SockMonkey Studios
From graduate start-up to becoming part of a global games studio
Research and innovation
What began as a small creative team with a passion for games has grown into an internationally recognised studio. Delivering projects for major global brands and publishers, they became part of a global games organisation following acquisition by Behaviour Interactive.
Challenge
As a newly formed games studio, SockMonkey set out with big ambitions: to build a sustainable business in a highly competitive global industry, secure high-profile development work and create original intellectual property – all while remaining rooted in the Tees Valley.
Like many early-stage creative tech businesses, the founders faced the challenge of turning creative talent into a commercially viable studio. They needed the right environment to grow, access to funding, specialist business support, and space that would allow them to scale without losing momentum or their creative edge.
Solution
SockMonkey secured early backing through DigitalCity, a Teesside University-funded initiative designed to support high-growth digital businesses. A DigitalCity Fellowship provided vital early funding alongside mentoring and business development support.
The studio was incubated in Launchpad, Teesside University’s business incubator, giving the team affordable space, access to networks and the flexibility to grow. As the business expanded, SockMonkey moved into larger premises within the University’s Phoenix building, allowing the team to scale while remaining connected to the wider creative and research ecosystem.
Beyond early-stage support, SockMonkey continued to collaborate with Teesside University through applied research and innovation projects, including Creative Fuse, using game design and gamification to tackle real-world challenges beyond entertainment.
Impact
From a two-person start-up, SockMonkey grew into a studio employing more than 40 people, delivering development and co-development work across console, PC and emerging platforms. The team worked with internationally recognised clients including SEGA, Lucasfilm, Unilever and Motorola, building a reputation for technical excellence and creative delivery as well as building its own IP’s including an app featured in over 147 countries, topping the app store in two of them.
In 2023, SockMonkey Studios was acquired by Behaviour Interactive, one of the world’s largest independent video game developers. The acquisition marked Behaviour’s expansion into Europe, with the Middlesbrough studio becoming Behaviour UK – North, cementing Teesside’s place on the global games development map.
SockMonkey Studios started with the help of Digital City, a Teesside University project and wouldn’t still be here today if it wasn’t for the University. They have helped with mentoring, business growth and office space through the Fellowships and Launchpad, and have helped to grow us from a small start-up of two to a team of over 40.