Is Project Winter a subsidiary of Other Ocean Interactive?

No, Project Winter is not a subsidiary. It is a wholly-owned game franchise developed and published by Other Ocean Interactive and Other Ocean Group. The game is one of several original and work-for-hire titles developed by the studio. There is no separate legal entity for the game.

Is Project Winter publicly traded?

No. Other Ocean Interactive is a privately held company. There is no publicly traded stock for Other Ocean Interactive, Other Ocean Group, or Project Winter. The company was founded by Andrew Ayre, who remains CEO and owner. No external investors or funding rounds have been disclosed.

When was Project Winter released?

Project Winter launched on Steam Early Access on February 7, 2019, with a full release on May 23, 2019. Console versions for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One were released in 2021. A major update, Project Winter 2.0: Cabin Fever, was released in 2023 to streamline the gameplay experience.

What is Project Winter's market position?

Project Winter is a niche title in the social deduction genre. With an estimated 477,000 units sold and an all-time peak of 1,623 concurrent players on Steam, it is significantly smaller than category leaders like Among Us and Goose Goose Duck. The game differentiates itself through its hybrid survival and social deception mechanics. Its 82% positive Steam rating indicates strong satisfaction among its dedicated player base.

Is Project Winter free to play?

No, Project Winter is a paid game. It is currently priced at $4.49 on Steam, discounted from its original price of $9.99. Console versions are priced comparably. There are no in-game purchases, microtransactions, or loot boxes. All content updates, including the Project Winter 2.0: Cabin Fever overhaul, have been free to existing owners.

What platforms is Project Winter available on?

Project Winter is available on PC (Steam) for Windows, macOS, and Linux, and on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The game supports cross-platform multiplayer between PC and console platforms. It is also verified for Steam Deck. The game is not available on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S as a native version, though it may be playable through backward compatibility.

Media & Entertainment

Who Owns Project Winter?

Project Winter is owned by Other Ocean Interactive, a privately held Canadian game development studio founded in 2006 by Andrew Ayre in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Other Ocean Interactive developed and published the game through its parent Other Ocean Group. The studio is independent and has approximately 17 employees as of 2026.

Parent Company

Other Ocean Interactive

Founded

2019

Status

Private

Headquarters

St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Project Winter Timeline

2006

Other Ocean Interactive

Parent company established in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Company Founded

2019

Project Winter

Founded by Other Ocean Interactive (internal development)

Founded

budgetmass marketGlobal

Who Owns Project Winter?

Parent Company: Other Ocean Interactive
Ownership Type: Wholly owned
Company Type: Privately Held

Brand	Parent Company	Ownership Type
Project Winter	Other Ocean Interactive	Wholly owned

History of Project Winter

Founded: 2019
Founders: Other Ocean Interactive (internal development)

Other Ocean Interactive began developing Project Winter as an original IP, entering Steam Early Access on February 7, 2019. The game launched as an 8-player multiplayer survival and social deception game where players are stranded in a frozen wilderness. Survivors must gather resources, repair objectives, and call for rescue, while hidden traitors among the group sabotage, mislead, and eliminate other players.

The game's full release followed on May 23, 2019. Project Winter combined survival mechanics, including resource gathering and environmental hazards, with social deduction elements similar to party games like Mafia and Werewolf. The traitor mechanic created asymmetric gameplay where cooperation was essential for survivors but betrayal was the objective for hidden enemies.

The game received positive critical reception. Vice named it "the best game about betrayal this year" in 2019. The Indie Toaster called it "one of the finest survival games out on the market." The game accumulated over 19,000 reviews on Steam with an 82% positive rating (Very Positive), indicating sustained player satisfaction despite a relatively small player base.

Console ports followed in 2021, with Project Winter launching on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The console versions expanded the game's potential audience beyond PC players. Cross-platform multiplayer was supported between PC and console versions, allowing friends on different platforms to play together.

In 2023, Other Ocean Interactive released Project Winter 2.0: Cabin Fever, a major update that streamlined the gameplay experience for faster matches and easier onboarding for new players. The update aimed to address the game's accessibility challenges, as the original version had a steep learning curve that could deter new players.

The game's player base has always been niche compared to category leaders. The all-time peak concurrent player count on Steam was 1,623. As of August 2026, the game has approximately 32 concurrent players on Steam. The game has sold an estimated 477,000 units with estimated revenue of $6 million according to third-party data. Despite the small active player base, the game maintains a dedicated community and continues to receive occasional updates.

Other Ocean Interactive also developed The Walking Dead: Betrayal, a social deception game launched in early access in 2023 that built on Project Winter's traitor mechanics. However, The Walking Dead: Betrayal was discontinued on December 1, 2023, after development ceased, limiting its impact on the studio's social deduction portfolio.

About Other Ocean Interactive

What is Other Ocean Interactive?
Other Ocean Interactive is a privately held Canadian game development studio founded in 2006 by Andrew Ayre in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The company is known for Project Winter, an 8-player survival and social deception game, and for work-for-hire development on major franchise titles including the MediEvil remake and Minecraft: New Nintendo 3DS Edition. The studio employs approximately 17 people and operates under the Other Ocean Group parent structure.

Is Other Ocean Interactive publicly traded?
No, Other Ocean Interactive is not publicly traded. The company is privately held and owned by its founder, Andrew Ayre, who serves as CEO. The company operates under the Other Ocean Group corporate structure. There is no publicly traded stock for Other Ocean Interactive or Other Ocean Group. No external investors or funding rounds have been disclosed.

Who founded Other Ocean Interactive?
Other Ocean Interactive was founded by Andrew Ayre in 2006. The studio was originally established as Backbone Charlottetown, an internal studio of Foundation 9 Entertainment, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. In May 2007, Ayre left Foundation 9, bought out the studio, and renamed it Other Ocean Interactive, establishing the Other Ocean Group as the parent company. Ayre remains CEO and owner.

Where is Other Ocean Interactive based?
Other Ocean Interactive is headquartered in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The company also maintains a studio in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and an office in Emeryville, California, in the United States. The company's workforce includes remote developers across North America. The St. John's location is notable for a game development studio, as Newfoundland and Labrador is not a traditional hub for the industry.

How many brands does Other Ocean Interactive own?
Other Ocean Interactive has been involved in the development of over 40 games, including both original IPs and work-for-hire titles. Its most notable original titles include Project Winter (2019), #IDARB (2015), and The Walking Dead: Betrayal (2023, discontinued). The company's work-for-hire portfolio includes the MediEvil remake, Minecraft: New Nintendo 3DS Edition, and multiple Yu-Gi-Oh! titles.

Who owns Other Ocean Interactive?
Other Ocean Interactive is owned by Andrew Ayre, who founded the company in 2006 and serves as CEO. Ayre originally co-founded the studio as part of Foundation 9 Entertainment before buying it out in 2007 and establishing it as an independent company under Other Ocean Group. There is no parent company above Other Ocean Group, no external investors, and no publisher relationship for the company's original IPs.

What happened to The Walking Dead: Betrayal?
The Walking Dead: Betrayal was a social deception game developed by Other Ocean Interactive and launched in early access in 2023. The game built on Project Winter's traitor mechanics but was based on The Walking Dead franchise. Development ceased and the game was discontinued on December 1, 2023. The discontinuation meant that players who purchased the early access title no longer had access to an actively developed game. The company's refund policy was not widely publicized.

Founded: 2006
Headquarters: St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Company Type: Privately Held
Revenue: Approximately $1.3 million
Employees: Approximately 17

Visit Other Ocean Interactive website

View full company profile for Other Ocean Interactive

Where Is Project Winter Made / Based?

Headquarters: St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Project Winter Categories & Tags

Social Deduction Multiplayer Game Survival Game Indie Game Pc Game Video Game

Project Winter Sustainability & Ethics

Other Ocean Interactive has not published a sustainability report or third-party environmental certification. As a digital game studio, the company does not have the physical manufacturing footprint associated with physical products. The company operates from offices in St. John's, Charlottetown, and Emeryville, with a partially remote workforce.

Project Winter's monetization is a one-time purchase with no microtransactions or in-game purchases. The game is sold for $4.49 on Steam (discounted from $9.99) and comparable prices on console platforms. All content updates, including the Project Winter 2.0: Cabin Fever overhaul, have been free to existing owners. This approach avoids the regulatory scrutiny associated with loot boxes and randomized reward mechanics.

The game includes voice chat for multiplayer communication, which creates potential for unmoderated interactions in public lobbies. Other Ocean Interactive has not published formal community safety policies or moderation audit data for Project Winter's voice chat system.

Awards & Recognition

Project Winter has not received major industry awards from bodies such as The Game Awards, BAFTA, or the Golden Joystick Awards. The game's recognition has come primarily from gaming press and community reception.

Vice named Project Winter "the best game about betrayal this year" in 2019, recognizing the game's traitor mechanic and social deception gameplay. The Indie Toaster described it as "one of the finest survival games out on the market." Culture of Gaming praised the game's community. These press mentions reflect the game's critical reception within the survival and social deception niche, though no formal industry awards have been documented.

Project Winter Recalls & Controversies

The Walking Dead: Betrayal Discontinuation (2023): Other Ocean Interactive launched The Walking Dead: Betrayal, a social deception game building on Project Winter's mechanics, in early access in 2023. The game was discontinued on December 1, 2023, after development ceased. The discontinuation raised questions about the studio's capacity to maintain multiple live multiplayer games simultaneously. Players who purchased the early access title were affected by the shutdown, though the company's refund policy for the discontinued title was not widely publicized. The failure of The Walking Dead: Betrayal demonstrated the challenges of developing social deception games with smaller player bases.

Small Player Base and Matchmaking (Ongoing): Project Winter's declining concurrent player count, currently at approximately 32 on Steam, has created matchmaking difficulties for new players. Finding full 8-player lobbies can require extended wait times, particularly outside peak hours. This creates a barrier to entry for new players who purchase the game, as the core experience depends on full multiplayer sessions. Other Ocean Interactive has not implemented bot fillers or single-player modes to address this issue, though the Project Winter 2.0 update did streamline some mechanics.

Project Winter Ownership: Pros & Cons

Advantages

+Other Ocean Interactive's independent status means creative decisions for Project Winter are made without publisher interference
+One-time purchase model with no microtransactions is player-friendly and avoids regulatory scrutiny
+Cross-platform support across PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One gives the game broad platform reach
+The hybrid survival and social deception gameplay differentiates Project Winter from simpler competitors in the genre
+The studio's work-for-hire business provides revenue diversification beyond original IP sales

Considerations

-The small concurrent player base of approximately 32 creates matchmaking difficulties and limits the game's viability for new players
-Revenue from Project Winter is modest, with an estimated $6 million in total revenue across the game's lifetime
-The discontinuation of The Walking Dead: Betrayal in 2023 raises questions about the studio's ability to sustain live multiplayer games
-The studio's remote and distributed workforce across multiple small offices may create coordination challenges
-Other Ocean Interactive's focus on work-for-hire projects may limit resources available for ongoing Project Winter development

Frequently Asked Questions About Project Winter

Sources & Further Reading

Where to Buy

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Project Winter on Amazon

Competitors to Project Winter

These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.

Brand	Parent Company	Country	Founded	Market Position	Primary Market	Gender Target
Goose Goose Duck	Gaggle Studios	Canada	2021	Mass market	Global	All Genders
Town of Salem 2	Blankmediagames	USA	2023	Mass market	Global	All Genders
Unfortunate Spacemen	New Blood Interactive	USA	2020	Mass market	Global	All Genders
Among Us	Innersloth	USA	2018	Mass market	Global	All Genders
Phasmophobia	Kinetic Games	United Kingdom	2020	Mass market	Global	All Genders