Side broadens its footprint in China by inaugurating a new studio and acquiring the art outsourcing company Roboto Entertainment

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The service-providing company Side is making further inroads into the Chinese market with the opening of a new studio, alongside the acquisition of Roboto Entertainment, a company specializing in art outsourcing.

Roboto Entertainment, founded by Andrea Cordella in 2014 and headquartered in Chengdu, offers expertise in environmental and world-building art, contributing to a range of high-level games across different platforms. Cordella has been appointed as the global head of art for Side and will manage the new Chengdu facility.

Cordella expressed enthusiasm for the alignment of values between his team and Side, emphasizing a shared commitment to excellence and creativity in gaming. The Chengdu office will engage in close cooperation with Side's operations in Shanghai, as well as teams worldwide, spanning the Americas, EMEA, and Asia.

(Left to right): Side CEO Deborah Kirkham; Global head of art and Chengdu studio head Andrea Cordella; Side chairman, president and CEO of Pole to Win Holdings Teppei Tachibana

CEO Deborah Kirkham noted the significance of the Chinese market, highlighting that many titles showcased at Gamescom's Opening Night Live originated there. She praised the regional team’s eagerness to take on more projects and emphasized the strategic value of expanding with Cordella's leadership and the new Chengdu studio.

The Chinese gaming industry surpassed $50 billion in revenue last year and is expected to reach $53.9 billion in revenue by 2026, according to Niko Partners. By 2030, the player base is projected to expand to 769 million. These growth forecasts are attributed to a strong performance from both new releases and enduring legacy games.

Earlier in the year, Side established a studio in Taipei, creating 79 jobs, in what it described as a strategic expansion after eight years in Taiwan. Furthermore, Side broadened its quality assurance capabilities through a collaboration with Modl.ai, as announced during Gamescom. The two companies have entered into a six-month memorandum of understanding to develop an AI-enhanced QA system.

Side's CCO, Martin McBride, stated that the partnership aims to leverage the strengths of both companies to create an innovative QA solution, addressing a significant need within the gaming industry to effectively incorporate AI into quality assurance.