DICE (company)

Last updated

EA Digital Illusions CE AB
DICE
Formerly
  • Digital Illusions HB (1992–1993)
  • Digital Illusions CE AB (1993–2006)
Company type Subsidiary
Industry Video games
FoundedMay 1992;32 years ago (1992-05) in Växjö, Sweden
Founders
Headquarters
Stockholm
,
Sweden
Key people
Rebecka Coutaz (general manager)
Products
Number of employees
714 [1]  (2020)
Parent Electronic Arts (2006–present)
Divisions Frostbite Labs
Website dice.se

EA Digital Illusions CE AB (trade name: DICE) is a Swedish video game developer based in Stockholm. The company was founded in 1992 and has been a subsidiary of Electronic Arts since 2006. Its releases include the Battlefield , Mirror's Edge and Star Wars: Battlefront series. Through their Frostbite Labs division, the company also develops the Frostbite game engine.

Contents

History

Foundation and early years (1992–2000)

Digital Illusions was founded in May 1992 by Olof "Olle" Gustafsson, Markus Nyström, Fredrik Liljegren and Andreas Axelsson, four friends and former members of The Silents, a demogroup that developed for Amiga systems. [2] The four studied at Växjö University, thus DICE was established in Växjö. [2]

Expansion (2000–2004)

In 2000, DICE acquired developer Refraction Games (developers of Codename Eagle ). [3] From the acquisition, DICE inherited the in-development Battlefield 1942 . [3] Patrick Söderlund, who had founded Refraction Games in 1997, subsequently joined DICE as chief executive officer. [4] This was followed with the merger of Sandbox Studios in April 2001. [5] Sandbox Studios added 50 employees to DICE's staff, amounting to 150 total employees. [6] In September 2004, DICE also merged with Trauma Studios in New York City. [7] [8] Trauma Studios employed nine people at the time. [9]

Acquisition by Electronic Arts (2006–present)

In November 2004, Electronic Arts (EA) announced their intent to purchase all outstanding shares in DICE at a price of 61 kr per share, with the deal's closing deadline scheduled for 27 December. [10] At the time, EA owned 18.9% in DICE. [11] Initially, the offer was rejected by shareholders representing 28% of DICE's ownership on 15 December, [12] after which EA adjusted its offer on 20 December, intending to only purchase 44.5% at the same price per share, extending the offer deadline to 20 January 2005. [13] On 25 January 2005, shareholders agreed to the acquisition, and EA raised their ownership in DICE to 59.8%. [14] [15]

In March 2006, EA announced a new plan to acquire all outstanding shares in DICE for 67.50 kr per share. [16] The acquisition was completed on 2 October, with 2.6 million shares in DICE transferred to EA in exchange for a total of 175.5 million kr. [17] [18] Shortly following the acquisition, on 5 October, EA closed Digital Illusions Canada, DICE's Ontario-based studio. [19] The 25 employees working at the studio at the time were given the option to transfer to DICE's headquarters in Stockholm or any other EA studio. [20] DICE co-founder Liljegren announced on 16 October that he established RedJade as a successor to Digital Illusions Canada. [21]

In May 2013, EA opened a new Los Angeles-based division for DICE known as DICE LA, helmed by former senior staff of EA's previously closed studio Danger Close Games. [22] DICE LA had generally been involved with support of DICE and other EA games and had not generated any title on their own. Vince Zampella of Respawn Entertainment (another EA studio) was named as the studio's new lead in January 2020. Zampella had indicated at this time that they would likely become separate from DICE, and change their name to reflect this. [23] DICE LA announced their new name, Ripple Effect Studios, in July 2021, but otherwise under management by Zampella, and while they will finish work on Battlefield 2042 , will move in a new direction following its release. [24]

On 2 December 2021 Electronic Arts announced that Vince Zampella, co-founder of Respawn Entertainment and head of Ripple Effect Studios, will oversee the Battlefield series going forward, with Ripple Effect leading the way in developing the franchise's "new experiences", instead of DICE. [25] [26] Along with the announcement, it was reported that DICE General Manager Oskar Gabrielson would be leaving EA, with Rebecka Coutaz, formerly Managing Director of Ubisoft Annecy, taking his place in the role. [27]

Technology

Games developed

YearTitlePlatform(s)
1992 Pinball Dreams Amiga
Pinball Fantasies Amiga, Amiga CD32
1993AmiganoidAmiga
1994 Benefactor Amiga, Amiga CD32
1995 Pinball Illusions Amiga, Amiga CD32, MS-DOS
1997 True Pinball PlayStation, Sega Saturn
S40 Racing Microsoft Windows
1998 Motorhead Microsoft Windows, PlayStation
1999Swedish Touring Car ChampionshipMicrosoft Windows
2000Swedish Touring Car Championship 2
Riding Champion: Legacy of Rosemond Hill
Michelin Rally Masters: Race of Champions Microsoft Windows, PlayStation
NASCAR Heat PlayStation
2002 RalliSport Challenge Microsoft Windows, Xbox
Pryzm: Chapter One — The Dark Unicorn PlayStation 2
Battlefield 1942 macOS, Microsoft Windows
V8 Challenge Microsoft Windows
2003 Battlefield 1942: The Road to Rome macOS, Microsoft Windows
Midtown Madness 3 Xbox
Battlefield 1942: Secret Weapons of WWII macOS, Microsoft Windows
2004 RalliSport Challenge 2 Xbox
2005 Battlefield 2 Microsoft Windows
Battlefield 2: Modern Combat PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360
2006 Battlefield 2142 macOS, Microsoft Windows
2008 Battlefield: Bad Company PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Mirror's Edge Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
2009 Battlefield Heroes Microsoft Windows
Battlefield 1943 PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
2010 Battlefield: Bad Company 2 iOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii, Windows Phone, Xbox 360
Battlefield Online Microsoft Windows
Medal of Honor Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
2011 Battlefield Play4Free Microsoft Windows
Battlefield 3 iOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
2013 Battlefield 4 Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
2015 Battlefield: Hardline
Star Wars Battlefront Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
2016 Mirror's Edge Catalyst
Battlefield 1
2017 Star Wars Battlefront II
2018 Battlefield V
2019 Ultracore Mega Sg, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita , Xbox One, and Xbox Series
2021 Battlefield 2042 Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S

Notes

  1. ^ Co-developed with Easy Studios
  2. ^ Co-developed with Criterion Games
  3. ^ Co-developed with Neowiz Games
  4. ^ Co-developed with Danger Close Games
  5. ^ Co-developed with Visceral Games
  6. ^ Cancelled in 1994 but eventually revived by Strictly Limited Games and released in 2019

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.

<i>Battlefield 1942</i> 2002 video game

Battlefield 1942 is a 2002 first-person shooter video game developed by Digital Illusions CE and published by Electronic Arts for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. The game can be played in single-player mode against the video game AI or in multiplayer mode against players on the Internet or in a local area network. It is a popular platform for mod developers, with many released modifications that alter the gameplay and theme.

<i>Battlefield Vietnam</i> 2004 video game

Battlefield Vietnam is a 2004 first-person shooter video game developed by Digital Illusions Canada and published by Electronic Arts for Microsoft Windows. It is the second installment of the Battlefield franchise, coming after Battlefield 1942. Battlefield Vietnam takes place during the Vietnam War and features a large variety of maps based on historical settings, such as the Ho Chi Minh Trail, Battle of Huế, Ia Drang Valley, Operation Flaming Dart, the Battle of Khe Sanh and Fall of Saigon. On 15 March 2005, EA re-released the game as Battlefield Vietnam: Redux, which includes new vehicles, maps and an EA-produced World War II mod, based on the previous installment Battlefield 1942.

Infinity Ward, Inc. is an American video game developer. They developed the video game Call of Duty, along with seven other installments in the Call of Duty series. Vince Zampella, Grant Collier, and Jason West established Infinity Ward in 2002 after working at 2015, Inc. previously. All of the 22 original team members of Infinity Ward came from the team that had worked on Medal of Honor: Allied Assault while at 2015, Inc. Activision helped fund Infinity Ward in its early days, buying up 30 percent of the company, before eventually fully acquiring them. The studio's first game, World War II shooter Call of Duty, was released on the PC in 2003. The day after the game was released, Activision bought the rest of Infinity Ward, signing employees to long-term contracts. Infinity Ward went on to make Call of Duty 2, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Call of Duty: Ghosts, Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, the Modern Warfare reboot, and its sequel.

Battlefield is a military first-person shooter video game franchise primarily developed by Swedish company EA DICE and published by American company Electronic Arts. The series mainly focuses on online multiplayer, with gameplay taking place across large maps, and emphasizes teamwork and combined arms warfare.

Trauma Studios was an American video game developer company founded in 2003. They were best known for having created Desert Combat, a mod for Battlefield 1942.

<i>Shrek</i> (video game) 2001 video game

Shrek is a 2001 platform video game developed by Digital Illusions Canada and published by TDK Mediactive for the Xbox, based on the 2001 film Shrek. The game was released on November 15, 2001, as one of 22 North American launch titles for the Xbox and March 29, 2002, in Europe. A reworked version of the game, titled Shrek: Extra Large, was released for the GameCube on October 30, 2002, in North America and on October 24, 2003, in Europe. Shrek: Extra Large uses the same engine and game mechanics as the original Xbox release, but with an altered story and different levels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frostbite (game engine)</span> Game engine developed by DICE

Frostbite is a game engine developed by DICE, designed for cross-platform use on Microsoft Windows, seventh generation game consoles PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, eighth generation game consoles PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch and ninth generation game consoles PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, in addition to usage in the now defunct cloud streaming service Google Stadia.

<i>Battlefield 3</i> 2011 video game

Battlefield 3 is a 2011 first-person shooter video game developed by DICE and published by Electronic Arts for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Respawn Entertainment, LLC is an American video game development studio founded in 2010 by Jason West and Vince Zampella and owned by Electronic Arts since 2017. West and Zampella previously co-founded Infinity Ward and created the Call of Duty franchise, where they were responsible for its development until 2010.

<i>Battlefield 4</i> 2013 video game

Battlefield 4 is a 2013 first-person shooter video game developed by DICE and published by Electronic Arts. The game was released in October and November for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, and is the sequel to 2011's Battlefield 3, taking place six years later during the fictional "War of 2020".

Danger Close Games was an American video game developer based in Los Angeles. The company was founded in March 1995 as joint venture between DreamWorks SKG and Microsoft under the name DreamWorks Interactive, with studios in Redmond, Washington, and Los Angeles.

EA Gothenburg is a Swedish video game developer owned by Electronic Arts (EA) and located in Gothenburg. The studio used to have two other locations; one based in Guildford in the United Kingdom and another in Bucharest, Romania. From 2013 to 2020, they oversaw the development of the Need for Speed racing game franchise. Employees of Ghost include former staff members of EA DICE, Black Box, Criterion Games and Playground Games.

<i>Titanfall 2</i> 2016 first-person shooter video game

Titanfall 2 is a first-person shooter video game, developed by Respawn Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts. A sequel to 2014's Titanfall, the game was released worldwide on October 28, 2016, for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One. In Titanfall 2, the player controls a titan, mecha-style exoskeletons and their pilots, who are agile and equipped with a variety of skills ranging from wall-running to cloaking. Set in a science fiction universe, the single-player campaign follows the story of Jack Cooper, a rifleman from the Frontier Militia, who bonds with his mentor's Titan BT-7274 after his mentor, Tai Lastimosa, is killed in action. Together, they embark on a quest to stop the Interstellar Manufacturing Corporation (IMC) from using a superweapon to destroy the Militia base on the planet Harmony.

<i>Apex Legends</i> 2019 video game

Apex Legends is a 2019 battle royale-hero shooter video game developed by Respawn Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts, set in the same science fiction universe as Respawn's Titanfall series. It is offered free-to-play and is continuously updated under the games as a service model; the game was originally released for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One in February 2019 and was followed by versions for Nintendo Switch in 2021 and both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in 2022, with all supporting cross-platform multiplayer. A mobile version designed for touchscreens was briefly available until its discontinuation in 2023.

<i>Battlefield 2042</i> 2021 video game

Battlefield 2042 is a 2021 first-person shooter, developed by DICE and published by Electronic Arts. The twelfth main installment in the Battlefield series, it was released on November 19, 2021, for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. 2042 is the first installment since 2006's Battlefield 2142 to solely be a multiplayer video game, without a single-player campaign. It is also the first installment to feature support for cross-platform play.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vince Zampella</span> American video game developer

Vince Zampella is an American video game designer best known for being a co-founder and former studio head of Infinity Ward and the current head of Respawn Entertainment and Ripple Effect Studios.

References

  1. ↑ "Game Developer Index 2021" (PDF). Dataspelbranchen. November 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  2. 1 2 Gunner (9 September 2017). "Digital Illusions fyller 25 år" [Digital Illusions turns 25 years]. Hype.se. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  3. 1 2 nnirvi (2 November 2006). "Digital Illusions – taisteluni" [Digital Illusions – My Struggle]. Pelit . Archived from the original on 1 August 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  4. ↑ Crecente, Brian (14 August 2018). "EA Chief Design Officer Patrick Soderlund Leaves Company". Variety . Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  5. ↑ IGN Staff (6 April 2001). "Digital Illusions and Sandbox Studios Merge". IGN . Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  6. ↑ IGN Staff (11 April 2001). "Digital Illusions Nabs Sandbox Studios". IGN . Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  7. ↑ Carless, Simon (1 September 2004). "Digital Illusions Acquires Trauma Studios". Gamasutra . Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  8. ↑ Goldstein, Maarten (1 September 2004). "DICE Buys Trauma Studios". Shacknews . Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  9. ↑ Adams, David (1 September 2004). "Digital Illusions Embraces Trauma". IGN . Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  10. ↑ Adams, David (15 November 2004). "EA to Buy Digital Illusions". IGN . Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  11. ↑ GamesIndustry International (15 November 2004). "EA tables bid to take over Digital Illusions". Eurogamer . Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  12. ↑ Fahey, Rob (15 December 2004). "Digital Illusions shareholders reject EA buyout". GamesIndustry.biz . Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  13. ↑ Brunes, Andrew (20 December 2004). "EA Adjusts Offer For Digital Illusions". IGN . Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  14. ↑ Bloodworth, Daniel (25 January 2006). "EA Gains Controlling Interest of Digital Illusions". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  15. ↑ Fahey, Rob (26 January 2006). "Digital Illusions shareholders accept EA offer". GamesIndustry.biz . Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  16. ↑ Bramwell, Tom (17 March 2006). "EA and DICE announce new merger plan". GamesIndustry.biz . Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  17. ↑ Thorsen, Tor (2 October 2006). "EA rolls DICE for $23 million". GameSpot . Archived from the original on 8 October 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  18. ↑ Martin, Matt (2 October 2006). "EA completes DICE acquisition". GamesIndustry.biz . Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  19. ↑ Martin, Matt (5 October 2006). "EA confirms DICE Canada closure". GamesIndustry.biz . Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  20. ↑ Adams, David (5 October 2006). "Digital Illusions Canada Closes". IGN . Archived from the original on 3 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  21. ↑ GamesIndustry International (16 October 2006). "REDJADE Opens for Business". GamesIndustry.biz . Archived from the original on 4 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  22. ↑ Dyer, Mitch (16 May 2013). "DICE LA: From the Ashes of Medal of Honor". IGN . Archived from the original on 21 September 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  23. ↑ Marten, Todd (2 January 2020). "From 'Titanfall' to 'Star Wars,' the evolution of game studio Respawn mirrors our search for story". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on 2 January 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  24. ↑ Bailey, Kat (7 July 2021). "Exclusive: EA's DICE LA is Changing Its Name to Ripple Effect Studios And Developing An Unannounced Game". IGN . Archived from the original on 7 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  25. ↑ Tolbert, Samuel (2 December 2021). "Respawn head Vince Zampella now leading Battlefield franchise, announces connected universe". Windows Central . Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  26. ↑ Peters, Jay (2 December 2021). "EA puts Apex Legends boss in charge of Battlefield as part of internal shakeup". The Verge . Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  27. ↑ Wilde, Tyler (2 December 2021). "The Battlefield series is now in the hands of Respawn co-founder Vince Zampella". PC Gamer . Archived from the original on 3 December 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.