Abhinav Chokhavatia returned to India in 2007 with an idea. After working at Ubisoft Montreal, he had seen how outsourcing worked from the client side. He believed he could build something similar back home, a studio that understood what global publishers needed.
Nearly two decades later, Zatun has worked on over 250 game titles with more than 300 clients worldwide. They have also developed over 20 of their own games across PC, mobile, and VR. The journey from that uncertain beginning to an award-winning studio with teams across multiple disciplines is the story of a company that learned to balance two ambitions: making great art for others, and making great games for themselves.
Olives??
Zatun means “olives” in Arabic. It is a name people remember, which was partly the point. Something that did not fall into the trap of forced game references.
The culture at Zatun is an open environment where artists can provide feedback to developers, designers can weigh in on animation choices, and where hierarchy does not stifle contributions. The team, which ranges from 25 to 40 people depending on the project cycle, is majority artists, but Abhinav prefers people who can work across disciplines. There are no specialists locked into one narrow task. If you join Zatun, you will be expected to learn multiple tools, work in different engines, and stretch beyond your comfort zone.
One of Abhinav’s friends at a previous studio spent years doing nothing but unwrapping or modelling heads. At Zatun, that friend can experiment, contribute to design, and actually have fun. The studio works closely with individuals who want to collaborate with them, which has made retention easier than it might be in a competitive market.
Zatun’s range of services
Zatun offers full-spectrum game art services. If a client comes in with a game idea, Zatun can take it from concept through to product launch. For larger studios, they handle everything from costumes and clothing assets to environments, props, weapons, vehicles, and more. They work across genres and platforms, and when projects fall apart at other studios, Zatun is often brought in to salvage what remains and rebuild according to what the client actually needs.
Their longest-standing relationship is with 2K, a partnership that began in 2016 and continues today. They also work with indie studios, mobile developers, and major publishers like Wargaming, NetMarble Monster, Gameloft, and Ubisoft. The work includes plenty of WWII vehicles and Warhammer axes for fixed clients, but the variety keeps things interesting.
Zatun also operates in the VR training and simulation space, working with clients in defence and healthcare. These projects include military training, hospital simulations, and e-learning programs for institutions such as a college in Abu Dhabi. The work is not glamorous, but it pays the bills and keeps the team sharp.
The IP Side: Making Their Own Games
Zatun released their first game, The Legend of Vraz, for PC in 2010. Since then, they have developed over 20 titles across platforms, including mobile, console, and VR. Their most recent and most celebrated project is Down and Out, a first-person VR brawler set in the fictional streets of Grande City.
Down and Out was released on Steam in December 2021, followed by releases on PSVR2, PSVR1, and Meta Quest in September 2023. The game won Best Console Game at the FICCI Frames BAF Awards 2024, Best Innovation in Game at the IAMAI Digital Awards 2024, and AR/VR Game of the Year at the IGDC Awards 2023. It also took home Best Midcore Game at the GEM Awards 2022.
The game was developed during and after COVID, a period that brought its own challenges. For Abhinav and the team, it represents a turning point. The service work had funded the studio’s growth, but Down and Out proved they could create something compelling on their own. It validated the long-term strategy: use outsourcing to build expertise, then channel that expertise into original IP.
Currently, Zatun is working on two new projects. One is a realistic game, the other a cartoony, meme-friendly experience. The strategy is to engage two ends of the spectrum and attract different audiences. Abhinav is clear about his approach: they do not rely on data-driven decision-making as the primary force. They use data, but the driving factor is feeling. If something feels right, they pursue it.
What Makes Them Tick
Abhinav believes constant learning is Zatun’s biggest strength. The team does not sit still. They adapt to new engines, new platforms, and new client needs. That adaptability has enabled them to work on a wide range of projects, from mobile games to console titles and VR training simulations, without compromising their identity.
The relationship with 2K remains the work Abhinav is most proud of, not because of prestige, but because of what it represents. It is a partnership built on trust, consistency, and the ability to deliver. That relationship, and the success of Down and Out, have given Zatun the confidence to continue pushing forward with their own IP while maintaining world-class service work.
The studio has come a long way from that uncertain beginning in 2007. What remains is a team that has figured out how to do two things well: make great art for others, and make great games for themselves.
Learn more about Zatun and their work here: zatun.com