OUR STUDIO

WHO WE ARE

Located in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia, Smoking Gun Interactive (SGI) is an industry leading game development studio focused on creating world-class titles that engage and entertain audiences across the globe. The studio was founded in 2007 by the award-winning industry veterans and creative forces behind Company of Heroes™- regarded as one of the greatest real time strategy games of all time. With proven expertise in RTS, Strategy, Action and Casual genres, SGI has been prolific in releasing acclaimed titles across mobile, PC, and console platforms.

At Smoking Gun experience matters, and our team shares a passion to innovate in the game space by building groundbreaking features and embracing new technology. Above all, we strive for the highest level of quality possible in every project and we collaborate with partners who are firmly aligned with these goals. Every day, we are inspired to build games and new concepts with a tight-knit team of creative, talented, and genuinely amazing people.

STUDIO LEADERSHIP TEAM

JACOB BARROWS

STUDIO HEAD

Jacob has over 19 years of experience in leadership and management roles in games. He has worked in both the AAA console and Mobile space contributing to franchises such as Assassin’s Creed, NBA JAM, SSX and more. He is known for taking on challenging mandates and leading teams to successfully exceed expectations. At SGI, Jacob supports incredibly talented game developers in creating high quality games. He champions a culture of creating meaningful experiences for players and elevating the standard of games.

JOEY WIGGS

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Joey has over 20 years of experience in programming and technical leadership roles in games. He has worked across enterprise tech and game development contributing to projects at Microsoft as well as titles such as Eon Altar, Phobies and more. He is known for architecting complex systems across engine, server, and full-stack development. At SGI, Joey supports cross-platform engine development. He leads the technology team and empowers them to build robust systems that deliver seamless player experiences.

TYLER MCCULLOCH

STUDIO DESIGN DIRECTOR

Tyler has over 22 years of experience in design and creative leadership roles in games. He has worked across AAA console, mobile, VR, and live service spaces contributing to franchises such as SOCOM, Resident Evil, Marvel and more. He is known for mentoring design teams and crafting multi-award-winning titles like Bully and Pistol Whip. At SGI, Tyler supports the creation of innovative systems and gameplay. He leads the design team and empowers them to create engaging, player-focused experiences.

CHAD KOPFENSTEINER

STUDIO ART DIRECTOR

Chad has over 15 years of experience in art direction and visual development roles in games. He has worked in both the AAA console and Mobile space contributing to franchises such as Adventure Time, LittleBigPlanet, Skylanders and more. He is known for leading collaborative creative teams and establishing world-class visual standards. At SGI, Chad supports the studio’s commitment to visual excellence. He leads the art team and empowers them to create visually stunning and impactful experiences.

ALISON SEFFELS

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

Alison has over 15 years of experience in production and product leadership roles in games. She has worked across PC, console, and mobile spaces contributing to projects such as RollerCoaster Tycoon World, Eden Rising, LEGO Future Lab titles and more. She is known for streamlining development pipelines while aligning game development with target market opportunities. At SGI, Alison supports operational excellence and product viability across the portfolio. She leads the production team and empowers them to deliver cohesive, market-targeted games that succeed commercially.

SGI OVER THE YEARS

2007 : Company Launch
Over 140 articles were written about our 3-day teaser launch campaign, and the studio was immediately recognized as one that can create buzz, compelling IP and were a studio to be watched.
Robert 'Apache' Howarth - IGN
2009 : First Original IP
X : Exoriare was launched as a trans-media experience that concluded with the world’s first use of extra-planetary communications as part of a videogame!
Keith Stuart - The Guardian
2010 : Kinect Launch Titles
As one of the select few studios in the world, SGI worked directly with Microsoft team to co-develop exclusive launch game content prior to the worldwide announcement of the Kinect sensor.
2012 : NASA & MS Project
We were thrilled to collaborate directly with the team at NASA & Microsoft to build an accurate and compelling Mars Rover Landing experience for the Xbox 360, ahead of the Curiosity Rover landing on the red planet.
Felix Atkin - The Guardian
2013 : Original IP Title
Freefall Racers may seem like a simple flying squirrel racing title available on Xbox Live Arcade, but the things it does right make it soar above its rodent-free competition.
2014 : AAA Strategy for Mobile
With Age of Empires: Castle Siege, SGI has brought tactics and real time strategy to the Mobile Market. The game was one of the top grossing games on Windows.
2016 : Casual Classic for Mobile
Microsoft partners with SGI to bring the iconic casual classic title to the mobile platforms. "Microsoft's Famous Solitaire Game Comes To Android And iOS."
Ryan Whitwam - Forbes
2020 : Next Casual Classic
Microsoft partnered with SGI to bring its hugely successful Mahjong title to Mobile platforms. Upon release, the title gained top ratings in the app stores and maintained over 60% retention rate in 28 day period!
2022 : New Original IP
SGI proudly unveiled its next big strategy title: Phobies - a terrifyingly tactical card collecting game. Available for download on iOS, Android and Steam.
2022 : Netflix Mahjong Soliraire Released
Netflix partnered with SGI to bring a calming mahjong tile matching experience to their player base. The outcome was the 4th most sticky experience on the platform
2024 : Netflix Minesweeper Released
Netflix partnered with SGI to reimagine Minesweeper for a broad audience. In this minesweeper you travel around the world de-mining oceans in a more forgiving version on Minesweeper
2026 : FreeFall Racers on Nex Playground
FreeFall Racers was updated for a younger audience and released on the Nex Playground. Hailed as the most successful external game, FreeFall holds the top 6 spot on the platform
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