Kwalee, the UK and global mobile, PC and console games developer and publisher, is excited to announce the appointment of Mark Greenshields as the Vice President of its Bangalore Studio. With decades of experience in the games industry, Greenshields brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the role.
Over his career, he has an impressive track record, including as Founder and CEO at Firebrand Games. He has built multiple game engines and launched major IP based on Disney, Pixar and EA properties. At Firebrand, he established his company as the top-rated racing studio responsible for 6 of the top 10 Metacritic Nintendo racing games. He has managed large teams across various locations, combining his ability to influence partners and motivate his people with his commercial acumen and ability to deliver high-quality games on time and within budget.
Starting as a self-taught programmer, Greenshields authored four books on programming, including 8-bit game development classics like “Mastering Machine Code On Your Commodore 64”. He has programmed 35 games, produced hundreds more, and transitioned from a solo programmer to founding several game studios.
In his new role at Kwalee, Greenshields’ primary responsibility will be running the Bangalore studio. However, as a senior leader, he will contribute to strategic decisions and Kwalee’s ambitious growth plans. With Kwalee now a publisher of both mobile, PC and console games, Greenshields’ expertise in launching and porting hit games will be invaluable.
Jason Falcus, COO, expressed his enthusiasm for Mark’s appointment: “We’re immensely proud of the work of our Bangalore team, and we want a member of our top team leading at the heart of its operations. We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Mark Greenshields as the VP of our Bangalore studio. His deep-rooted experience and passion for gaming, combined with his unique ability to grow high-performing multi-disciplinary teams, is exactly what we envision for Kwalee’s expansion and continued success”.
Mark Greenshields said of his appointment: “I am thrilled to be joining Kwalee as one of the leading UK publishers. I see a very bright future for them, especially now that they have moved into both the PC/Console and Hybrid/Casual spaces. I am bringing my extensive experience in running studios and especially developing for PC and consoles to them. I will make our Bangalore studio a centre of excellence as part of the Kwalee group. For me, it is great to get once again the opportunity to work with both David and Jason, bringing me full circle from the early days of the C64 to the present. The team they have built is exceptional, and I look forward to helping make Kwalee THE success it will be.”
Regarding the games industry in India, Greenshields acknowledges a common misconception that studios in the country are mainly useful for outsourcing. However, he’s keen to change that narrative, emphasising the talent and potential within the Indian games industry, saying:
“I want the Bangalore studio to have a motivated, empowered team that is recognised for their quality work. It should be seen as a studio that consistently produces high-quality products”.
When asked about his immediate priorities at Kwalee, Greenshields highlighted the importance of learning the challenges of the Bangalore team, strengthening QA processes, setting up a console porting team, and fostering a culture of innovation.
With the appointment of Greenshields, Kwalee reinforces its commitment to pioneering and diversifying its portfolio of games and solidifying its position as a global leader in games development and publishing.
