TECH
Tech tower – Double Eleven’ s Boho X HQ in Middlesbrough is arguably the best office space between Newcastle and Leeds.
SWEET 16
Double Eleven is levelling up Teesside’ s tech landscape
Middlesbrough is fuelling a very different kind of engine these days – one built on code, creativity and digital innovation.
At the heart of this regional renaissance is Double Eleven, one of the UK’ s largest and most successful independent video games developers and publishers.
At the close of 2025, Double Eleven celebrated its“ Sweet 16” – a milestone that marks not just longevity, but 16 years of extraordinary global success in the highly competitive co-development and publishing space.
But what is the secret behind a Teesside studio sharing the stage with Hollywood intellectual properties( IPs), Prime series and the biggest names in gaming?
The Double Eleven story is a masterclass in organic growth, driven by a commitment to a town founded on resilience and hard work.
The journey began in a Durham loft, where founder Lee Hutchinson laid the company’ s foundations.
Incorporated in 2009, the studio was named after the New Age belief that 11:11 represents an awakening and alignment with the universe, a sign of being on the right path. And to say Double Eleven found the right path would be an understatement.
Today, the firm boasts an annual turnover well in excess of £ 50m, working as a trusted partner alongside industry titans such as Obsidian Entertainment, Mojang, Bethesda Game Studios and Rockstar Games.
Its fingerprints are on globally massive IPs, including Fallout 76, Red Dead Redemption, Minecraft Dungeons and its sequel, Minecraft Dungeons II to be released in 2026 as well as Facepunch Studios’ smash hit Rust Console Edition. The games industry has historically been plagued by poor work-life balance and burnout. Much of Double Eleven’ s success stems from“ treating people right”- a philosophy that co-CEOs Kimberley Turner and Mark South carry with them.
“ We’ ve always believed that if you look after people properly, they’ ll do great work,” say Kimberley.“ And our people are truly at the heart of everything we do at Double Eleven.
“ For us, success isn’ t just about targets and growth – it’ s about creating an environment where our staff can genuinely thrive, enjoy what they do and still have time for family, friends and life outside of work.
“ The best businesses are built by people who feel valued, trusted and balanced, not burnt out.”
This commitment is physically embodied in Boho X, Double Eleven’ s spectacular 70,000-sq ft, six-storey UK headquarters in Middlesbrough.
Occupied since early 2024, it is arguably the most impressive office space within a 100-mile radius.
Built for collaboration, the state-of-theart facility features a 24-hour employee gym, a 200-seater auditorium and a bespoke classroom for development and training.
Staff can also take advantage of a rooftop terrace boasting panoramic views of the rolling countryside, alongside a market hall offering subsidised healthy food.
Together with a thriving 80-person studio in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Double Eleven has bucked recent industry trends.
While the wider gaming sector has suffered from post-pandemic overexpansion and the soaring cost of living, Double Eleven’ s strategic investments have kept it primed and
60 | Tees Business