WE ARE HERE TO WIN
A44 was born in 2013 with the goal of making games we want to play.
Located in Wellington, New Zealand our team is a sophisticated group of game developers and world-leading visual effects artists who excel at meticulous gameplay and cinematic experiences.
We blend the bravery of an independent studio with the quality of AAA development to make great games. There is nothing in this world we would rather be doing.
VALUES
TRUTH
We have an exceptionally strong production and project management presence that is geared towards presenting the truth and anticipating project needs in order to create excellent games.
We live our truth by being open and honest with each other, so we can deliver games that our players will love and remember. This also allows us to grow and mature as a studio and nurture a healthy work environment.
LEADERSHIP
Derek Bradley, CEO
Derek Bradley is the CEO of A44 Games, an independent games studio based in Wellington, New Zealand. He was the Game Director on ASHEN, the company’s first title, which was released world-wide at the Annual Game Awards in 2018.
Audrea Topps Harjo, COO
Audrea Topps Harjo has worked in the entertainment industry for over twenty-five years. She has worked for Sony Pictures (CONTACT) Rhythm and Hues, Electronic Arts, WETA Digital (RISE OF THE PLANETS OF THE APES), James Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment (AVATAR SEQUELS). She is currently COO at A44 Games in Wellington, NZ.
Mark Hudson, CFO
Mark began working with A44 in 2018 before joining permanently as CFO in September 2019. Mark is a fully qualified Chartered Accountant with nearly 15 years’ professional experience. His career began with KPMG and before joining A44 Games he held several senior finance and management positions within medium and large companies.
Hayden Asplet, Director of Software Engineering
Hayden’s love for video games started at a very young age, and making a career out of it was a no-brainer. He discovered programming at high school and pursued it rigorously ever since. He now oversees all technical departments at A44 Games as the Director of Software Engineering.
Michael Vermeulen, Design Director
Michael is the Design Director at A44 Games, with experience ranging from independent to AAA game development, and even education. He has been involved with games industry initiatives in both Germany and New Zealand, and has helped run various industry events.
Robert Bruce, Art Director
Robert is driven to create beautiful worlds for players to immerse themselves in. He is experienced in many aspects of interactive art, including modelling and texturing, shaders, optimisation, and lighting. He brings his vast knowledge and experience to work with multiple art departments to create a cohesive and unique experience.