# Big Ant Studios

Big Ant Studios Pty Ltd is an Australian video game developer based in Melbourne. Founded in 2001 by chief executive officer Ross Symons, the company specialises in the development of sports games. Big Ant's games include Cricket 22, Rugby League Live 4, AFL Live, AFL 23, Cricket 24 and Rugby 25 and Tiebreak: Official game of the ATP and WTA.

## History

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”.
The studio's first sports game was Australian rules football title AFL Live, released in 2011, for the PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The studio has since gone to make further Australian rules football games, as well as rugby league, cricket, lacrosse and tennis titles.
In January 2021, French video game publisher Nacon acquired Big Ant for €35 million. 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.
In April 2023, Big Ant opened a second studio in Adelaide.

## Games developed

| Year | Title | Platform(s) | Publisher | Notes |
| 2006 | Sprint Cars: Road to Knoxville | Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2 | THQ | |
| 2006 | The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning | Game Boy Advance | Vivendi Universal Games | Developed with Krome Studios |
| 2007 | The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night | PlayStation 2, Wii | Vivendi Universal Games | Developed with Krome Studios |
| 2008 | Hellboy: The Science of Evil | PlayStation Portable | Konami | Developed with Krome Studios |
| 2008 | Sprint Cars 2: Showdown at Eldora | PlayStation 2 | THQ | |
| 2009 | Short Track Racing: Trading Paint | PlayStation 2 | THQ | |
| 2010 | Rugby League Live | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | Tru Blu Entertainment | |
| 2010 | World of Outlaws: Sprint Cars | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | THQ | |
| 2010 | Truth or Lies | PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360 | THQ | |
| 2011 | AFL Live | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | Tru Blu Entertainment | |
| 2011 | Pirate Blast | Wii | Zoo Games | |
| 2012 | Rugby League Live 2 | iOS, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | Tru Blu Entertainment | |
| 2012 | Jetpack Joyride | PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita | Big Ant Studios | Port |
| 2013 | Fruit Ninja | PlayStation Vita | Big Ant Studios | Port |
| 2014 | Don Bradman Cricket 14 | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Tru Blu Entertainment | |
| 2014 | Jetpack Joyride Deluxe | PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita | Big Ant Studios | Port |
| 2015 | Rugby League Live 3 | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Tru Blu Entertainment | |
| 2015 | TableTop Cricket | Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 | Big Ant Studios | |
| 2016 | Big Bash Cricket | Android, iOS | Cricket Australia | |
| 2016 | Casey Powell Lacrosse 16 | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | Big Ant Studios | |
| 2016 | Don Bradman Cricket 17 | PlayStation 4, Xbox One | Tru Blu Entertainment | |
| 2016 | Jetpack Joyride | PlayStation 4 | Big Ant Studios | Port |
| 2016 | Masquerade: The Baubles of Doom | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Big Ant Studios | |
| 2017 | Ashes Cricket | PlayStation 4, Xbox One | Big Ant Studios | |
| 2017 | Rugby League Live 4 | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | Tru Blu Entertainment | |
| 2018 | AO International Tennis | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | Big Ant Studios | |
| 2018 | AO Tennis | Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | Big Ant Studios | |
| 2018 | Big Bash Boom | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | Big Ant Studios | |
| 2018 | Casey Powell Lacrosse 18 | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | Big Ant Studios | |
| 2019 | Cricket 19 | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | Big Ant Studios | |
| 2020 | AO Tennis 2 | Amazon Luna, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | Nacon | |
| 2020 | Tennis World Tour 2 | Amazon Luna, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | Nacon | |
| 2021 | The Hundred Mobile | Android, iOS | Nacon | |
| 2021 | Cricket 22 | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | Nacon | The Nintendo Switch release was delayed to April 2022 |
| 2023 | AFL 23 | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | Nacon | |
| 2023 | Cricket 24 | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | Nacon | |
| 2024 | Tiebreak: Official game of the ATP and WTA | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | Nacon | |
| 2025 | Rugby 25 | PlayStation4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Microsoft Windows | Nacon | |

## Advocacy

Symons opined in a 2016 Australian Financial Review piece that interns should be properly compensated for their work. Big Ant Studios joined the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) in December 2015. Symons made a presentation on the games industry challenges and opportunities to the Australian government's new Parliamentary Friends of Video Games group. In 2021 Symons was added to the IGEA's board of directors.
Big Ant Studios sponsors the women's team at the Carlton Football Club.