Certain Affinity
Certain Affinity was founded in 2006 as a bootstrap startup with the goal of creating innovative, top-quality action games.
Certain Affinity brings together an exceptionally experienced, unusually talented group to form one of the largest independent game developers in Austin, Texas. The company's 170+ full-time employees include veterans from dozens of successful game studios.
Certain Affinity has a proven track-record of developing innovative, AAA action games, including both original titles and co-development of games in blockbuster franchises like “Call of Duty,” “Halo,” “DOOM,” and “Left 4 Dead.” Certain Affinity recently celebrated its 12th anniversary; during its history it has developed or co-developed 29 products across 12 different franchises, with more than 100 million units sold.
The company sought to expand its operations to the Toronto Region for a number of reasons. The region is becoming a hub for game development with its progressive and multicultural environment and its thriving design and technical talent pool. Certain Affinity was built not only with top talent and benefits, but also with one of the game industry’s most inclusive and diverse cultures – a seamless fit with the values of people and businesses throughout the Toronto Region.
“Toronto is becoming a hub for game development with its progressive and multicultural environment and its thriving design and technical talent pool,” Max Hoberman, President & Founder, Certain Affinity.
Identified by Toronto Global’s Investment Attraction team as an FDI opportunity, Certain Affinity worked with Toronto Global to establish its second development location in Toronto’s Fashion District, bringing a boost to triple-A development opportunities in the Toronto Region and furthering our burgeoning game development scene. Toronto Global facilitated the company’s investment through referrals to service providers, real estate tours, in-depth market research on talent skills, availability and graduation rates, introductions to video game associations and organizing visits to universities and colleges in the Toronto Region. Toronto Global arranged for both Toronto Mayor, John Tory, and former Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, Todd Smith, to attend and speak at Certain Affinity’s grand opening event in its new office space.
“We have built a company not only with top talent and benefits, but also with one of the game industry’s most inclusive and diverse cultures, and we look forward to bringing this mindset to our new Toronto studio and to being a positive member of the Toronto business community.”
The new studio, which is expected to ramp up to 60 developers, will be a fully integrated extension of the Austin office. Historically, Certain Affinity has been known for development and co-development on other studios’ titles. While maintaining its core co-development business, the company has recently shifted its focus to lead game development, with a model of developing games as a service, available online and continuously updated with new features and content. “Toronto is becoming a hub for game development with its progressive and multicultural environment and its thriving design and technical talent pool,” said Max Hoberman, President & Founder, Certain Affinity. “We have built a company not only with top talent and benefits, but also with one of the game industry’s most inclusive and diverse cultures, and we look forward to bringing this mindset to our new Toronto studio and to being a positive member of the Toronto business community.”