InnerSloth

What does InnerSloth own?
InnerSloth owns two game titles: Among Us (2018) and The Henry Stickmin Collection (2021). The company is also developing Among Us Story: On Guard, a narrative adventure game set in the Among Us universe. The Among Us franchise includes the original game, the 2026 animated show on Paramount+, and various in-game crossover collaborations with other franchises.

Is InnerSloth publicly traded?
No, InnerSloth is not publicly traded. The company is privately held and owned entirely by its founders, Marcus Bromander and Forest Willard. InnerSloth has never raised venture capital or taken outside investment, which is unusual for a game studio that has achieved hundreds of millions of downloads.

Who founded InnerSloth?
InnerSloth was founded in 2015 by Marcus Bromander (also known as PuffballsUnited) and Forest Willard (also known as Fortebass). Bromander is a Flash animation artist who created the Henry Stickmin series on Newgrounds. Willard is a programmer who previously worked with Bromander on web and mobile games.

Where is InnerSloth based?
InnerSloth is headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA, in the Seattle metropolitan area. The company operates as a remote-friendly studio, with team members working from the Redmond office and remotely from various locations. This flexible approach allows InnerSloth to hire talent without geographic restrictions.

How many brands does InnerSloth own?
InnerSloth owns two released game titles: Among Us and The Henry Stickmin Collection. A third title, Among Us Story: On Guard, is in development as of 2026. The company also licenses the Among Us IP for the animated show on Paramount+.

Who owns InnerSloth?
InnerSloth is owned entirely by its founders, Marcus Bromander and Forest Willard. There is no parent company, no external investors, and no publisher. Both founders share ownership and decision-making authority, with Bromander handling creative direction and Willard managing programming and technical operations.

What is Among Us Story: On Guard?
Among Us Story: On Guard is a narrative adventure game in development at InnerSloth as of 2026. Set in the Among Us universe, the game is a single-player story experience where players take on the role of a Crewmate trainee at MIRA R&D. A demo was released on Steam on June 15, 2026. The release date for the full game has not been announced.

InnerSloth was founded in 2015 by Marcus Bromander and Forest Willard. Bromander, known online as PuffballsUnited, had previously created Flash animation games on Newgrounds, including the Henry Stickmin series. Willard, known as Fortebass, handled programming. The two had collaborated on various web and mobile games before formally establishing InnerSloth as a studio.

The company's first release was Among Us, launched on June 15, 2018, for iOS and Android. The game was developed by a team of three people: Bromander (art and design), Willard (programming), and a third member who later left the company. The initial release attracted a small but dedicated player base, particularly in Brazil and South Korea, but did not achieve mainstream success.

For two years, Among Us maintained modest player numbers. In mid-2020, the game experienced explosive growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Twitch streamers and YouTube content creators began playing Among Us, and the game went viral. By September 2020, Among Us had hundreds of millions of players and was one of the most popular games in the world. The game won Best Multiplayer Game at The Game Awards 2020.

Faced with overwhelming demand, InnerSloth made an unusual decision in September 2020: they canceled the planned sequel, Among Us 2, and instead focused all resources on improving the original game. This decision reflected the founders' preference for sustainable development over rapid expansion and their commitment to the existing player community.

In 2021, InnerSloth released The Henry Stickmin Collection, a remastered compilation of Bromander's earlier Flash games. The collection was well received and added a second revenue stream, though it remains a smaller title compared to Among Us.

The company gradually expanded its team from 3 to approximately 30 employees by 2026. New hires included community managers, additional programmers, artists, and producers to support ongoing Among Us development and the new Among Us Story project.

In 2024, InnerSloth deprecated older versions of Among Us, consolidating players onto the latest version (v17.4.0) to streamline development and support. The company continued releasing regular content updates, including new roles, maps, and cosmetic items.

In June 2026, InnerSloth launched the Among Us animated show on Paramount+. The show was produced by CBS Studios, Titmouse, and director Owen Dennis, with InnerSloth founders serving as producers. The entire first season was released simultaneously on the streaming platform, with the first episode also available free on YouTube.

Also in June 2026, InnerSloth announced Among Us Story: On Guard, a narrative adventure game set in the Among Us universe. A demo was released on Steam on June 15, 2026, coinciding with Among Us's 8th anniversary. The game is being developed as a single-player story experience where players take on the role of a Crewmate trainee at MIRA R&D.

In August 2026, InnerSloth published the second half of its 2026 roadmap, outlining plans for two new in-game roles, a Match Info Guide for lobby settings, new Cosmicubes, additional collaborations, and continued development of Among Us Story: On Guard.

As a small digital entertainment company, InnerSloth's environmental footprint is minimal compared to manufacturing or resource-extractive businesses. The company operates remotely, reducing commuting and office energy consumption. InnerSloth does not publish a sustainability report and is not a Certified B Corporation.

In terms of ethical practices, InnerSloth has been noted for its player-friendly monetization approach. The company avoids loot boxes, which have been subject to regulatory scrutiny in several countries for resembling gambling mechanics. Among Us cosmetic items are sold as fixed bundles rather than randomized rewards, and all purchases are permanent.

The company maintains an active community engagement program, with regular developer blogs, roadmap updates, and direct communication with players through social media and Discord. InnerSloth has also supported charitable initiatives through in-game events and donations.

• The Game Awards 2020: Best Multiplayer Game - Among Us won Best Multiplayer Game at The Game Awards 2020, beating nominees including Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Call of Duty: Warzone.
• The Game Awards 2020: Best Mobile Game - Among Us was nominated for Best Mobile Game.
• Google Play Best of 2020 - Among Us was recognized by Google Play as one of the best games of 2020.
• Apple App Store Best of 2020 - Among Us was featured in Apple's App Store Best of 2020 list.
• Webby Awards 2021 - Among Us received recognition at the Webby Awards for its cultural impact and online community.

InnerSloth has faced relatively little controversy compared to larger game companies. The main issues the company has navigated include:

In 2022, Among Us was banned in China alongside other games as part of the country's regulatory crackdown on gaming content. The ban affected a significant player base, though exact player numbers in China were not disclosed. InnerSloth did not publicly challenge the ban.

The company has faced periodic server outages and cheating issues due to the game's massive player base and small development team. In response, InnerSloth implemented account systems and anti-cheat measures, though these have not fully eliminated the problem. The company has been transparent about its limitations, acknowledging that a team of its size struggles to address all community concerns simultaneously.

In 2024, InnerSloth deprecated older versions of Among Us, requiring all players to update to v17.4.0. Some players on older devices or platforms expressed frustration, though the company stated the update was necessary to maintain development efficiency.