Dean Hall's gaming company Rocketwerkz is going from strength to strength.

Dean Hall wants his Dunedin-based gaming studio to do what Sir Peter Jackson did with the film industry.

His company, Rocketwerkz, is off to a good start.

Hong Kong-based Tencent – "one of the largest companies in the world" – has invested in the Dunedin firm, picking up a 25 per cent share.

"It has given us a mandate to expand dramatically," Hall said.

READ MORE: Dean Hall starts New Zealand gaming studio

"It is what New Zealand needs to do . . . we shouldn't be happy being small little studios, we need to be big studios.

"That is what we want to do – do what Sir Peter Jackson did. We are trying to do that with the video game industry."

Hall started with five staff this time last year, and by Thursday morning he had 27.

"We have really felt the growing pains from growing from five to 27 in 12 months, so there is a limit to how fast we can expand."

He confirmed 150 staff was "the ideal state".

The partnership with Tencent was exciting as "they really got what we wanted to do".

"Being daring in the multi-player space, that is what they do, they own League of Legends, stuff like that.

"We can take on the American studios and all of that, and the vote of confidence from Tencent is part of that."

Tencent was eyeing up "genre leaders", and Rocketwerkz fitted that description, Hall said.

He was initially reluctant about having outside investment in the company he founded, but realised that view was holding the studio back from expansion.

Staff were hired for an upcoming unannounced large scale project following the investment from Tencent.

Hall's hiring policy included unlimited annual leave, no set work hours, and open financials.

"I call it the freedom to work. It is working."

Hall said he was initially sceptical about being able to attract overseas talent to Dunedin. The keen adventurer initially explored Queenstown as a possible base, "but actually it has been a lot easier than I thought".

"I have loved being backed here [in Dunedin]."