4J Studios, the renowned developer celebrated for its successful porting of Minecraft to various consoles, including the Xbox 360 in 2012 and the Switch in 2017, has announced the opening of a new office in Edinburgh, Scotland. This expansion marks a significant milestone for the company, which is headquartered in Dundee and now operates two locations.
Founded in 2005 by Chris van der Kuyl, Paddy Burns, and Frank Arnot, 4J Studios has grown to employ over 50 talented individuals. The studio has recently been making waves with the announcement of its upcoming survival sandbox game, Reforj.
Paddy Burns, the chief executive of 4J Studios, expressed his enthusiasm about the current phase of development for Reforj. “The development of Reforj has been gathering pace for several months now, and 20 years on from Chris and I launching the studio, this is as exhilarating a time as we can remember for the firm,” he shared with The Scotsman.
Burns highlighted the success of the pioneer program, noting, “It’s fascinating to see how people are experiencing the game and to hear their feedback, which we are able to incorporate as we go. We hope to capitalize on that momentum and sense of energy by opening our first office in Edinburgh, which will give us even better access to the diverse pool of software and design talent that exists in and around the city.”
The video game industry in Scotland has witnessed remarkable growth, with the number of companies expanding from 15 to 130 between 2010 and 2024. This surge reflects the burgeoning creative landscape in the region.
Chris van der Kuyl, chairman of 4J Studios, remarked on the significance of the upcoming Dice Europe event in Edinburgh and Dundee, stating, “It’s a major moment of international recognition for our home-grown industry. It’s vital that the sector and government use this as a catalyst for further cooperation and collaboration, creating the best possible conditions for the many brilliant individuals and studios we have within the sector in Scotland.” He added, “4J is delighted to be part of that story and we hope opening this new office in Edinburgh underlines our commitment to rewarding and nurturing talent.”
