Former Mojang and Coffee Stain veterans launch indie publisher Three Friends
Summary
Four industry veterans from Mojang and Coffee Stain have co-founded Three Friends,
a new Nordic-focused indie publishing label
built around early-stage developer partnerships and hands-off creative guidance
"We partner with developers early, helping them figure out what makes their game special so they can double down on what works."
01
Founding team and roots
Co-founded by Albert Säfström, Daniel Kaplan, Sebastian Badylak, and Johan Hermeren
Veterans of Mojang (Minecraft) and Coffee Stain (Valheim, Deep Rock Galactic publisher)
Deep pedigree in breakout indie titles with massive commercial upside
02
Three core publishing mantras
"Get in Early, Build it Right" — embed before core decisions are locked
"Pick the Right Battles" — selective, focused portfolio strategy
"Guidance, Not Control" — preserve developer creative autonomy
03
Strategic focus
Targeting the Nordic indie development scene
Emphasis on early-stage projects where shaping the game's identity is still possible
Inspired by successful slow-refinement models behind Valheim and Deep Rock Galactic
_"There's no secret trick to making a great game — it's not about one big idea,
but about addressing thousands of small questions along the way."_ - Albert Säfström, Co-founder
04
What's next
Partner developers and first game announcements expected later in 2025
Label positioning suggests a lean, curated roster rather than broad volume publishing
Explore more: partnerships and collaborations
Events
Companies
Games
Locations
Europe
COMPILED BY GAMES ATLAS EDITORIAL
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