The studio was founded in 2001 and was originally named Bull Ant Studios, but renamed as "it was getting mispronounced all around the world because they don’t have
bull ants", according to Ross Symons. The studio initially worked primarily as a "studio for hire" with publishers such as
THQ and
Konami before moving towards sports games. Symons has explained this move on the basis that "Sport is renewable. There’s always a sequel. There’s always another season”.[5]
The studio's first sports game was
Australian rules football title AFL Live, released in 2011, for the PC,
PlayStation 3 and
Xbox 360.[2] The studio has since gone to make further Australian rules football games, as well as rugby league,[1] cricket,[6] lacrosse[7] and tennis[8] titles.
In January 2021, French video game publisher
Nacon acquired Big Ant for €35 million.[9] Symons has commented on his ambition "to grow Big Ant Studios into the largest developer of sports entertainment software in the world", and increase staff numbers from 66 (as of April 2022) to 200.[10]
In April 2023, Big Ant opened a second studio in
Adelaide.[11]
Symons opined in a 2016 Australian Financial Review piece that interns should be properly compensated for their work.[47] Big Ant Studios joined the
Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) in December 2015.[48] Symons made a presentation on the games industry challenges and opportunities to the Australian government's new Parliamentary Friends of Video Games group.[49] In 2021 Symons was added to the IGEA's board of directors.[50]
The studio was founded in 2001 and was originally named Bull Ant Studios, but renamed as "it was getting mispronounced all around the world because they don’t have
bull ants", according to Ross Symons. The studio initially worked primarily as a "studio for hire" with publishers such as
THQ and
Konami before moving towards sports games. Symons has explained this move on the basis that "Sport is renewable. There’s always a sequel. There’s always another season”.[5]
The studio's first sports game was
Australian rules football title AFL Live, released in 2011, for the PC,
PlayStation 3 and
Xbox 360.[2] The studio has since gone to make further Australian rules football games, as well as rugby league,[1] cricket,[6] lacrosse[7] and tennis[8] titles.
In January 2021, French video game publisher
Nacon acquired Big Ant for €35 million.[9] Symons has commented on his ambition "to grow Big Ant Studios into the largest developer of sports entertainment software in the world", and increase staff numbers from 66 (as of April 2022) to 200.[10]
In April 2023, Big Ant opened a second studio in
Adelaide.[11]
Symons opined in a 2016 Australian Financial Review piece that interns should be properly compensated for their work.[47] Big Ant Studios joined the
Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) in December 2015.[48] Symons made a presentation on the games industry challenges and opportunities to the Australian government's new Parliamentary Friends of Video Games group.[49] In 2021 Symons was added to the IGEA's board of directors.[50]