Three Questions to: Tiny Roar

The interview with Maurice Hagelstein, co-founder and game director of the Hamburg-based indie studio Tiny Roar, highlights the company's evolution and its strategic focus on ambitious project development. Established in 2015, the studio has grown from a three-person founding team to a staff of 19 employees. This expansion has enabled the studio to undertake more complex development cycles, culminating in the announcement of their latest title, the sci-fi action-adventure game XEL.

The studio’s growth trajectory reflects a deliberate, steady scaling strategy that prioritizes team culture and collaborative expertise. By maintaining a modest organizational identity despite its increased headcount, the studio emphasizes a commitment to creative integrity and sustainable development practices. The project XEL is positioned as the studio's most ambitious undertaking to date, intended to showcase the collective creative vision of the expanded team and introduce a new narrative-driven character, Reid, to the gaming market.

The discussion underscores the vibrant state of the Hamburg games industry, where local studios benefit from a supportive ecosystem that fosters growth and professional development. Tiny Roar continues to actively recruit new talent to support its ongoing production needs, signaling a sustained period of operational expansion. The insights provided by the studio serve as a case study for small-scale developers navigating the transition to mid-sized production while maintaining a focus on high-quality, narrative-centric game design.