StickyLock

StickyLock is an independent game-development studio and publishing brand based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Established in 2018, it operates across the video-game and immersive-media sectors, with activities spanning original game development, third-party publishing, virtual-reality experiences, augmented-reality work, and projects intended to communicate or support social and civic goals. The company has been associated with both commercial games and experimental interactive projects, positioning itself at the intersection of game production, emerging technology, and public-facing experiences. The studio’s publishing and development portfolio includes games made internally as well as projects created with external development partners. Its best-known releases and projects include Woven, a narrative-focused adventure game developed by Alterego Games; Sanity of Morris, a psychological-thriller title also developed by Alterego Games; Histera, a multiplayer first-person shooter built around real-time changes to the game world; and Shadow’s Edge, a mobile title designed to help young people deal with chronic illness through therapeutic storytelling and expressive play. These projects demonstrate a broad rather than genre-specialist catalogue, ranging from exploratory and narrative games to competitive shooters and purpose-driven mobile experiences. StickyLock has also worked in virtual reality. Spark - Albert Cuypgarage VR was created in collaboration with local authorities and presents an immersive exploration of the Albert Cuypgarage, an underground parking facility in Amsterdam associated with the unusual engineering challenge of construction beneath an existing canal. The project illustrates the studio’s work beyond conventional entertainment software, using interactive simulation to explain urban infrastructure and planning. Woven was released across Android, iPad, iPhone, Steam, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One in November 2019. Histera entered Steam Early Access in June 2024 after a public demo appearance at Steam Next Fest in October 2023. Its central gameplay idea is a “Glitch” mechanic that changes portions of the playable environment from one historical period to another during a match. Shadow’s Edge, released for iOS and Android in October 2017, was developed by Digging Deep with co-development contributions from StickyLock and Little Chicken Game Company. The game uses therapeutic narrative and gameplay to give young players a structured setting for exploring emotions connected with chronic illness. Public reference material described StickyLock as having more than 50 employees in 2024. That same year, however, StickyLock Games B.V., identified as the games-development division of StickyLock Group, was declared bankrupt on 17 July 2024. The bankruptcy of that legal entity is an important event in the brand’s corporate history, but available material does not establish whether the wider StickyLock brand or group ceased operations, was restructured, or continued through another entity. Its overall present status therefore remains uncertain.

StickyLock was founded in the Netherlands in 2018 and developed as an independent studio and publisher focused on video games and immersive interactive media. From the beginning, its scope extended beyond a single commercial genre: the company worked on standard PC, console, and mobile games while also pursuing virtual-reality and augmented-reality projects. This combination allowed StickyLock to participate both in conventional game publishing and in commissioned or experimental experiences tied to health, public communication, and urban development. One of the projects associated with the studio before or around its formal establishment was Shadow’s Edge, a mobile game released on 16 October 2017. Created by Digging Deep and co-developed by StickyLock and Little Chicken Game Company, the game was designed for young people living with chronic illness. Its therapeutic approach combines gameplay, storytelling, and emotional expression, giving players a protected environment in which to explore their experiences. The project is significant because it reflects StickyLock’s interest in games as tools for support and communication, rather than solely as entertainment products. StickyLock subsequently expanded its publishing catalogue through collaborations with external developers. Woven, developed by Alterego Games and published by StickyLock, was released on 15 November 2019 for Android, iPad, iPhone, Steam, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One. The game is a single-player third-person adventure set in a fabric-themed world, where exploration and puzzles drive the experience. Its reception varied by platform: the Xbox One version received a mixed-average critical rating, while the Steam version was described as mostly positive. Woven was also nominated for Best Narrative Design at the Gamebakery Awards in 2020. Another Alterego Games collaboration was Sanity of Morris, a psychological-thriller game built around a mystery narrative in the town of Morris. The title reinforced StickyLock’s role as a publisher willing to support story-led and atmospheric games in addition to more mechanically focused releases. The company also pursued immersive applications outside the normal retail-game market. Spark - Albert Cuypgarage VR was produced in collaboration with local authorities and used virtual reality to let participants explore the Albert Cuypgarage. The facility is notable for being an underground parking garage constructed beneath an existing canal in the Netherlands. By presenting the site through VR, the project linked game technology with urban planning, infrastructure explanation, and public engagement. StickyLock’s most prominent later project in the available record is Histera, a multiplayer first-person shooter developed and published by the studio. Its defining “Glitch” mechanic changes sections of the environment in real time, replacing scenery from one historical period with scenery from another. A playable demo was shown during Steam Next Fest in October 2023, and the game entered Steam Early Access on 20 June 2024. The project represented a move toward a more commercially recognizable multiplayer format while retaining the studio’s interest in unusual interactive systems. Public descriptions stated that StickyLock had more than 50 employees in 2024. On 17 July 2024, StickyLock Games B.V., identified as the game-development division of StickyLock Group, was declared bankrupt. This event distinguishes the legal entity responsible for game development from the broader brand and group, but the available references do not provide enough information to determine whether the group continued, reorganized, sold assets, or ended operations. Consequently, the current status of StickyLock cannot be established confidently from the supplied material.

• 2024

  Histera entered Early Access

  [1]StickyLocken.wikipedia.org

  Histera launched in Steam Early Access on 20 June.

• 2024

  StickyLock Games B.V. declared bankrupt

  [1]StickyLocken.wikipedia.org

  The games-development division identified as StickyLock Games B.V. was declared bankrupt on 17 July.

• 2023

  Histera demo shown at Steam Next Fest

  [1]StickyLocken.wikipedia.org

  A demo for Histera was presented during Steam Next Fest in October.

• 2020

  Woven received a Gamebakery Awards nomination

  [1]StickyLocken.wikipedia.org

  Woven was nominated for Best Narrative Design at the Gamebakery Awards.

• 2019

  Woven launched

  [1]StickyLocken.wikipedia.org

  StickyLock published Alterego Games' Woven across mobile, PC, and console platforms.

• 2018

  StickyLock founded

  [1]StickyLocken.wikipedia.org

  StickyLock was established as an independent Dutch game-development and publishing studio.

• 2017

  Shadow's Edge released

  [1]StickyLocken.wikipedia.org

  Shadow's Edge became available on iOS and Android as a therapeutic mobile game for young people coping with chronic illness.

An independent, technology-oriented game studio and publisher combining entertainment releases with VR, AR, and socially purposeful interactive experiences.

• Mobile game · 2017

  Shadow's Edge

  A mobile game created by Digging Deep and co-developed by StickyLock and Little Chicken Game Company. Released for iOS and Android in 2017, it uses therapeutic storytelling and interactive play to help young people express and process emotions associated with chronic illness.

• Single-player adventure game · 2019

  Woven

  An adventure game developed by Alterego Games and published by StickyLock. Set in a world built around fabric and textile imagery, it combines exploration with puzzles and a narrative journey. It launched in 2019 for Android, iPad, iPhone, Steam, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One.

• Psychological thriller game

  Sanity of Morris

  A mystery-driven psychological thriller developed by Alterego Games and published by StickyLock. The game places its narrative in the town of Morris and focuses on investigation and psychological tension.

• Multiplayer first-person shooter · 2024

  Histera

  A multiplayer first-person shooter developed and published by StickyLock. Its central Glitch mechanic transforms sections of the playable arena in real time, changing scenery from one historical period into scenery from another. The game entered Steam Early Access in June 2024.

• Virtual-reality experience

  Spark - Albert Cuypgarage VR

  A VR experience developed by StickyLock with local authorities. It enables users to explore the Albert Cuypgarage and understand aspects of its urban-planning and infrastructure context, including its construction beneath an existing canal.

• 2017Shadow's Edge therapeutic storytelling

  iOS · Android · International

  Shadow's Edge used mobile gameplay and therapeutic storytelling to support young people coping with chronic illness and to encourage emotional expression.

  Outcome. The game was released on iOS and Android; a specific commercial or clinical outcome is not documented in the supplied sources.

  Source
• Spark - Albert Cuypgarage VR civic visualization

  Netherlands

  StickyLock collaborated with local authorities on a VR presentation of the Albert Cuypgarage, using immersive media to communicate urban infrastructure and planning.

  Outcome. The available material describes the project but does not report a measurable campaign result.

  Source

• 2024

  Release Histera through Steam Early AccessProduct launch

  Background

  StickyLock developed and published Histera, a multiplayer shooter centered on real-time changes to the game environment.

  Action taken

  The studio released Histera on Steam Early Access on 20 June 2024 after presenting a demo at Steam Next Fest.

  Aftermath

  The supplied references do not provide subsequent sales, player, or development figures.

  Source

• 2024

  Bankruptcy of StickyLock Games B.V.Other

  Background

  StickyLock Games B.V. was identified as the games-development division of StickyLock Group.

  Action taken

  The legal entity was declared bankrupt on 17 July 2024.

  Aftermath

  The available sources do not establish whether the wider StickyLock Group or brand continued operating, restructured, or transferred its activities.

  Source

1. 1StickyLocken.wikipedia.org
2. 2StickyLock official websitestickylock.com