TT Games Veteran Tom Stone Founds Second Star Games

The former managing director of TT Games, Tom Stone, the studio responsible for the critically and commercially successful LEGO video game series (including LEGO Star Wars and LEGO Batman), has announced the launch of a new independent game development and publishing studio. The new venture is named Second Star Games, a clear reference to the navigational instructions for reaching Neverland in the classic Peter Pan story. Based in Manchester, UK, the studio is staffed with industry veterans, including several key designers and engineers from Stone’s former team at TT Games.

The studio’s focus is on creating captivating interactive experiences for young gamers and their families, a niche the former TT Games chief has considerable expertise in. This move signifies Stone’s return to game development after stepping down from his role at TT Games in 2020.

In the Works: ‘Neverland: A Peter Pan Adventure’

The debut title from Second Star Games is set to be a fantasy-adventure game titled Neverland: A Peter Pan Adventure. This confirms the studio’s acquisition of a long-term, worldwide, exclusive license to create a suite of video games based on the Peter Pan universe. The title will draw on the rich lore of Neverland, promising an experience built on imagination and adventure.

While specific gameplay details are yet to be announced, the nature of the development team—composed of veterans from the family-friendly, co-operative, and licensed-IP-driven LEGO games—suggests a focus on high-quality, accessible gameplay that captures the spirit of the source material. Early concept art has been teased, indicating a colorful and imaginative take on the classic tale.

Key Team Members from TT Games Now at Second Star Games:

• Tom Stone (Co-Founder, former TT Games Managing Director)
• Andrew Holt (Lead Game Designer)
• Nicola Daly (Art Director)
• Chris Stanforth (Head of Engineering)

A Noble Cause: Partnership with Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity

A central and remarkable aspect of this new venture is the partnership with the Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) Charity. The original author of Peter Pan, J. M. Barrie, famously donated the rights to his work to the hospital in 1929. Consequently, the GOSH Charity holds a perpetual right to remuneration from all commercial adaptations of the Peter Pan story in the UK and worldwide.

This long-term exclusive licensing agreement ensures that royalties from all sales of Neverland: A Peter Pan Adventure and subsequent Peter Pan titles will go directly to the GOSH Charity. These vital funds will support the seriously ill children treated at the hospital, giving this commercial project a strong philanthropic foundation. This charitable component adds significant value and a unique selling proposition to the new game.

Keywords: Tom Stone, Second Star Games, TT Games, Peter Pan, Neverland: A Peter Pan Adventure, GOSH Charity, Great Ormond Street Hospital, LEGO Games, Video Game Development, Exclusive License, Gaming IP, Fantasy-Adventure.