Industry leaders Matt Knott and Simon Smith have officially launched Ludo Gamelabs, a multi-platform video game development studio designed to bridge the gap between global media brands and the gaming audience.
Headquartered in Manchester, the studio arrives as a strategic partner for agencies, licensors, and IP owners looking to turn static assets into high-engagement interactive experiences.
In an attention economy where gaming now outpaces traditional media, Ludo Gamelabs positions itself as an “IP Factory.” The studio specialises in high-speed prototyping and commercialisation, helping brand owners navigate the complex gaming landscape to create “joyful play” that drives long-term consumer loyalty.
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The studio is led by a founding team with a unique pedigree in merging world-class storytelling with commercial product development:
- Matt Knott (CEO & co-founder): A creative strategist, Knott has spent his career working with global powerhouses including Hasbro, Disney, and the James Bond franchise. His expertise lies in translating iconic entertainment brands into physical and digital play experiences.
- Simon Smith (creative director & co-founder): With over 20 years in game production at Sony, Codemasters, and Blitz, Smith most recently served as senior game scout at Team17. His track record includes co-creating the original Burger King Advergames on Xbox which sold over 2.6 million copies and won a Clio award, and branded gaming for Manchester City Football Club, Sky Vegas, and more.
- Carl Jones (strategic board appointment): Strengthening its commercial reach, Ludo Gamelabs has appointed Carl Jones as non-executive director. Jones brings a formidable background in global business development from his time at Cloud Imperium Games (Star Citizen) and Crytek.
Ludo Gamelabs enters the market with three distinct pillars designed for the media and advertising sectors:
- Original IP Creation: Developing proprietary franchises built for multi-platform exploitation across games, TV, and consumer products.
- Licensing Partnerships: Helping global brand owners and media houses translate established IP into authentic gaming experiences.
- External Production: Supporting independent studios and creators to refine, prototype, and scale projects for a global audience.
“Gaming is no longer a vertical – it is the environment where modern culture happens,” said CEO Knott. “At Ludo Gamelabs, we don’t just build games; we build the ‘infrastructure for joy.’ For our partners in the advertising and media sectors, we offer a pathway to move beyond passive impressions and into active, meaningful play that people truly care about.”
CCO Smith added: “Our mission is to transform raw ideas into captivating, playable realities. Whether it’s an original concept or a world-renowned license, we are here to ensure that the core of the experience remains rooted in the simple, fundamental human need to play.”
Ludo Gamelabs is currently engaging with several media partners and external developers on its roadmap, and Smith teasingly adds that having been working in “stealth mode” for about six months while establishing the proposition, the company is now ready to make a bigger splash “having just won a major contract with one of the world’s biggest companies.”
Watch this space.
