The company announced a workforce reduction of approximately 30 percent, or around 130 employees, and said it would focus more on sequels and new versions of successful games while reducing new large-budget projects.
Aftermath
The restructuring continued into 2024, including the closure of 505 Games offices in France, Germany, and Spain.
2020
Increase the share of revenue from owned gamesStrategyBackground
Digital Bros was seeking greater control over intellectual property and reduced reliance on externally owned game portfolios.
Action taken
The company announced an intention to generate 50 percent of its revenue from its own games.
Aftermath
The stated objective shaped the group's emphasis on internal development and proprietary intellectual property.
2020
Acquisition of the remaining Ovosonico studio interestM&ABackground
Digital Bros had previously held a minority stake in Ovosonico and sought control of the studio's development operation.
Action taken
On March 3, Digital Bros acquired 51 percent of the remaining Ovosonico shares from Massimo Guarini.
Aftermath
The studio and its employees became part of Digital Bros, while the Ovosonico brand remained owned by Massimo Guarini through Guarini Design.
2017
Acquisition of Kunos SimulazioniM&ABackground
Digital Bros was building a portfolio of owned or controlled development studios with specialized capabilities.
Action taken
The group acquired Kunos Simulazioni, a developer focused on driving simulations.
Aftermath
Digital Bros added a specialist racing and driving-simulation developer to its studio network.
2015
Acquisition of DR Studios and investment in OvosonicoM&ABackground
Digital Bros sought to expand its development capabilities and participate in free-to-play and independent game production.
Action taken
The group acquired DR Studios and purchased a 49 percent stake in Ovosonico.
Aftermath
The transactions added a United Kingdom development studio and an Italian studio investment to the group.
2012
Move into digital storefront publishingStrategyBackground
The video-game market was shifting from physical retail toward downloadable distribution.
Action taken
Digital Bros began publishing games through Steam, PlayStation Network, and Xbox Live.
Aftermath
The move expanded the group's publishing activity across major digital platforms.
Recent events
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