Holdfast awards ‘a testament to what an indie team can do’ – Anvil Studios COO Julian Farrugia

Malta-produced video game Holdfast has won 17 international awards since its console release earlier this year.

Holdfast, produced by Anvil Game Studios, earned 10 awards as the Best Game on both PlayStation and Xbox, along with five awards for outstanding marketing achievements. 

Additionally, the studios received two top honours for Best Indie Developer and Best Independent Game. 

“Competing with major AAA studios, Anvil Game Studios stood out as one of the most awarded studios at this year’s NYX Game Awards. It’s a testament at what an indie team can do with a lot of passion, creativity, and dedication.” Julian Farrugia, COO and Creative Director at the studios said.

“Onwards and upwards. Another one for the record books thanks to our hard-working team,” Andrew Farrugia, the CEO and Game Director added.

The acclaimed multiplayer tactical shooter Holdfast: Nations at War achieved yet another a historic milestone following its console debut, shattering its previous concurrent player record as PlayStation and Xbox players came online.

Developed by Malta-based Anvil Game Studios, the Napoleonic-era combat simulator surged to 6,500 simultaneous players earlier this year across PC, PlayStation and Xbox platforms, cementing its status as a breakout hit on consoles developed by Sony and Microsoft.

Holdfast: Nations at War is a multiplayer tactical shooter set in the Napoleonic era, featuring large-scale land battles, naval combat, and a mix of role-playing elements. Prior to its console release, the game’s all-time peak on Steam was 3,000 concurrent players, achieved in 2022. 

The console launch has now pushed the combined player count (PC and console) beyond its previous record, marking a major milestone for the indie title.

The move to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series has significantly broadened the game’s audience, with cross-play functionality.