Second Star Games acquires Neverland; TT Games' studio seeks talents

The launch of the new Second Star Games studio, based in the United Kingdom and headquartered in Manchester, brings with it the acquisition of a weighty IP. The new company has secured a long-term exclusive worldwide license for the creation of video games based on Neverland: A Peter Pan Adventure. However, despite the ambition and pedigree of the team, the project is in an embryonic phase, which requires caution regarding the production schedule.

Although the ambitions are high, Second Star Games is currently looking for new talent to fill various key roles. The need to fill complete lists of positions, including game director, lead game designer, mid-level designer, background artist, technical artist, and VFX artist, indicates that the studio is still forming its core structure, suggesting a long development cycle for its first title.

The studio was founded by Tom Stone, the former Managing Director of TT Games, known for successful AAA titles based on iconic licenses like LEGO® Star Wars™, LEGO® Batman™, and LEGO® Harry Potter™. Stone assembled a team of experienced veterans in the industry, including key members of the former LEGO game development team. This expertise in creating engaging interactive experiences for young players and their families is the new studio's greatest asset.

The investment in Second Star Games is led by Grahame ‘Chily’ Chilton, an entrepreneur with a long track record of supporting successful projects by Stone. Chily was an early investor in the first LEGO Star Wars game in 2005, indicating confidence in Stone's vision. Additionally, Chily and Tom served on a fundraising board for GOSH Charity between 2014 and 2016, directly linking financial support to the project's ethical roots.

The studio's main announcement is the granting of an exclusive, worldwide, long-term license by the Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and the Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity (GOSH Charity). This license allows for the creation of a suite of video games around Neverland, the universe of J. M. Barrie's masterpiece. GOSH Charity will receive royalties from all game sales, a structure that honors the original donation made by J. M. Barrie in 1929, which granted the rights to Peter Pan and Wendy, or ‘The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up’, to the hospital. The author saw the donation as a more interesting way to make a difference for seriously ill children.

The partnership with GOSH Charity is seen as a vital step in the studio's ethical and commercial mission. The Senior Brand Licensing Manager at GOSH Charity, Jenny Martin, endorsed the collaboration:

"We are delighted to be working with specialist partners, Second Star Games, to bring the magical world of Neverland to life for a generation of young players. Neverland, a place of adventure and imagination, provides an incredible backdrop for what we know will be a first-class game. Additionally, each game sold will help raise funds to support seriously ill children at Great Ormond Street Hospital. We can't wait for this next chapter in our journey in Neverland."

The first title, Neverland: A Peter Pan Adventure, will be a fantasy-adventure with more details to be announced soon.

Second Star Games, led by Tom Stone (former TT Games), has launched with the exclusive license of Neverland and financial support from Grahame ‘Chily’ Chilton, establishing an ethical business model with GOSH Charity. Although the need to hire a game director and other key talents indicates that the fantasy-adventure is in its early phase, the team's pedigree and the unique and historical IP provide a solid foundation for the studio's future in Manchester.