Three Chums: A New Publishing Venture by Industry Veterans from Mojang and Coffee Stain

Seasoned professionals from Mojang and Coffee Stain Studios have joined forces to create a new indie publishing entity called Three Chums.

The new label focuses on collaborating with smaller Nordic studios, particularly those based in Sweden, and has already secured a variety of titles.

Co-founders Albert Säfström, Daniel Kaplan, Sebastian Badylak, and Johan Hermeren stated their mission is to assist developers in honing their vision and core gameplay elements through hands-on support, long-term investment, and strategic guidance.

“There isn’t a magical formula for creating an outstanding game—it’s not about a singular grand idea, but rather tackling countless smaller questions throughout the process,” said Säfström.

“Making the right decisions at crucial moments accumulates, ultimately shaping the final experience. We collaborate closely with developers to cultivate an atmosphere where concepts can develop without veering off course, enabling teams to concentrate their efforts and optimize their time and resources.”

Three Chums publishing philosophy:

The label will adopt a publishing approach founded on three main principles: get involved early, keep it authentic; choose the right struggles; and guidance, not domination.

Co-founder Daniel Kaplan remarked that the label will not push games to market or attempt to resolve issues solely by pouring money into them. Instead, it aims to collaborate closely with indie developers from the beginning to help transform challenging concepts into exceptional games.

“Some of the most remarkable indie games—like Valheim and Deep Rock Galactic—invested the time to refine their fundamental gameplay before scaling up,” he noted. “That’s why we team up with developers early on, assisting them in identifying what makes their game unique so they can focus on what succeeds.”

Three Chums plans to start revealing its publishing lineup in spring 2025.

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