Sixteen Tons Entertainment, the studio behind the award-winning EMERGENCY series, today announced the appointment of Sebastian Nußbaum as Chief Creative Officer. A lifelong fan of the franchise and an accomplished creative leader in the European games industry, Nußbaum joins CEO Jan Richter’s leadership team to guide the next phase of EMERGENCY’s growth.
Nußbaum’s connection to EMERGENCY spans back to the franchise’s earliest titles, drawn to its unique blend of authentic simulation and strategic gameplay. This personal passion, combined with Sixteen Tons’ recent performance, made joining the studio an easy decision.
Over 200% Revenue Growth for EMERGENCY HQ
Since Jan Richter became CEO in mid-2024, EMERGENCY HQ has achieved remarkable growth, with monthly revenue increasing by more than 200% in just 18 months — eight years after its original launch. The growth has been almost entirely organic, fueled by consistent content updates, live events, and expansion into international markets, particularly the United States. The studio now employs approximately 35 team members.
From Niche Franchise to Billion-Dollar Potential
At Wooga, Nußbaum served as Vice President Creative, leading the development of June’s Journey and Pearl’s Peril, turning them into globally successful titles with June’s Journey generating over $1 billion in lifetime revenue. He now brings this expertise to Sixteen Tons, aiming to scale EMERGENCY into its next era.
Leadership Comments
“The growth of EMERGENCY HQ over the past 18 months demonstrates the true potential of this brand — and we are still early,” said Jan Richter, CEO of Sixteen Tons. “Sebastian brings not only creative vision and passion, but also the operational expertise to elevate the franchise and redefine its genre. His decision to join our team validates our ambitions and motivates us to raise the bar even further.”
Nußbaum added:
“What Jan and the team have achieved with EMERGENCY HQ is truly impressive. The dynamic growth, clarity of strategy, and strength of the team made it clear that something special is happening at Sixteen Tons. I’m excited to contribute to the evolution of this brand and help realize its enormous potential.”
Sixteen Tons at GDC 2026
Sixteen Tons Entertainment will showcase its development at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco, March 9–13. CEO Jan Richter will present insights into the transformation of EMERGENCY HQ and its record revenue growth, while Sebastian Nußbaum will be available for interviews and media engagements.
