Video game entrepreneurs Simon Burgess and Max Entwistle met aged just 12 and together developed titles played by millions worldwide – now they have a new Liverpool base. Tony McDonough reports

Video game developers Simon Burgess and Max Entwistle are setting up a new base at Princes Dock in Liverpool Waters.

Their successful Abracadabra Studio, a games development group known for the highly popular SharkBite series on the Roblox platform, has moved to the waterfront ready for its next phase of growth.

Simon and Max met aged just 12 and together they learnt how to make games on the Roblox platform. Roblox engages around 70m daily active users globally and their Sharkbite brand has now transcended from online to offline popularity.

It offers branded toys, including a Sharkbite Nerf gun, available in supermarkets across the world including Walmart, Target, ASDA and Tesco.

Within Abracadabra’s new Princes Dock studio, they will be joined by other game developers all working under the Dev House UK studio brand.

Collaborations include Laundry Simulator which has had more than 400m hits on the Roblox platform. Absolute Zero! Is another developer in the same space, who’s success includes Bid Battles with more than 116m visitors and Goofy Gods with over 50m hits.

In seeking a new home for their business, Simon and Max looked for a space conducive to collaboration, creativity, and the development of their pipeline of new games.

“Princes Dock is the ideal place with not just a great workspace, but the surrounding views, the riverside, the docks, it all adds up to being a really great place for the team to work their magic,” said Simon.

“The passing ships also provide inspiration when modelling ships for the games. With this move, Abracadabra Studio and our development partners are set to leverage the unique waterside environment at Princes Dock.”

Liza Marco, senior asset manager at Liverpool Waters, added: “Abracadabra Studio is a great addition to the growing community of digital, technology, and creative businesses we now have here.

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“They join the likes of E-Sign, System C, IT Answers, and global TikTok marketing agency 15Talent who have all chosen Princes Dock as the location for their growing businesses.”

Avison Young and CBRE are the appointed agents for commercial space at Princes Dock, Liverpool Waters.