WayForward Technologies

WayForward Technologies started in March 1990, founded by Voldi Way in a small office in Valencia, California. The studio initially created games for the Super NES, Sega Genesis, and PC educational software. After a brief hiatus, it relaunched its video game division in 1997, focusing on contract work for publishers and licensed properties. The breakthrough came in 2002 with the original Shantae for Game Boy Color, published by Capcom. That game established WayForward's signature style: hand-drawn pixel art, tight platforming, and a quirky sense of humor.

Over the next two decades, the studio developed for nearly every major platform, from Game Boy Advance to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation Vita to PC. It built a reputation for elevating licensed IPs like Adventure Time, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and SpongeBob SquarePants into polished, playable experiences. Original series like Mighty Flip Champs!, Double Dragon Neon, and River City Girls further showcased the studio's range. In recent years, WayForward expanded into publishing, signing indie titles such as Lunark and Cat Girl Without Salad.

The company remains independent, privately owned by founder Voldi Way. Its workforce fluctuates between 50 and 100 employees depending on project load. WayForward has never raised significant venture capital, relying instead on contract work and self-published sales. Its headquarters in Valencia, California, houses the core team, though the studio collaborates with remote contractors worldwide for art, audio, and localization.[edit]