Malaysian video game studio Appxplore, known for games such as Mobfish Hunter, Snaky Cat, and more, is shutting down its in-house operations.
“With a heavy heart, I share that Appxplore (iCandy) Sdn Bhd—the studio I co-founded with Jenn Yu Lim in 2011—will be ceasing its in-house game development operations,” co-founder Desmond Lee wrote in a LinkedIn post last week.
He explained that this is part of a strategic restructuring by iCandy Interactive Ltd (ASX:ICI), and development will transition to other subsidiaries, primarily Lemon Sky Studios.
Exploring Appxplore’s story
Appxplore got its humble beginnings in a small Kuala Lumpur office in 2011. Created by a five-man team, it was born when Malaysia’s tech startup economy was just beginning to flourish.
The team went on to create beloved titles like Crab War, Claw Stars, Snaky Cat, Mobfish Hunter, Light a Way, Alien Path, and more, reaching over 50 million players worldwide.
In just the span of three years, Appxplore was acquired by venture accelerator Fatfish Internet Group, and has since been spun-off into iCandy Interactive Ltd, a mobile games group publicly traded on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX:ICI).
Over the years, the studio continued to grow. In 2021, iCandy Interactive bought Lemon Sky for RM135mil to expand into AAA games and the metaverse.
Last November, though, it was reported that iCandy Interactive (ASX: ICI) had initiated legal action in Malaysia against former executives of Lemon Sky Animation Sdn. Bhd. for alleged breaches of fiduciary duty and other misconduct.
It’s unclear if the company’s operational changes has anything to do with the legal actions taken, though.
The legacy continues
Today, iCandy Interactive considers itself to be the largest game developer in ANZ and SEA. Now headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, they have offices across Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, and Germany, with a team of over 700 game developers, artists, and engineers.
“We embraced new frontiers like Web3, topped global charts, and inspired a generation of developers,” Desmond said. “We engaged deeply with our community, mentored students, and proudly showcased Malaysian talent on the global stage.”
We reached out to the co-founder for further insights but he was not able to comment at the time of writing.
“Shutting down in-house operations is not easy. But the spirit of Appxplore—our passion, creativity, and commitment to players—will live on within the iCandy ecosystem,” he said in his LinkedIn post.
He also thanked his team, players and supporters, as well as collaborating partners.
He concludes, “Though this chapter ends, the legacy of Appxplore continues.”
Featured Image Credit: Appxplore