RedLynx
Finnish video-game developer best known for the Trials series of physics-based racing games.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
RedLynx is a Finnish video-game development studio based in Helsinki. Founded on 17 August 2000 by brothers Atte and Antti Ilvessuo, the company began as a small independent developer with an emphasis on mobile and browser games. Its early work included games created for Nokia mobile phones and the N-Gage platform, helping establish the studio in Finland's mobile-game development scene during the 2000s. Among its N-Gage projects were Pathway to Glory, High Seize, and Reset Generation. The company originally operated under the Finnish name Punainen Ilves Laboratoriot Oy, which translates approximately as Red Lynx Laboratories. It adopted the shorter RedLynx name on 3 June 2004. The rebranding gave the studio a more internationally usable identity while retaining the meaning of its original name. RedLynx became internationally recognized through the Trials franchise. The series combines motorcycle racing, platforming, obstacle courses, and physics-based movement. Its central design challenge is not simply reaching the finish line, but controlling acceleration, balance, landings, and momentum across increasingly demanding courses. This formula made the studio known for games with accessible controls, repeated attempts, competitive time trials, and a high level of mastery for advanced players. Ubisoft acquired RedLynx on 2 November 2011, after which the Helsinki studio became part of the publisher's worldwide development network. Under Ubisoft ownership, RedLynx continued to develop Trials entries, including Trials Evolution, Trials Fusion, and Trials Rising. The studio also contributed development support to other Ubisoft projects, including Star Wars Outlaws. Its work therefore expanded from independent mobile and browser production into franchise development and support for large international releases. RedLynx's identity remains closely associated with Trials and with the use of physics simulation as a core gameplay feature. The studio's history reflects the development of Finland's mobile-game sector, the transition from handset and browser projects to console and PC production, and the integration of a specialist developer into a multinational publisher. In October 2025, Ubisoft announced plans to lay off up to 60 employees at RedLynx and refocus the studio on mobile-game development. The announcement indicated a strategic change in the studio's role, although the available reference material does not specify the final number of affected employees or the complete scope of the new mobile portfolio.
History
RedLynx was established in Helsinki on 17 August 2000 by brothers Atte and Antti Ilvessuo. Before creating RedLynx, the brothers had also founded WAH-Software. The new company began as a small independent studio at a time when Finnish game development was strongly connected to mobile devices, downloadable products, and emerging online distribution. RedLynx initially focused on mobile and browser games rather than large-scale console productions. During the 2000s, the studio developed games for Nokia handsets and the N-Gage platform. Its early portfolio included Pathway to Glory, High Seize, and Reset Generation. These projects placed RedLynx within the development ecosystem surrounding Nokia's mobile hardware and demonstrated the studio's ability to create games for constrained and specialized platforms. This period also helped shape the company's later experience with compact controls, repeated play sessions, and games designed for portable use. RedLynx originally traded under the name Punainen Ilves Laboratoriot Oy, a Finnish name meaning approximately Red Lynx Laboratories. On 3 June 2004, it changed its operating name to RedLynx. The shorter name was more readily usable in international publishing and branding while preserving the company's original animal-based identity. The studio's most important creative and commercial association became Trials. Trials games use motorcycle riding as the basis for obstacle-course racing, with physics simulation determining how the rider and vehicle respond to slopes, jumps, landings, acceleration, and balance. The format supports both casual play and highly demanding competitive mastery, since players can retry courses repeatedly and optimize their times and movements. Through the franchise, RedLynx became recognized beyond Finland as a developer with particular expertise in physics-based racing and platforming. Ubisoft acquired RedLynx on 2 November 2011. The acquisition changed the studio's corporate setting from independent developer to Ubisoft-owned production unit, but RedLynx continued to operate from Helsinki and remained strongly associated with Trials. Following the acquisition, it worked on further Trials releases, including Trials Evolution, Trials Fusion, and Trials Rising. It also provided development support for other Ubisoft products, including Star Wars Outlaws, showing that its role extended beyond the studio's own best-known franchise. In October 2025, Ubisoft announced a restructuring at RedLynx involving up to 60 layoffs and a renewed focus on mobile-game development. The announcement represented a strategic shift back toward the type of portable gaming environment in which the studio had started, although the available reference material does not establish the final number of redundancies, the precise organizational structure after the change, or the complete list of planned mobile projects. RedLynx's documented history therefore spans Finnish mobile and browser development, internationally distributed physics-based racing games, and integration into a major global publisher.
- 2025
Mobile-game refocus announced
[1]Ubisoft announced plans to reduce the RedLynx workforce by up to 60 positions and refocus the studio on mobile games.
- 2011
Ubisoft acquires RedLynx
[1]Ubisoft completed its acquisition of RedLynx on 2 November 2011.
- 2004
The studio adopts the RedLynx name
[1]The company changed its name from Punainen Ilves Laboratoriot Oy to RedLynx on 3 June 2004.
- 2000
RedLynx is founded in Helsinki
[1]Brothers Atte and Antti Ilvessuo founded the studio on 17 August 2000 as an independent Finnish game developer.
Products and positioning
A specialist game-development studio associated with physics-driven racing, obstacle-course gameplay, and cross-platform game production.
Mobile game
Pathway to Glory
An early RedLynx title developed for Nokia's mobile-gaming ecosystem, including the N-Gage platform. It represents the studio's initial focus on portable game development before its later association with the Trials franchise.
Mobile game
High Seize
A RedLynx game created for Nokia mobile hardware and associated with the N-Gage era. It is part of the company's early portfolio of portable games developed before the studio became primarily known for Trials.
Mobile and browser game
Reset Generation
An early RedLynx project from the studio's mobile and browser-oriented period. The title illustrates the company's work across emerging portable and online distribution formats during the 2000s.
Physics-based racing game series
Trials series
RedLynx's signature franchise combines motorcycle racing, obstacle courses, platforming, and physics simulation. Players control acceleration, balance, momentum, and landings while attempting to complete increasingly difficult tracks and improve their times.
Racing game
Trials Evolution
A post-acquisition entry in the Trials franchise developed by RedLynx within Ubisoft's publishing structure. It continued the series' emphasis on motorcycle handling, obstacle courses, physics-based failure, and repeated time-trial play.
Racing game
Trials Fusion
A later Trials installment produced by RedLynx under Ubisoft. It extended the franchise's physics-driven motorcycle courses and competitive challenge structure across modern gaming platforms.
Racing game
Trials Rising
A further RedLynx-developed entry in the Trials series. It retains the franchise's core motorcycle obstacle-course formula and its focus on precision, retries, and performance improvement.
Brand decisions
2025
Refocus on mobile gamesStrategyBackground
Ubisoft announced a change in RedLynx's direction during an October 2025 restructuring.
Action taken
The company announced plans to refocus the studio on mobile-game development and eliminate up to 60 positions.
Aftermath
The available reference material does not state the final number of layoffs or identify the complete post-restructuring project portfolio.
2011
Ubisoft acquisitionM&ABackground
RedLynx was an independent Helsinki developer known for mobile games and the Trials franchise.
Action taken
Ubisoft acquired the studio on 2 November 2011 and incorporated it into its development network.
Aftermath
RedLynx continued making Trials games and also supported development of other Ubisoft titles.
2004
Adoption of the RedLynx identityStrategyBackground
The studio had operated under the Finnish legal name Punainen Ilves Laboratoriot Oy since its founding.
Action taken
On 3 June 2004, it changed its operating name to RedLynx.
Aftermath
The shorter English-language identity became the name associated with the studio's international game-development work.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Reported
Ubisoft proposes to close its Finnish studio RedLynx, affecting up to 52 positions[2]
Ubisoft said it has informed teams of a proposal to close its studio in Finland, RedLynx – which is behind the Trials series – subject to the local change negotiation process. The proposed closure is expected to affect up to 52 positions.
- Unconfirmed
Ubisoft to close RedLynx and downsize Ubisoft Singapore[3]
Ubisoft said it would close RedLynx and downsize Ubisoft Singapore, with the decisions expected to affect more than 120 jobs between the two studios as part of its ongoing restructuring.
Sources3 sources
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