Anvil Game Studios is a small independent video game company based in Malta. It is best known for creating Holdfast: Nations At War, a multiplayer game set during the Napoleonic Wars. The game has gained a strong fan base for its historical setting, fun gameplay, and active community. Anvil Game Studios focuses on making games that feel real and allow players to work together in large online battles.
How the Studio Started
Founded by twin brothers Andrew Farrugia and Julian Farrugia, Anvil Game Studios was started by a group of passionate developers who had experience making game mods and working on smaller games. They loved history and wanted to make a game that brought the feeling of old battles to life. Their goal was to create something different from modern shooters, something slower, more strategic, and full of character. That vision led to the creation of Holdfast: Nations At War, and the studio’s innovative work later earned them the prestigious Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2024 award at the Malta Business Awards.
About Holdfast: Nations At War
Holdfast: Nations At War was released in Early Access on Steam in 2017. It is a multiplayer game where players take part in battles using muskets, cannons, and swords from the 18th and 19th centuries. Players can choose to be soldiers, officers, musicians, or even naval crew members. The game supports hundreds of players in one battle, creating a lively and chaotic battlefield.
One unique thing about the game is its voice chat system. Players can talk to others nearby using 3D voice, which makes teamwork and role-playing more fun. Many players join regiments, groups that play together regularly, to take part in organized events and large battles.
Focus on the Community
Anvil Game Studios is known for listening to its community. The developers talk to players on forums, Discord, and social media. They release updates often and try to add features based on what players ask for. This strong connection with the community has helped the game grow and stay active over the years.
The studio also supports modding, which means players can create their own content for the game. This keeps things fresh and gives players more freedom to enjoy the game in their own way.
Ongoing Development and Future Plans
Holdfast: Nations At War continues to receive updates, including new maps, game modes, and features. Anvil Game Studios is working hard to improve the game and keep the community happy. They have also hinted that they might work on new games in the future, possibly with different historical settings or time periods.
Even though the team is small, their hard work and love for what they do have helped them succeed. They’ve shown that indie developers can create high-quality games that bring people together and stand out in the gaming world.
Anvil Games Studios has also managed to bring its game to PlayStation and Xbox consoles, allowing console users to also be able to play Holdfast: Nations At War
Anvil Game Studios: Elevating Malta’s Gaming Profile
Anvil Game Studios as a popular locally based studio, has profoundly shaped Malta’s gaming industry. Its journey serves as a significant source of inspiration for aspiring startups and developers across the island, bringing crucial benefits:
Elevated Malta’s Global Profile: Anvil’s independent success with Holdfast: Nations At War, selling over 1 million copies worldwide, has undeniably put Malta on the map as a global game development hub. This major achievement showcases the island’s capability to nurture and launch successful, original game titles onto the international stage, drawing significant attention.
Inspired Local Talent: As a home-grown success story, Anvil actively inspires the next generation of Maltese developers and entrepreneurs. Their journey proves that local talent, with passion and dedication, can absolutely achieve international recognition and build thriving studios right here in Malta. This fosters a vibrant, ambitious environment for the island’s burgeoning creative minds.
Showcased Diverse Capabilities: Their focus on unique historical shooters demonstrated Malta’s ability to host studios with diverse specialisations and ambitious technical goals, moving beyond more common niches.
Validated Malta’s Ecosystem: Anvil’s impressive independent global success, achieved organically without being part of a larger international network from the start, strongly validates Malta’s supportive ecosystem for game development. Their journey is powerful proof that the environment fostered by government initiatives and educational programs truly enables local studios to flourish and compete effectively on a global scale.