Remote-First Hell Let Loose Developer Opens Physical Manchester Office
Expression Games, the developer behind Hell Let Loose Vietnam, is establishing its first physical studio in Manchester while maintaining its remote-work policy. The studio expansion was prompted by employee requests for greater connectivity and the needs of co-development partners, according to CEO Errol Ismail. The move comes two years after the company was founded by former Fabrik staff following that studio's acquisition by Firesprite.
Expression Games was founded in 2022 by former Fabrik studio leadership, including CEO Errol Ismail, following Fabrik's acquisition by Firesprite. The studio has maintained a fully remote workforce since inception while building a portfolio that includes Hell Let Loose Vietnam, which achieved one million sales since August 2026, and ongoing co-development work on Star Wars Galactic Racer with Fuse Games.
The Manchester office represents a strategic shift driven by practical factors: roughly half the team now lives within commuting distance, employee feedback indicates demand for in-person collaboration opportunities, and co-development partnerships require on-site data infrastructure. The studio plans to integrate the physical space into talent development initiatives through partnerships with local universities including Manchester Metropolitan and Bolton, while preserving flexible working arrangements and the absence of mandatory core hours.
The move reflects broader industry trends regarding hybrid work models and talent retention in competitive game development markets. This expansion could influence how other remote-first studios balance flexibility with physical infrastructure needs, potentially demonstrating a middle-ground approach that maintains distributed teams while meeting collaboration demands. The emphasis on university partnerships may also signal emerging strategies for addressing skills shortages in regional development hubs outside traditional industry centers.