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-platform oxford2000-adsniper-eliteindependentpublishing 1992–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

AspectDetail
Founded1992
LocationOxford, UK
FoundersJason and Chris Kingsley
Employees500+
StatusIndependent

The 2000 AD Acquisition

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

PropertyStatus
Judge DreddOngoing publication, multiple games
Rogue Trooper2006 game adaptation
ABC WarriorsAvailable for development
Strontium DogCross-media potential

Major Game Franchises

FranchiseFirst EntrySales
Sniper Elite200535+ million
Zombie Army2013Spin-off success
Strange Brigade2018Co-op adventure

Technical Innovation

TechnologyApplication
Asura engineIn-house, cross-platform
X-ray kill camSniper Elite signature feature
Co-op systemsUp to 4-player campaigns

Publishing Division

Rebellion also publishes:

DivisionOutput
2000 ADWeekly comic anthology
Rebellion PublishingNovels, graphic novels
Treasury of British ComicsClassic reprints

Independence

Unlike most large UK studios, Rebellion remains independent:

FactorBenefit
Self-fundingCreative freedom
IP ownershipLong-term value
Vertical integrationGames + 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