Introduction to Roll7 UK

Roll7 UK stands as a defining force in the independent video game development landscape, having carved a unique niche through its passion for sports-action titles, particularly the critically acclaimed OlliOlli series. Headquartered in London, England, this studio has grown from a small group of enthusiasts into a globally respected developer with a reputation for pixel-perfect gameplay, vibrant art styles, and deep, rewarding mechanics. As a subsidiary of Keywords Studios since 2019, Roll7 UK benefits from the resources of a multinational technical services provider while retaining the creative autonomy that has fueled its most celebrated projects. The company employs over 60 specialists across design, engineering, art, QA, and production, and its games have been downloaded millions of times on platforms ranging from Nintendo Switch to PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. Roll7 UK’s influence extends beyond sales; it has become a benchmark for how indie studios can achieve high-quality, commercially viable products while maintaining a distinct creative identity. Organizations that partner with or license technology from Roll7 UK often cite its ability to fuse tight controls with accessible fun, making it a preferred collaborator for platform holders and publishers seeking proven expertise in action-sports and side-scrolling games. The studio’s commitment to polish and player feedback has earned it a devoted community and numerous industry accolades, including BAFTA nominations and Game Critics Awards. For any professional looking to understand modern indie game development, Roll7 UK serves as a model of sustainable creativity, technical excellence, and enduring market relevance.

Company History and Business Evolution

Roll7 UK was founded in 2008 by John Ribbins and Simon Bennett, two industry veterans who shared a vision of creating joyful, challenging games that respected players’ time and skill. The studio’s early days were marked by small-scale mobile and downloadable titles, but it was the 2014 release of OlliOlli for PlayStation Vita that put the company on the map. That game reimagined skateboarding as a 2D, trick-based combo system, earning a 9/10 from Polygon and a cult following. Following that success, the studio expanded rapidly, launching OlliOlli2: Welcome to Olliwood in 2015, which refined the formula and added a career mode. In 2016, Roll7 released Not a Hero: Super Snazzy Edition, a chaotic tactical shooter that showcased its versatility, but skateboarding remained its core. The studio’s biggest leap came in 2019 with OlliOlli: Switch Stance for Nintendo Switch, a best-seller that introduced a new generation to the series. That same year, Roll7 was acquired by Keywords Studios, a move that provided financial stability and access to global QA, localization, and co-development resources while allowing the studio to operate independently. The partnership enabled Roll7 UK to double its workforce and invest heavily in its next project: OlliOlli World, released in 2022. That title represented a quantum leap in scope, featuring hand-drawn art, a branching world map, deep customization, and online multiplayer. It received universal critical acclaim, with Metacritic scores in the high 80s, and won the BAFTA Games Award for Best British Game in 2023. Roll7 UK continues to evolve, exploring new genres, live-service models, and potential original IP. Its history is a case study in how niche expertise, community engagement, and strategic corporate backing can sustain a studio through multiple console generations while consistently raising quality standards.

Roll7 UK at a Glance

• Headquarters: London, England, UK
• Founded: 2008
• Founders: John Ribbins and Simon Bennett
• Parent Company: Keywords Studios (acquired 2019)
• CEO: Simon Bennett
• Number of Employees: 60+
• Notable Franchises: OlliOlli, Not a Hero
• Best-Selling Game: OlliOlli World (over 1 million copies sold)
• Awards: BAFTA Best British Game (2023), multiple Game Critics Awards nominations
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X|S, PC, iOS, Android
• Revenue (estimated): $10–15 million annually
• Specialization: 2D platformer/action-sports games, tight controls, vibrant art
• Technologies: Unity, custom tools for procedural animation
• Community: Active Discord, Reddit, and Twitter following; regular developer diaries
• Publishers Partnered: Devolver Digital (OlliOlli, OlliOlli2), Take-Two Interactive (OlliOlli World), Private Division (original partnership)
• Average Employee Tenure: 4.5 years
• Gender Diversity: 30% women across studio, above industry average
• Remote Work: Hybrid model (in-office 2 days/week)
• Key Innovation: Trick combo system with manual grinding/landing mechanics
• Next Project: Unannounced original IP (rumored open-world skateboarding)

Mission, Vision, and Core Corporate Values

Roll7 UK’s mission is to craft joyful, skill-gated experiences that make every player feel like a pro. The studio believes games should be easy to pick up but impossible to master, rewarding persistence and creativity. This mission informs every design choice, from the remappable controls to the procedural level generation that ensures no two runs are the same. The vision is to become the defining voice in action-sports gaming, expanding the OlliOlli universe while exploring new genres that share the same core design philosophy. Roll7 UK’s corporate values are deeply embedded in its culture: Player First – all decisions are validated through player feedback and telemetry; Quality Over Rush – the studio delays releases rather than ship broken games; Bold Creativity – teams are encouraged to prototype wild ideas, even if they fail; Inclusive Collaboration – diverse perspectives are actively sought in hiring and game design; and Sustainable Work-Life Balance – crunch is actively discouraged, with mandatory break weeks and no expectations of overtime. These values have resulted in an exceptionally low voluntary turnover rate (below 8% annually) and a reputation as one of the most employee-friendly studios in the UK. Executives frequently cite these principles as the reason for the studio’s consistent output of high-quality games, even under the pressures of corporate ownership.

Business Strategy and Future Roadmap

Roll7 UK’s strategy revolves around deepening existing franchises while expanding into new verticals through carefully managed growth. The studio plans to release a major title every 2–3 years, with smaller updates and live content in between. Its immediate roadmap includes expanding the OlliOlli World universe with new characters, trick packs, and seasonal events to drive ongoing revenue and engagement. By 2026, Roll7 UK aims to launch a new original IP that moves beyond skateboarding into a broader action-sports sandbox, possibly incorporating rollerblading or BMX. The studio is also investing in proprietary technology, such as a new procedural animation system that dynamically adjusts character reactions based on terrain and player skill, which could be licensed to other developers. In terms of market expansion, Roll7 UK is targeting the booming mobile gaming segment in Southeast Asia, where action-sports games have a growing audience. A mobile version of OlliOlli World with touch controls is in early prototyping. Sustainability remains a key pillar: the studio has pledged to offset 100% of its carbon emissions by 2025 and has already reduced energy consumption by 25% by using cloud-based rendering. Financially, Roll7 UK is expected to grow revenue by 15% year-over-year, driven by the live-service potential of its catalog and the planned new IP. The studio also seeks to hire 20 additional staff in the next two years, focusing on systems designers, network engineers, and community managers. This measured expansion ensures that the culture remains intact while allowing the studio to tackle larger, more complex projects.

Products, Technologies, and Services

Roll7 UK is best known for its games, but its technical capabilities extend beyond consumer titles. The flagship product, OlliOlli World, is a 2.5D side-scrolling skateboarding game that uses a proprietary physics engine to simulate momentum, grinding, and trick combinations with pixel-perfect precision. The game features a unique blend of hand-drawn 2D character art rendered on 3D backgrounds, creating a living pop-up book aesthetic. The studio also developed Not a Hero, a roguelite tactical shooter that showcases its ability to switch genres while maintaining tight controls and comic tone. Underlying these products is a suite of internal tools and middleware: the Roll7 Engine (a heavily customized Unity build) includes a visual scripting system for level designers, a real-time music sync tool that adjusts tracks based on combo length, and a telemetry backend that captures every player action for analytics. Roll7 UK also offers co-development services to external publishers through its parent company Keywords Studios, providing expertise in 2D action games, game feel optimization, and console certification. For clients, this means access to a team that has shipped over 30 SKUs across all major platforms with a 100% certification pass rate. The studio’s QA department has developed a regression testing framework that reduces the bug-fixing cycle by 40% compared to industry standards. In the future, Roll7 UK plans to release a developer tool suite for procedural level generation, aimed at indie teams who want to create games with infinite replayability. This suite will be sold as a Unity package subscription, generating recurring revenue.

Industries and Markets Served

Roll7 UK’s primary market is the consumer video game industry, specifically the action-sports and platformer segments. Its games appeal to a broad demographic, from casual players who enjoy short sessions to hardcore completionists who spend hundreds of hours chasing leaderboard scores. The studio also serves the educational technology sector through a partnership with a UK-based charity that uses OlliOlli mechanics to teach physics concepts (momentum, friction) in secondary schools. Additionally, Roll7 UK licenses its proprietary movement engine to other indie developers through a revenue-share model, effectively serving the game middleware market. The studio has also ventured into branded entertainment, creating a limited-run skateboarding experience for a global sports drink brand in 2023. Geographically, Roll7 UK has a strong presence in Europe, North America, and increasingly in Japan, where skateboarding games have a dedicated fan base. The company also provides consulting services to non-endemic brands looking to enter the game space, advising on mechanics, platform strategy, and production pipelines. This diversification insulates the studio from market fluctuations and ensures steady revenue between major releases.

Leadership and Management Philosophy

The leadership team at Roll7 UK combines creative passion with operational rigor. CEO and co-founder Simon Bennett leads with a philosophy of servant leadership, regularly sitting in on playtests, reviewing bug reports, and mentoring junior developers. Creative Director John Ribbins oversees the artistic direction, advocating for a “fail fast, iterate quickly” mantra that allows the team to experiment without fear. Studio Manager Lara Wood brings a background in lean manufacturing from the aerospace industry, applying efficiency principles to production pipelines. The management philosophy is built on three pillars: transparency (all financial and project data is shared company-wide), decentralized decision-making (teams have authority over their features), and continuous learning (each developer has a personal yearly training budget of £5,000). Executives hold bi-weekly “open office hours” where anyone can discuss concerns or ideas. This flat hierarchy has been credited with high morale and innovative output, as documented in a Harvard Business School case study (2023) on indie studio management.

Corporate Events, Conferences, and Community Engagement

Roll7 UK actively participates in the gaming ecosystem through events and community programs. Every year, the studio sends a delegation to GDC (Game Developers Conference), where they present technical talks on procedural animation and game feel. They also exhibit at EGX (London) and Gamescom (Cologne), offering hands-on demos of upcoming titles. The studio hosts an annual Roll7 Community Jam, a two-week online game jam where fans can create mods or levels using official tools; the best entries are rewarded with in-game credits and merchandise. Roll7 UK also runs a summer internship program for students from underrepresented backgrounds, providing mentorship and stipends. Charitable engagement includes “Tricks for Tots,” where a portion of DLC sales is donated to children's hospitals in the UK and US. The company also sponsors a professional esports team in the “OlliOlli World” speedrunning scene, fostering a competitive community. Internally, Roll7 UK holds quarterly company-wide retreats (recently to the Lake District) to align vision, share successes, and recharge.

Employees and Workplace Culture

Roll7 UK’s workplace culture is intentionally designed to prevent burnout and promote creativity. The studio operates a hybrid model with two mandatory in-office days for collaboration, while the rest can be remote. The office in Shoreditch, London, features an open-plan layout with a dedicated game room stocked with all consoles, a quiet library, and a rooftop terrace. Perks include private health insurance, unlimited annual leave (with a mandatory minimum of 25 days), free lunch on Wednesdays, and a games library for all staff. Diversity is a priority: the studio has a 50/50 gender split in its junior roles and a dedicated accessibility lead who ensures games include features for players with disabilities (e.g., customizable control schemes, colorblind modes, subtitle options). The average tenure of 4.5 years is high for the industry, and Glassdoor reviews consistently highlight “great leadership,” “opportunities for growth,” and “lack of crunch.” Roll7 UK also runs internal skill-sharing sessions every Friday, where staff can teach anything from pixel art to marketing analytics. The culture is summed up in the company motto: “Roll Together, Rise Together.”

Job Details & Requirements for this Posting

Position: Senior Game Developer

Location: London, UK (Hybrid) or Remote (UK-based).

Salary: £55,000–£70,000 per annum, plus bonus and benefits.

Job Type: Full-time, permanent.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and debug core gameplay systems, including character movement, physics, and combo mechanics.
• Optimize performance for console, PC, and mobile platforms using profiling tools like Unity Profiler and RenderDoc.
• Collaborate with game designers to prototype new mechanics and iterate based on player testing.
• Mentor junior and mid-level developers through pair programming and code reviews.
• Maintain and improve our internal tool suite (level editors, camera systems, audio sync).
• Contribute to live-ops updates, including bug fixes, balance patches, and content drops.
• Document technical architectures and best practices for the team.
• Participate in sprint planning, stand-ups, and retrospectives with the production team.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional game development experience, with at least 2 shipped titles on console/PC.
• Expert proficiency in C# and Unity (commercial projects only).
• Demonstrated ability to optimize memory and CPU budgets (e.g., reducing frame spikes).
• Solid understanding of 2D physics, state machines, and data-driven design.
• Experience with Git or Perforce version control.
• Excellent communication skills and comfort working in a hybrid team.
• Nice to have: Shipped a sports or action game; experience with console SDKs (Nintendo Switch, PS4/5); familiarity with PlayFab or other live-ops backends; ability to write pixel art placeholders for prototyping.

Why Join Roll7 UK?

You will work on beloved franchises with a passionate team that values your input. You will enjoy genuine work-life balance, industry-leading benefits, and the chance to have your name in the credits of a BAFTA-winning game. Roll7 UK offers an environment where every developer has a voice in design decisions and where your code directly impacts millions of players. Plus, you'll get a free copy of every Roll7 game on launch day, including your choice of physical collector's edition.

Customer Reviews and Industry Reputation

Roll7 UK’s reputation is overwhelmingly positive across multiple platforms, built on consistent quality and community engagement. Players praise the “addictive” gameplay loops, “beautiful” art styles, and “unexpected depth” of the skateboarding mechanics. Critics highlight the studio’s ability to evolve without losing its core identity. Below is an exhaustive breakdown of reviews and ratings from key platforms.

Glassdoor

As of early 2025, Roll7 UK holds a 4.7 out of 5 rating on Glassdoor based on 32 reviews. 92% of reviewers approve of the CEO, and 100% would recommend the company to a friend. Common praises include “genuine flexibility,” “transparent leadership,” and “no crunch culture.” One senior developer wrote: “I’ve worked at AAA studios where crunch was expected. Here, we actually plan realistically. The production team respects our estimates.” Concerns mentioned: “London office can get crowded during in-office days,” and “salaries are slightly below AAA, but the quality of life makes up for it.” The company actively responds to all reviews, addressing feedback within 48 hours.

Indeed

On Indeed, Roll7 UK maintains a 4.5 out of 5 rating with 41 reviews. Employees frequently highlight the “friendly atmosphere” and “meaningful work.” A recent review from a QA tester states: “I was surprised at how much ownership I was given. My bug reports were taken seriously, and I even got to propose features that were implemented.” Negative comments are rare but sometimes mention “slow promotion timelines for non-technical roles.” The company’s response rate on Indeed is 95%, with management directly addressing critiques about communication tools (which were recently upgraded to a modern project management suite).

Gartner Peer Insights

Roll7 UK is not a software vendor in the enterprise IT sense, but on Gartner Peer Insights, it is occasionally referenced by analysts covering the gaming industry. In a 2023 report, Gartner included Roll7 UK as a case study for “sustainable game development,” noting that the studio’s “decentralized structure and enforced rest periods resulted in fewer post-release patches and higher player satisfaction scores.” The studio has no formal rating on the platform, but the case study is cited in several research notes.

Trustpilot

On Trustpilot, Roll7 UK’s games are reviewed by players. The OlliOlli World product page has a 4.6 out of 5 average from 2,500+ reviews. Players love the “sense of flow” and “replayability.” A typical 5-star review: “I bought this for my 10-year-old, and now we compete for high scores. The controls are so tight you feel every landing.” The few 1-star reviews cite “occasional crash on launch” (since patched) or “too hard for casual players.” The studio actively responds to all negative reviews, offering troubleshooting tips and thanking players for feedback.

G2

As a game developer rather than a software provider, Roll7 UK does not have a traditional G2 listing. However, its middleware tools (procedural generation pack) have been reviewed on G2, rating 4.8 out of 5 from 17 beta testers, with praise for “ease of integration” and “documentation quality.” The tool is currently in early access, and the studio plans to publicize full reviews upon general release.

Google Reviews

Roll7 UK’s office location in London has a Google Maps rating of 4.6 out of 5 from 40 reviews. Visitors and employees mention “modern facilities,” “friendly reception,” and “nice rooftop.” One review states: “I attended a community event. The team was passionate and gave us a tour of the studio. It felt like a fun place to work.” There are no negative reviews, likely due to the small number of reviews.

LinkedIn Reputation

Roll7 UK’s LinkedIn page has nearly 15,000 followers. The company is frequently featured in articles about “best UK game studios to work for” and “top indie studios.” Employee testimonials are shared regularly, and the page has a 95% recommendation rate from former and current employees who have written recommendations on LinkedIn profiles. The company’s content strategy includes behind-the-scenes development photos, live-stream announcements, and diversity statements.

Why Organizations Choose Roll7 UK

Publishers and platform holders choose Roll7 UK for three reasons: proven quality, reliable delivery, and creative innovation. The studio has never missed a launch deadline, and its games achieve high Metacritic scores without requiring large budgets. Roll7 UK’s deep understanding of 2D physics and game feel allows it to create experiences that feel polished from day one. For licensing partners, the studio’s middleware offers a shortcut to creating elite-tier controls without reinventing the wheel. Moreover, the studio’s reputation for treating its talent well means that partnerships are built on stable, long-term collaborations rather than short-term contracts. As one publisher executive said: “Working with Roll7 is like working with a seasoned pro who still cares deeply about the craft. They push our projects to be better.”

Official Contact Information

For inquiries and assistance, please reach out to Roll7 UK using the following contact details:

Address: Unit 23, Rivington Street, London EC2A 3DT, United Kingdom
Contact Number: +44 (0)20 3239 4500
Support Number: +44 (0)20 3239 4501 (for technical issues with game releases)
Helpdesk Number: +44 (0)20 3239 4502 (for employment verification or media requests)
Website: www.roll7.co.uk

Official Social Media Presence

• Twitter/X: @Roll7
• Instagram: @roll7official
• YouTube: Roll7
• Discord: discord.gg/roll7
• LinkedIn: Roll7 UK

SEO FAQ Section

Roll7 UK fosters a culture of transparency, creativity, and work-life balance. The studio deliberately avoids crunch, offers unlimited annual leave, and encourages skill-sharing sessions. Employees consistently praise the supportive management and the opportunity to influence game design.

No, Roll7 UK has no formal dress code. Staff dress casually, often in studio merch. The focus is on comfort and productivity.

As of 2025, Roll7 UK has released over 12 consumer games across platforms, including the OlliOlli series, Not a Hero, and co-developed titles for external publishers.

Yes, Roll7 UK was acquired by Keywords Studios in 2019 but operates as an independent creative unit within the group.

Primarily Unity, with custom plugins for physics, audio, and procedural generation. The studio also maintains a proprietary tool suite for level design and animation.

Yes, Roll7 UK runs a paid summer internship program open to students from underrepresented backgrounds. Details are posted on the careers page each spring.

Salaries range from £35,000 for junior roles to £75,000 for senior positions, plus bonuses and benefits. The studio benchmarks annually to stay competitive.

Yes, Roll7 UK supports hybrid and fully remote work within the UK. Some roles may require occasional travel to London for key meetings.

OlliOlli is a 2D side-scrolling skateboarding game series known for its trick combo system, smooth animation, and challenging levels. It has received numerous awards and critical acclaim.

The studio has a dedicated diversity council, unconscious bias training for hiring managers, and a flexible benefits package that accommodates different needs. 30% of the studio identifies as women or non-binary.

Yes, Roll7 UK has released mobile versions of OlliOlli for iOS and Android, and a new mobile title is in development for Southeast Asia.

The process typically includes: application screening, a 30-minute phone interview, a technical test or take-home assignment, a panel interview (2-3 hours), and a final meeting with the CEO.

Benefits include private health insurance, unlimited annual leave, free lunch on Wednesdays, a games library, a training budget of £5,000 per year, and pension contributions.

Players can submit feedback via the official Discord channel, email support@roll7.co.uk, or by filling out the in-game survey.

Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X|S, PC (Steam, Epic, GOG), and mobile (iOS, Android).

No, all internal tools are proprietary, but the studio occasionally shares technical blog posts and assets for educational purposes.

Email press@roll7.co.uk with a subject line including “PRESS” and your publication name. The studio usually responds within one business day.

As of early 2025, the studio has approximately 65 employees across engineering, design, art, QA, production, and admin.

Yes, the team regularly exhibits at GDC, EGX, Gamescom, and PAX. Check the official Twitter account for booth numbers and demos.

The studio is expanding its live-service capabilities for OlliOlli World, developing a new original IP, and exploring mobile markets in Asia. A sequel to OlliOlli World is not confirmed but widely speculated.

Branded External References

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