Three former Funko Games staffers have launched a new board game company in Seattle called Tempest Workshop. 

Its co-founders— Chris Rowlands (studio director), Korby Sears (executive producer) and Isaias Vallejo (executive producer)—were all laid off following the sale of Funko Games’ Prospero Hall studio (formerly known as Forrest-Pruzan Creative) to Goliath Games last month. 

These executives and their team of eight designers have collectively brought more than 250 board games to market, including licensed titles such as Disney Villainous, Jurassic World: The Legacy of Isla Nublar and Funkoverse. 

Tempest’s full range of services includes partnering with brand owners to design new licensed titles, development consultation, game testing and production/project management. The studio will also work on designing a range of original board games, with more details to come at a later date.

Tempest is entering the board game market at a time when it’s primed for steady growth. According to a report published earlier this month by Delaware-based Global Market Insights, this product category generated US$12 billion in revenue last year and is projected to grow by 4.5% annually until it hits US$18 billion in 2032. The report also notes that licensed titles based on TV shows, movies and video games are key drivers for growth because they create gateways that attract new players to the hobby. 

Pictured from left to right: Korby Sears, Chris Rowlands and Isaias Vallejo.