Side, a global video game development and services provider, has acquired Roboto Entertainment, a Chengdu, China-based boutique game art studio specializing in environment design and world-building. The acquisition expands Side’s global creative production capabilities and strengthens its presence in mainland China, where demand for high-quality game development services continues to grow.
As part of the transaction, Roboto Entertainment founder Andrea Cordella has been appointed Global Head of Art at Side and will lead the company’s newly established Chengdu studio. Cordella and his team will collaborate with Side’s existing Shanghai operations and its broader network of art production and co-development teams across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
Founded in 2014, Roboto Entertainment has developed expertise in environment art and world-building for video games. Its team has contributed to AAA and AA game releases across console and mobile platforms, providing specialized artistic capabilities that complement Side’s existing development services.
The acquisition supports Side’s strategy of expanding its creative services portfolio while strengthening its ability to support game developers operating in China and international markets. Through the integration of Roboto Entertainment’s talent, Side aims to offer more comprehensive environment design, visual development, and collaborative production capabilities.
China represents an important growth market for the global gaming industry. Despite slower growth across parts of the international video game sector, China’s gaming market is projected to expand by approximately 4% in 2026 and reach $59.8 billion by 2030.
The market also features substantial player engagement, esports participation, gaming activity, and consumer spending, creating opportunities for developers and service providers capable of supporting increasingly sophisticated game production requirements.
Side’s expansion in China builds on its existing presence in Shanghai and its relationships with local game developers. The new Chengdu operation will provide additional production capacity and specialized artistic expertise while connecting Chinese development teams with Side’s international service network.
The transaction also advances Side’s broader strategy of delivering integrated technical and creative solutions throughout the game development lifecycle. Its existing services include art production, game development, audio production, quality assurance, localization, localization quality assurance, player support, community management, and datasets.
Earlier in 2026, Side expanded its quality assurance capabilities through a partnership with Modl.ai, an AI-powered game testing platform. Announced at Gamescom, the partnership strengthened Side’s ability to incorporate artificial intelligence into game testing and quality assurance workflows.
The addition of Roboto Entertainment further diversifies Side’s capabilities by strengthening the creative production side of its business. The company intends to combine its technical infrastructure with specialized artistic talent to help developers manage increasingly complex game development projects.
Founded in 2009 with roots in Japan, Side operates more than 15 studios across over a dozen countries in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. The company works with major video game developers and publishers, providing services across different stages of game production and ongoing player support.
With Cordella overseeing its global art division, Side expects to strengthen collaboration among its regional creative teams while expanding opportunities for developers seeking environment art, world-building, and co-development support.
The acquisition reflects Side’s continued investment in China’s gaming industry and its strategy of building a globally connected creative services platform capable of supporting developers across multiple markets and production environments.
KEY QUOTES:
“When half the titles at gamescom’s Opening Night Live this year were made in China, the world notices. China has long been one of the most important markets for our industry, and I’m fiercely proud of the fact that our team there is hungry for more work, so we’re going to grow. This acquisition is a double-down on a winning regional strategy. With Andrea as our Global Head of Art and a new studio in Chengdu, we now have some of the industry’s best environment and world-building artistic talent.”
Deborah Kirkham, CEO Of Side
“I knew from the moment I met Deborah and the team at Side that the company aligned with the values my team and I hold dear. We strive for excellence and hold creativity close to our hearts – games are the only art medium where the consumer plays an equal role to the creator, and we will continue to deliver that creativity to every brief, now collaborating with teams across the world and supporting developers on a range of projects. It goes without saying, but I can’t wait to get started.”
Andrea Cordella, Global Head Of Art And Chengdu Studio Head At Side
