Update, July 15, 2025: Airship Interactive's assets are confirmed to have been acquired by Airmergent, a successor studio to Airship Interactive and a new business entity.
The move comes "in response to wider industry challenges", according to a statement. All Airship Interactive employees have transferred to Airmergent under UK TUPE regulations – this ensures there will be no disruption to contracts, payroll, or delivery to clients, and protects the livelihoods of staff.
The studio will provide high-end art services as it did before, along with "expanded capabilities" like co-development and "a renewed strategic focus on technical excellence".
This transition was funded by existing management, according to the statement, with the goal being to keep the business running as usual and "preserve the studio's creative legacy".
"Airmergent allows us to protect the team, preserve the work we're proud of, and build something even stronger," said Airmergent CEO Joe Harford. "We're carrying forward everything that made Airship trusted by clients worldwide, while expanding into co-development, enhanced workflows, and more agile ways of working.""I'm proud of the resilience our team has shown and grateful to our partners for continuing the journey with us."
Original story: July 14, 2025: UK-based co-developer Airship Interactive entered administration earlier this month.
The firm, which provides art-focused services across the industry, appointed an administrator on July 1 according to the official public record. Companies House also shows the studio as being 'in administration'. The company employed 78 people as of the end of January 2025.
CEO and founder Joe Harford, who owns Airship Interactive via a holdings company (which hasn't entered administration), provided a statement to City AM on what's going to happen next.
"The Airship Interactive brand is now operating as Airship, a specialist creative studio, owned by Airmergent," Harford said.
"The leadership team and staff previously from Airship Interactive will lead the new Airmergent business, which will serve the evolving games industry in delivering excellence more efficiently. More details will be announced in the coming days."
According to Companies House, the company changed its registered offices today, July 14, 2025, from a location in Macclesfield to Manchester.
Mike Dillon from administrator Leonard Curtis also commented in City AM's article. "Following a formal administration process, the business and assets of Airship Interactive Ltd have been successfully acquired by Airmergent Limited."
Airmergent Limited was incorporated in September 2024, according to Companies House.
GamesIndustry.biz has reached out for comment on what the move means for staff.
Airship Interactive was founded in 2008. Back in 2022, the company relocated its offices and planned to expand.
Projects worked on by Airship Interactive in recent years have included Baldur's Gate 3, Starfield, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard, among many others.
