Updated:
Big Time Studios
Big Time Studios was founded in 2020 by Decentraland co-founder Ari Meilich and veteran game designer Thor Alexander.
Big Time Studios
Big Time Studios was founded in 2020 by Decentraland co-founder Ari Meilich and veteran game designer Thor Alexander. The company builds blockchain-integrated multiplayer games, operating from Los Angeles with studios in Hong Kong, Beijing, and Taipei. Its founding team includes developers who shipped major titles at Epic Games, Riot Games, and Blizzard Entertainment, giving the studio deep credentials across both traditional AAA game development and Web3 token economies. The firm's primary project is Big Time, a free-to-play multiplayer action RPG where players earn NFT-based cosmetic items and collectibles through gameplay. Big Time Studios raised $21 million in a 2021 Series A led by FBG Capital, followed by over $100 million in virtual land and cosmetic NFT sales through Binance NFT and its own marketplace. The game entered early access in 2023 and distributes rewards through a proprietary 'time machine' vault system that randomizes loot drops. Investment exposure spans virtual real estate development, player-driven economies, and curated community-based season passes. Big Time Studios operates across the US and Asia, with co-development hubs in Hong Kong, Beijing, and Taipei. The company's go-to-market strategy relies on influencer-driven community building and limited-supply NFT drops rather than traditional publishing — a structural choice that front-loaded revenue before the game's official launch. In 2024, the firm expanded its ecosystem with a dedicated marketplace and seasonal content roadmap designed to sustain token utility cycles beyond the initial NFT minting window (per the firm's official communications). Structurally, Big Time Studios functions as a hybrid game studio and crypto-asset manager — it generates revenue from collectible sales and marketplace fees rather than unit sales or subscriptions. This model ties its financial health directly to the liquidity and engagement of its player-owned economies, a departure from the one-time purchase models of traditional AAA studios.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
2020
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Los Angeles
Corporate office
Los Angeles, CA, United States
Additional offices
Hong Kong · Beijing · Taipei
Principals
Ari Meilich
CEO
Thor Alexander
CPO
Matt Tonks
CTO
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Big Time Studios and what is their background?
Ari Meilich, previously co-founder of Decentraland, serves as CEO. Thor Alexander, a veteran game designer with experience building large-scale online games, is Chief Product Officer. The founding team also includes developers who shipped titles at Epic Games, Riot Games, and Blizzard Entertainment, giving the studio experience across both traditional AAA development and crypto-native economies.
How does Big Time Studios generate revenue?
Unlike traditional game studios that rely on unit sales or subscriptions, Big Time Studios generates revenue primarily through collectible NFT sales and marketplace transaction fees. The company raised $21 million in Series A funding in 2021 and subsequently sold over $100 million in virtual land and cosmetic NFTs before the game reached a wide audience.
What is Big Time's relationship to traditional gaming versus Web3?
Big Time is a free-to-play multiplayer action RPG that integrates blockchain-based cosmetic items and collectibles into traditional gameplay loops. Players earn NFT rewards through a proprietary 'time machine' vault system, but the core combat and progression systems are designed to appeal to mainstream gamers regardless of their engagement with Web3 features.
Where are Big Time Studios' operations located?
The company is headquartered in Los Angeles and maintains co-development studios in Hong Kong, Beijing, and Taipei. This dual-continent structure supports round-the-clock development cycles and provides access to talent pools across both the US and Asian gaming markets.
Who were the primary investors backing Big Time Studios?
The firm's 2021 Series A was led by FBG Capital, a crypto-native investment firm, with participation from other venture funds focused on digital assets and gaming. No traditional gaming publishers or strategic corporates participated in that round, reflecting the firm's Web3-native capital stack.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
Need institutional-grade insight on family offices?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: