Big Ant Studios is an Australian video game developer based in Southbank, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne. Founded in 2000 by chief executive officer Ross Symons, the company specialises in the development of sports games. Big Ant's games include Cricket 26, Cricket 22, Rugby League Live 4, AFL Live, AFL 23, AFL 26, Cricket 24, 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 Rugby League title Rugby League Live, released in 2010, for the PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The studio has since gone to make further Rugby League games, as well as Australian Rules Football, 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 +YearTitlePlatform(s)PublisherNotesRef2006Sprint Cars: Road to KnoxvilleMicrosoft Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2THQThe Legend of Spyro: A New BeginningGame Boy Advance Vivendi Universal Games Developed with Krome Studios2007The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal NightPlayStation 2, Wii2008Hellboy: The Science of EvilPlayStation PortableKonamiSprint Cars 2: Showdown at Eldora PlayStation 2 THQ2009Short Track Racing: Trading Paint2010Rugby League LiveMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360Tru Blu EntertainmentWorld of Outlaws: Sprint CarsPlayStation 3, Xbox 360 THQTruth or LiesPlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 3602011AFL LiveMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360Tru Blu EntertainmentPirate BlastWiiZoo Games2012Rugby League Live 2iOS, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360Tru Blu EntertainmentJetpack JoyridePlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita Big Ant Studios Port2013Fruit NinjaPlayStation Vita2014Don Bradman Cricket 14Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox OneTru Blu EntertainmentJetpack Joyride DeluxePlayStation 3, PlayStation VitaBig Ant StudiosPort2015Rugby League Live 3Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox OneTru Blu EntertainmentTableTop CricketMicrosoft Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3Big Ant Studios2016Big Bash CricketAndroid, iOSCricket AustraliaCasey Powell Lacrosse 16Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox OneBig Ant StudiosDon Bradman Cricket 17PlayStation 4, Xbox OneTru Blu EntertainmentJetpack JoyridePlayStation 4 Big Ant StudiosPortMasquerade: The Baubles of DoomMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One2017Ashes CricketPlayStation 4, Xbox OneRugby League Live 4 Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox OneTru Blu Entertainment2018AO International Tennis Big Ant StudiosAO TennisAndroid, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox OneBig Bash BoomMicrosoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox OneCasey Powell Lacrosse 18Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One2019Cricket 19Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One2020AO Tennis 2 Amazon Luna, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One NaconTennis World Tour 22021The Hundred MobileAndroid, iOS Cricket 22Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/SThe Nintendo Switch release was delayed to April 20222023AFL 23Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/SCricket 24Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S2024Tiebreak: Official game of the ATP and WTAMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S2025Rugby 25PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Microsoft WindowsAFL 26PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, Microsoft WindowsThe Nintendo Switch 2 version was released on March 31, 2026.TIEBREAK+Nintendo SwitchRugby League 26PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Microsoft WindowsCricket 26PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Microsoft Windows
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.
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