Arc Games

Last updated

Arc Games Inc.
Formerly
  • Perfect World Entertainment (2008–2022)
  • Gearbox Publishing San Francisco (2022–2024)
Company type Subsidiary
Industry Video games
Founded2008;17 years ago (2008)
Headquarters,
US
Parent
Website arcgames.com

Arc Games Inc. (formerly known as Perfect World Entertainment and Gearbox Publishing San Francisco), is an American video game publisher. Founded in 2008 as the North American branch of the Chinese company Perfect World, they currently operate their former parent company's titles outside China as well as publishing various video games.

Contents

Originally formed to localize Perfect World's games for international audiences, Perfect World Entertainment is also publishing games from sister-company developers Cryptic Studios ( Star Trek Online , Champions Online , Dungeons & Dragons Neverwinter ) and Runic Games ( Torchlight series and Hob), which they had acquired in 2011. [1]

In December 2021, Perfect World Entertainment was acquired by Embracer Group and merged into The Gearbox Entertainment Company and rebranded as Gearbox Publishing San Francisco. [2] [3]

Embracer announced their plans to sell The Gearbox Entertainment Company to Take-Two Interactive in March 2024, with Gearbox Publishing San Francisco being retained by Embracer. [4] They subsequently rebranded as Arc Games in April of that year. [5] [6] [7]

Published games

Developed by Perfect World

Other games

YearNamePlatformsDeveloperNotes
2009 Torchlight Windows, OS X, Linux, Xbox 360 Runic Games Published by Microsoft Studios on Xbox 360
Champions Online Windows Cryptic Studios Originally published by Atari
2010 Star Trek Online Windows, OS X, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
2011 Rusty Hearts WindowsStairway GamesDiscontinued
2012 Torchlight II Windows, OS X, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch Runic Games
Blacklight: Retribution Windows, PlayStation 4 Zombie Studios Windows version is discontinued
2013 Neverwinter Windows, OS X, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo SwitchCryptic Studios
2015 Gigantic Windows, Xbox OneMotigaDiscontinued
2016 Livelock Windows Tuque Games
2017 Hob Windows, PlayStation 4, Nintendo SwitchRunic Games
2019 Remnant: From the Ashes Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch Gunfire Games
2020 Torchlight III Echtra Games
2023 Have a Nice Death Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S Magic Design Studios
Remnant 2 Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/SGunfire Games
UFO: Unidentified Falling ObjectsWindows, Nintendo SwitchAndrew Morrish
2024 Gigantic: Rampage Edition Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/SAbstraction Games
2025FellowshipWindowsChief Rebel
Hyper Light Breaker Windows Heart Machine

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electronic Arts</span> American video game company

Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) is an American video game company headquartered in Redwood City, California. Founded in May 1982 by former Apple employee Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer game industry and promoted the designers and programmers responsible for its games as "software artists". EA published numerous games and some productivity software for personal computers, all of which were developed by external individuals or groups until 1987's Skate or Die! The company shifted toward internal game studios, often through acquisitions, such as Distinctive Software becoming EA Canada in 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3D Realms</span> Video game publisher

3D Realms Entertainment ApS is a video game publisher based in Aalborg, Denmark. Scott Miller founded the company in his parents' home in Garland, Texas, in 1987 as Apogee Software Productions to release his game Kingdom of Kroz. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the company popularized a distribution model where each game consists of three episodes, with the first given away free as shareware and the other two available for purchase. Duke Nukem was a major franchise created by Apogee to use this model, and Apogee published Commander Keen and Wolfenstein 3D the same way.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nimble Giant Entertainment</span> Argentine video game developer

Nimble Giant Entertainment, SA is an Argentine video game developer located in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The studio was acquired by Saber Interactive in 2020.

Cryptic Studios is an American video game developer specializing in massively multiplayer online role-playing games. It is headquartered in Los Gatos, California, and was a wholly owned Perfect World subsidiary, and is now owned by Embracer Group.

<i>Star Trek Online</i> Massively multiplayer online role-playing game

Star Trek Online is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by Cryptic Studios based on the Star Trek franchise. The game is set in the 25th century, 30 years after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis. Star Trek Online is the first massively multiplayer online role-playing game within the Star Trek franchise and was released for Microsoft Windows in February 2010. At launch, the game required a game purchase and a recurring monthly fee. In January 2012, it relaunched with a tier of free-to-play access available. After a public beta testing period, a version of the game was released for OS X in March 2014. Due to technical issues with the port, support for OS X ended in February 2016. It was later released on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in September 2016. The game has received several expansions since release and has gotten mixed reviews from critics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gearbox Software</span> American video game company

Gearbox Software, L.L.C is an American video game development company based in Frisco, Texas. It was established as a limited liability company in February 1999 by five developers formerly of Rebel Boat Rocker. Randy Pitchford, one of the founders, serves as president and chief executive officer. Gearbox initially created expansions for the Valve game Half-Life, then ported that game and others to console platforms. In 2005, Gearbox launched its first independent set of games, Brothers in Arms, on console and mobile devices. It became their flagship franchise and spun off a comic book series, television documentary, books, and action figures. Their second original game series, Borderlands, commenced in 2009, and by 2015 had sold over 26 million copies. The company also owns the intellectual property of Duke Nukem and Homeworld.

Saber Interactive Inc. is an American video game developer and publisher based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Founded by Andrey Iones, Matthew Karch, and Anton Krupkin in 2001, it is controlled by Karch's investment company Beacon Interactive, created in 2024. The company employs over 1,350 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asmodee</span> Board games publisher and distributor

Asmodee is a French publisher of board games, card games and role-playing games (RPGs). Founded in 1995 to develop their own games and to publish and distribute for other smaller game developers, they have since acquired numerous other board game publishers. A division, Twin Sails Interactive, publishes video game adaptations of Asmodee games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Randy Pitchford</span> American businessman, co-founder, president and CEO of Gearbox Software

Randall Steward Pitchford II is an American businessman. He co-founded the video game development studio Gearbox Software in 1999 and was president and CEO of the company until 2021, upon which he became CEO and president of Gearbox's parent company, The Gearbox Entertainment Company. In 2016, Pitchford became the owner of the Academy of Magical Arts publication Genii magazine. Pitchford purchased the Hollywood Magic Castle in April 2022.

<i>Perfect World</i> (video game) 2005 video game

Perfect World, is a 3D adventure and fantasy MMORPG with traditional Chinese settings. Players can take on various roles depending on choice of race and choice of class within that race.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perfect World (company)</span> Chinese video game company

Perfect World Co., Ltd. is a Chinese mass media company based in Beijing. It was founded in 2004 by Chi Yufeng. The company consists of two business segments: Perfect World Games, a video game publisher, and Perfect World Pictures, a film production company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Runic Games</span> Defunct video game studio

Runic Games was an American computer game developer based in Seattle. It was formed by former Flagship Studios developers in August 2008. In 2009, the company released Torchlight, a single-player action role-playing game. It was acquired by Perfect World in May 2010. They released a sequel, Torchlight II, in 2012. It was at this time the developers revealed they were no longer pursuing plans to create an MMO in the Torchlight universe.

Atari SA, also known under the Atari Group moniker, is a French holding company headquartered in Paris that owns mainly video gaming-related interactive entertainment properties. Atari SA's core subsidiaries include the publisher and marketer Atari, Inc., developers Nightdive Studios and Digital Eclipse, and publisher Infogrames, It also has a blockchain division, Atari X, and additionally owns the websites MobyGames and AtariAge. Through these divisions, the company owns the rights to many video game properties that originated from Accolade, Atari, Inc., Atari Corporation, GT Interactive, M Network, Intellivision and others. It is the sole owner of the Atari brand since 2001, through its subsidiary Atari Interactive Inc. which licenses the brand to other entities in the group.

Focus Entertainment is a French video game developer and publisher based in Paris. Founded in 1996, Focus has published and distributed original titles such as Sherlock Holmes, TrackMania, Runaway, and sports games like Cycling Manager and Virtual Skipper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slipgate Ironworks</span> Danish video game developer

Slipgate Ironworks ApS is a Danish video game developer based in Aalborg, founded in 2010 by Frederik Schreiber.

<i>Torchlight III</i> 2020 video game

Torchlight III is an action role-playing game and the third game in the Torchlight series. It is developed by American studio Echtra Games and published by Perfect World Entertainment for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch in October 2020.

Embracer Group AB is a Swedish video game and media holding company based in Karlstad. The company comprises 9 operative groups: Amplifier Game Invest, Asmodee, CDE Entertainment, Coffee Stain, Dark Horse Media, Deca Games, Freemode, Plaion, and THQ Nordic.

References

  1. "Perfect World and Atari Announce Agreement for the Acquisition of Cryptic Studios". Archived from the original on June 3, 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  2. "Embracer Group Enters Into Agreement To Acquire Perfect World Entertainment" (Press release). Embracer Group. December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  3. Kerr, Chris (April 22, 2022). "Perfect World rebrands as Gearbox Publishing after Embracer purchase". Game Developer . Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  4. Valentine, Rebekah (March 28, 2024). "Take-Two Buys Gearbox From Embracer, Confirms Development on New Borderlands Game". IGN. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  5. "We Are Now Arc Games". Arc Games. April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  6. Carter, Justin (April 8, 2024). "Still in Embracer's custody, Gearbox Publishing SF rebrands to Arc Games". www.gamedeveloper.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  7. Rousseau, Jeffrey (April 9, 2024). "Gearbox Publishing San Francisco is now Arc Games". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  8. 1 2 "LOMA/HOTK – Important announcement from PWE". Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved April 5, 2012.