btf founding new game developer and publisher Blue Backpack GmbH
Emanuela
(14. August 2025 13:07
)
btf founding new game developer and publisher Blue Backpack GmbH
btf launches Blue Backpack as new independent developer and publisher for Constance, The Berlin Apartment, and upcoming btf titles
Cologne/Berlin, Germany – August 14th, 2025 - Blue Backpack, formerly known as the games department of the independent and well renowned media production company btf (bildundtonfabrik), is excited to announce its launch as btf's new game development and self-publishing subsidiary. Established by btf, its Trüberbrook Game Director and Head of Games Florian Köhne and longtime btf Games Producer Robert May, Blue Backpack aims to strengthen its position as a leading independent developer and publisher.
"The team has already been working independently for the past few years, so spinning it off into a new entity was simply the natural move. With Florian Köhne and Robert May, we have an exceptionally driven duo to lead this new venture," say Philipp Käßbohrer and Matthias Murmann, Co-Founders and CEOs of btf, in a joint statement.
Blue Backpack will make its debut at Gamescom (August 20th - August 24th in Cologne), sharing a booth with their co-publisher ByteRockers' Games in Hall 10.2. Both partners are teaming up with content creator Rocket Beans TV to host Gamescom's biggest community party - Dosenbeatz.
"We're thrilled and honored to embark on this new chapter, leading our incredible team towards a focused and game-oriented future," says Florian Köhne, Managing Director of Blue Backpack.
"Watching the Games Department grow over the years into a team that builds strong partnerships and develops highly anticipated indie titles that spark joy and excitement has been very rewarding. The feedback we have received reassures me that we are on the right track", adds Robert May, Managing Director of Blue Backpack.
Blue Backpack is also pleased to announce that it will take over management of Saftladen, a well-known indie games collective that provides a shared workspace for developers in Berlin. Alongside Blue Backpack, members of the collective include Lonely Mountains developer Megagon Industries, The Darkest Files developer Paintbucket Games, and many others. Originally founded by the respected and well-regarded Studio Fizbin and MaschinenMensch, Saftladen serves as a vital hub for Berlin's independent games scene, fostering the continued growth and success of local indie developers.
About Blue Backpack Blue Backpack is an independent developer and publisher for narrative driven games. Based in Berlin and Cologne, Blue Backpack is currently working on two games: Constance and The Berlin Apartment.
