Winking Studios

About Winking Studios

Winking Studios Limited is a publicly traded entity specializing in game art outsourcing and development, positioned as a significant operator in the Asian and global video game services market. The company was originally founded as WindThunder Studio in Taipei in 1997 by Johnny Jan, who currently serves as the Executive Chairman and CEO. Jan possesses over 25 years of industry experience, beginning his career in 1997 and establishing the group's studios in mainland China in 2004, before the company's formal incorporation in 2005.

The firm's business model is structured around three core segments: Art Outsourcing, Game Development, and Global Publishing & Other Services. The Art Outsourcing division, its primary revenue generator, provides a comprehensive suite of digital art asset creation services, including 2D concept art, 3D modeling, and animations for characters and environments. The Game Development arm offers end-to-end project services, encompassing programming, design, and scriptwriting. Its Global Publishing unit facilitates the release of in-house and third-party games on major platforms like PlayStation, Switch, Steam, and Xbox, and also manages the sale of proprietary games and merchandise.

Winking Studios serves a global client base that includes 22 of the top 25 largest game developers, such as Tencent, NetEase, and Ubisoft, and maintains partnerships with platform holders like Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo. Headquartered in Singapore, the company has expanded to over 1,300 employees across multiple studios in Asia, including locations in Taipei, Shanghai, Nanjing, and Kuala Lumpur, with business development teams in North America and the UK. This strategic placement in Asia provides advantages in talent acquisition and cost competitiveness. The company's growth strategy involves both organic expansion and strategic acquisitions, such as the purchases of On Point Creative, Pixelline Production, and Shanghai Mineloader Digital Technology. A key corporate development was its dual listing, first on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) Catalist in November 2023 and subsequently on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) AIM in November 2024, making it the first Asian gaming company to achieve this. The company is majority-owned by Acer Gaming, a subsidiary of Acer Inc., which increased its stake to 59.59% in March 2024, providing significant strategic backing.