Tantalus Media, established in 1994, is a premier independent game development studio renowned for its extensive portfolio of over fifty titles across all major platforms. The company has a strong partnership with Microsoft, particularly in bringing the Age of Empires DE titles to market and providing long-term downloadable content (DLC) support. Tantalus Media is part of the Keywords Studios group, a global leader in technical services for the gaming industry, with 70 studios in 23 countries. Initially, Tantalus gained recognition by converting popular coin-op titles like Manx TT Superbike and The House of the Dead. Over the years, the company has built a reputation for its work on handheld gaming platforms, notably the Game Boy Advance, and has developed acclaimed titles such as Top Gear Rally, which won IGN Game of the Year. Tantalus has also worked on well-known franchises like SpongeBob, MX vs ATV, Cars, Ben 10, and Pony Friends. The company continues to deliver high-quality games and services, with several AAA titles currently in development. Tantalus Media serves a diverse range of clients, including major game publishers and developers, operating in the highly competitive video game market. The business model revolves around game development, DLC support, and technical services, generating revenue through partnerships, game sales, and service contracts.

Keywords: game development, DLC support, Microsoft partnership, Keywords Studios, AAA titles, handheld gaming, Age of Empires, Top Gear Rally, franchise development, technical services.