Tequila Works enters auction: studio of Rime and Gylt sells rights and prototypes after bankruptcy

The indie scene has just lost another important name. The Tequila Works, a Spanish developer responsible for games like Deadlight, Rime, and Gylt, is officially selling all its assets in an open auction after declaring bankruptcy at the end of 2024. Based in Madrid, the studio had been facing difficulties for years, and now seeks to recover some of its losses by liquidating intellectual property rights, trademarks, and even game prototypes that never made it to the market.

The assets are being listed on the auction platform Escrapalia, with 32 days remaining for bids from the current publication date. As expected, the most coveted titles are the acclaimed Rime and Gylt, both with about 150 active bids each and an initial price set at €15,500 (approximately R$ 84,000 at the current exchange rate). Meanwhile, Deadlight, another popular title from the studio, is being negotiated for around €2,600 (approximately R$ 14,000).

But what really caught attention was the package of unfinished prototypes also included in the auction — true creative relics that now have a second chance in the hands of new owners.

Among the unreleased projects listed are:

The Ancient Mariner: An action and adventure narrative game in an open world, with a strong focus on human emotions as a central mechanic. Clearly, something ambitious in the emotional mold of Rime.

Dungeon Tour: A cooperative party game for up to four players, where the objective would be to guide hordes of tourists through dungeons. According to the official description, the game would combine "dark humor and absurdity" with an aesthetic inspired by Overcooked and Dungeon Keeper.

Brawler Crawler: A chaotic multiplayer set in a distorted urban universe, with an emphasis on combat and fighting style customization. The levels would be procedurally generated, focusing on "difficult raids and intense bosses".

This variety of concepts reinforces how Tequila Works still maintained a creative vein pulsating even in the face of difficulties. Founded in 2009, the studio gained notoriety with Deadlight (2012) and consolidated with the award-winning Rime (2017), an emotional adventure title that was compared to classics like Journey and The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker.

Their latest game, Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story, was released in partnership with the now defunct Riot Forge, which also closed in 2024, a double blow that seems to have directly contributed to Tequila Works' crisis.

In announcing the bankruptcy, CEO Térence Mosca stated:

"I am proud of what the team has achieved together."

With the bankruptcy officially recognized and the auction process underway, it remains to be seen if any of the prototypes will find a new home — perhaps a studio with more resources and structure to bring to life the concepts left behind. Whatever the outcome, the case of Tequila Works serves as another reminder of the fragility of independent studios, even those with an acclaimed portfolio and global visibility.