Impressive – Double Eleven’ s six-storey HQ.
LEGENDS
Double Eleven is levelling up Teesside’ s tech landscape
WORDS: DAVE ROBSON
The Tees Valley is fuelling a 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- based in Middlesbrough.
At the close of 2025, Double Eleven celebrated its“ Sweet 16” – a milestone marking not just longevity, but almost two decades of global success in the highly competitive co-development and publishing space.
The firm’ s momentum continued into 2026, with co-CEO Kimberley Turner named the first female Tech Ambassador in the seven-year history of the Tees Tech Awards, where Double Eleven were headline sponsors.
This was closely followed by industry peers crowning the company with the prestigious " Legend " prize at the MCV Develop Awards. Also nominated for Major Studio of the Year, Double Eleven was recognised for its extraordinary commercial success and outstanding contribution to the gaming industry.
Through ongoing commitment to global partners and players, as well as championing the growth of the games industry, Double Eleven has established itself as one of the industry’ s most respected and influential companies.
This is reflected through strong partnerships, including being an official partner of Game Republic, the largest games industry network and trade body outside London.
Double Eleven will support the Game Republic New Horizons flagship event. The event takes place at Middlesbrough FC ' s Riverside Stadium, hosting huge names, with a legendary line-up including Ken Kutaragi,“ The Father of PlayStation”. It is another example of the company championing the region it proudly calls home.
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?
It began in a Durham loft, where founder Lee Hutchinson laid the company’ s foundations.
Founded in 2009, Double Eleven takes its name from the New Age belief that 11:11 symbolises awakening and being on the right path, and to say they found the right path would be an understatement.
Today, the firm boasts an annual turnover in excess of £ 50m, employs more than 400 people and works alongside industry titans such as Obsidian Entertainment, Mojang, Bethesda Game Studios and Rockstar Games.
Its fingerprints are on huge IPs, including Fallout 76, Red Dead Redemption, Minecraft Dungeons and sequel, Minecraft Dungeons II, to be released in 2026, as well as Facepunch Studios’ smash hit Rust Console Edition.
While the games industry has historically been plagued by poor worklife balance and burnout, much of their success stems from“ treating people right”- a philosophy that co-CEOs Kimberley and Mark South carry with them.
Kimberley explained:“ For us, success
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