In the midst of the Silicon Beach boom, it’s becoming abundantly clear that Los Angeles is a place where game development companies can attract and keep talent. As the community grows, a number of gaming powerhouses have established a considerable presence in the area. Here are some of the top LA-based companies defining what’s possible for gamers.
Top Gaming Companies in LA
- Mythical Games
- Wave
- Riot Games
- Naughty Dog
- Electronic Arts (EA)
Top Gaming Companies in LA
Founded: 2016
Focus: Mobile Game Acquisition
What they do: Maple Media operates as a mobile media and gaming company that acquires and scales mobile apps and games. The company manages a portfolio of casual gaming titles and mobile utility applications across iOS and Android ecosystems. Maple Media oversees product optimization, user acquisition, monetization architecture and technical maintenance for its app catalog.
Founded: 1984
Focus: Story-Driven AAA Games
What they do: Naughty Dog is a PlayStation Studios developer. The comany builds narrative-driven console games including franchises like Uncharted and The Last of Us. Its Los Angeles-area headquarters houses core game design, motion capture, cinematic animation and programming teams dedicated to flagship platform releases.
Founded: 1991
Focus: Game Development and Gaming Infrastructure
What they do: Epic Games creates Fortnite and powers game development through its Unreal Engine platform and Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN). The company centers its operations heavily on active game creation, technical design and publishing across its international offices.
Founded: 1994
Focus: Action-Adventure Games
What they do: Insomniac Games is a PlayStation Studios developer responsible for multi-platform and console-exclusive video game franchises. The studio produces major titles including Spyro the Dragon, Ratchet & Clank and entries in the Marvel universe such as Spider-Man and Wolverine.
Founded: 2008
Focus: AAA Multiplayer Games
What they do: Lightspeed Studios, a global game development subsidiary under Tencent, maintains major studio operations in the Los Angeles area. The developer produces high-profile mobile and cross-platform titles, contributing to games like PUBG Mobile and original open-world action games.
Founded: 2016
Focus: VR Entertainment
What they do: Wave develops motion-capture technology and interactive virtual spaces that merge live music with video game environments. The platform transforms artists into digital avatars performing inside game engines, distributing interactive live shows directly to gaming platforms and streaming channels. Wave’s LA production team manages virtual stage construction, real-time avatar tracking and game-like audience interaction mechanics for global digital broadcasts.
Founded: 2008
Focus: AAA Game Development and Global Publishing
What they do: Activision Blizzard develops and publishes blockbuster games through three operating units: Activision, Blizzard Entertainment and King. The company’s portfolio includes Call of Duty and World of Warcraft. Activision Blizzard was acquired by Microsoft in October 2023, but maintains significant game development operations in the Los Angeles area.
Founded: 1982
Focus: Sports, Action, and AAA Franchise Games
What they do: Electronic Arts (EA) develops and publishes multi platform video through its major game studios such as BioWare, Respawn Entertainment and DICE. Its portfolio features major franchises like Battlefield, The Sims and Madden NFL. Under private ownership by an investment group including Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and Silver Lake, EA manages global development and publishing operations.
Founded: 2014
Focus: Sweepstakes Gaming Apps
What they do: Lucky Day develops mobile games that feature reward-based mechanics and sweepstakes. The studio produces free-to-play titles including scratcher and raffle games, integrating gameplay loops with advertising-supported prize systems. From its LA headquarters, Lucky Day‘s technical teams oversee mobile game engineering, ad-network integration, compliance architecture and ongoing live operations.
Founded: 1996
Focus: AAA First-Person Shooter Game Development
What they do: Treyarch is an Activision development studio best known as a co-creator of the Call of Duty franchise. The studio leads development on major sub-series, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and contributes directly to the shared Warzone ecosystem. Treyarch’s Los Angeles-area facility houses game engineering, multiplayer level design, motion capture and narrative production teams.
Founded: 2007
Focus: Mobile and PC Games
What they do: PlayQ develops and publishes casual puzzle games for mobile platforms.The studio produces titles including Charm King and Treasure Party, using proprietary analytics tools to refine player retention and live service features. From its Los Angeles-area headquarters, the company’s teams oversee art design, engineering, software publishing and ongoing content updates.
Founded: 2016
Focus: Player-v-Player Games
What they do: Bonfire Studios operates is an independent game studio focused on multiplayer online titles. Founded by industry veterans, the studio works on original player-versus-player games, including its flagship competitive title Arkheron.Its Southern California office houses the core game design, art creation, and software development teams building the studio's online multiplayer titles.
Founded: 2016
Focus: Narrative Video Games
What they do: Wonderstorm is a transmedia studio creating interconnected video games and animated series. The studio builds multi-platform game titles alongside television productions, most notably developing The Dragon Prince universe and its action game The Dragon Prince: Xadia. Its local team combines narrative design, game engineering and media production to manage franchises across screen platforms.
Founded: 2018
Focus: Esports Competition Infrastructure
What they do: PlayVS builds software infrastructure to power competitive high school and middle school esports leagues across North America. The company maintains official publisher partnerships to run competitive seasons for games like League of Legends, Valorant and Super Smash Bros. Its California operations manage platform development, school scheduling tools, match tracking and tournament administration.
Founded: 2011
Focus: Free-to-Play Mobile Games
What they do: Scopely develops and publishes popular mobile titles including Monopoly Go!, Pokémon Go, Star Trek Fleet Command and Marvel Strike Force. The company manages global development through studios spanning North America, Europe and Asia, operating as a subsidiary of Savvy Games Group. Scopely handles game design, live service operations and international publishing for mobile platforms worldwide.
Founded: 2006
Focus: Competitive Multiplayer Games and Esports
What they do: Riot Games develops major video games like League of Legends and Valorant, while also running global esports tournaments for its titles. Based in Los Angeles, the company houses its core game development, publishing and competitive gaming operations under one roof.
Founded: 2014
Focus: Gamified Cycling and Running Fitness Platform
What they do: Zwift develops a virtual training and racing platform for cycling and running. The company centers its operations on online competition, hosting international esports tournaments and live competitive leagues that combine physical exercise hardware with gamified virtual courses. From its Southern California base, its technical and event teams manage core software development, physics modeling and community infrastructure to power global virtual sports events.
Founded: 2009
Focus: Free-to-Play Mobile Games
What they do: Jam City develops and publishes free-to-play mobile games using original concepts alongside major licensed entertainment franchises. The studio specializes in keeping massive entertainment properties active through interactive story-driven titles like Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery. Jam City’s staff drives the long-term creative and technical strategy that keeps these virtual environments running indefinitely.
Founded: 2018
Focus: Blockchain Games
What they do: Headquartered in the Los Angeles area, Mythical Games develops video games and digital ecosystem technology focused on player-owned economies. The studio produces playable titles such as Blankos Block Party and NFL Rivals while providing backend infrastructure for digital asset trading. Its California team oversees game design, blockchain integration and platform development for mobile and PC titles.
