Playground Games Limitedis a Britishvideo game developerbased inLeamington Spa,England. It is known for developing theForza Horizonseries, which is part of the largerForzafranchise. In 2018, Playground Games became part ofMicrosoft Studios(now known as Xbox Game Studios).[3]They are also developing thenext gamein theFableseries.[4][5]
 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Founders |
|
| Headquarters | , England |
Number of locations | 3 (2024)[1] |
Key people |
|
| Products |
|
Number of employees | 381[2](2023) |
| Parent | Xbox Game Studios(2018–present) |
| Website | playground-games |
History
edit
Playground Games was founded by Gavin Raeburn,[6]Trevor Williams[7]and Ralph Fulton; the studio was announced in November 2009, with its opening scheduled for early 2010.[8][9]Playground Games announced their first project,Forza Horizon,in 2012.[8]The title was developed in collaboration withTurn 10 Studiosand published byMicrosoft StudiosforXbox 360in October that year. The studio releasedForza Horizon 2on Xbox 360 andXbox Onein September 2014, andForza Horizon 3on Xbox One andMicrosoft Windowsin September 2016.[10]
In February 2014, Playground Games announced that they were forming a new development team focused onmobile games.[11]In February 2017, the studio detailed plans to open a second studio, focusing on a non-racing open-world video game project.[12]In November, they announced they had leased St. Albans House in Leamington Spa, which would provide the new studio with more than 17,000 square feet of office space.[13][14]Expected headcounts for both studios were in excess of 200 people.[15]In 2024, a third studio was opened in Lemington Spa to assist with the development of Fable.[16]
AtE3 2018,Microsoftannounced they had acquired Playground Games, which became part of Microsoft Studios (now known as Xbox Game Studios).[3][17][18]At the same time, Microsoft Studios also announcedForza Horizon 4,which would be released on 2 October 2018,[19]and that the studio was working on an unannounced AAA Open-World Action RPG project, later revealed to be in theFablefranchise.[4][5]
In January 2022, it was reported that co-founder andstudio directorGavin Raeburn left Playground Games to open his own studio,[20]whileGMTrevor Williams replaced him as studio head.[21]
Games developed
edit| Year | Title | Platform(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Forza Horizon | Xbox 360 |
| 2014 | Forza Horizon 2 | Xbox 360,Xbox One |
| 2016 | Forza Horizon 3 | Windows,Xbox One |
| 2018 | Forza Horizon 4 | Windows, Xbox One,Xbox Series X/S |
| 2021 | Forza Horizon 5 | |
| 2025 | Fable | Windows, Xbox Series X/S |
References
edit- ^"New Fable Game Now Has 3 Studios Working On It".30 July 2024.
- ^"Playground Games Limited Annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023".gov.uk.Retrieved1 October2024.
- ^abField, Matthew (11 June 2018)."Microsoft buys UK game studio behind Forza Horizon".The Telegraph.ISSN0307-1235.Archivedfrom the original on 12 January 2022.Retrieved7 October2020.
- ^abGartenberg, Chaim (10 June 2018)."Microsoft announces Forza Horizon 4 for Xbox One and PC".The Verge.Archivedfrom the original on 11 June 2018.Retrieved6 July2018.
- ^ab"Playground Games Hiring For" Entirely New AAA Open World Action RPG "".4 October 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 17 August 2020.Retrieved2 January2020.
- ^"Introducing the 100 most influential people working in the British games industry - 2017".GamesIndustry.biz.3 April 2017.Archivedfrom the original on 1 October 2020.Retrieved7 October2020.
- ^"Trevor Williams quits Codemasters".GamesIndustry.biz.5 October 2009.Archivedfrom the original on 21 June 2021.Retrieved7 October2020.
- ^ab"Playground confirmed as Forza Horizon developer".GamesIndustry.biz.5 March 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 21 June 2021.Retrieved7 October2020.
- ^TWK."Fast Track".Fast Track.Archived fromthe originalon 21 June 2021.Retrieved7 October2020.
- ^E3 2016: Forza Horizon 3 Revealed, Release Date Announced - IGN,13 June 2016,archivedfrom the original on 11 August 2022,retrieved7 October2020
- ^Chapple, Craig (20 February 2014)."Playground Games forms new mobile team".MCV.
- ^Batchelor, James (7 February 2017)."Playground Games opening second studio for open world game".GamesIndustry.biz.Archivedfrom the original on 21 September 2020.Retrieved6 February2019.
- ^"Major expansion at Leamington gaming company".AC Lloyd Asset Management.9 August 2017.Archivedfrom the original on 31 August 2021.Retrieved7 October2020.
- ^Cleaver, Sean (22 November 2017)."Playground Games secure a new Leamington Spa office".MCV.
- ^Batchelor, James (23 November 2017)."Playground Games hires GTA V, Metal Gear Solid and Hellblade devs for open-world action RPG".GamesIndustry.biz.Archivedfrom the original on 23 November 2017.Retrieved6 February2019.
- ^Tolbert, Samuel (29 July 2024)."The developers of Forza Horizon and Fable at Xbox appear to be getting a third studio, but for what?".Windows Central.Archivedfrom the original on 17 August 2024.Retrieved17 August2024.
- ^Yin-Poole, Wesley (10 June 2018)."Microsoft buys Ninja Theory, Playground Games, more".Eurogamer.Archivedfrom the original on 12 June 2018.Retrieved20 June2018.
- ^Grubb, Jeff (10 June 2018)."Microsoft Game Studios just added five new studios including Ninja Theory".Archivedfrom the original on 10 June 2018.
- ^"Forza Horizon 4 Announced".TrueAchievements.Archivedfrom the original on 11 November 2021.Retrieved7 October2020.
- ^Batchelor, James (27 March 2023)."New AAA studio Lighthouse Games formed by Playground co-founder Gavin Raeburn".GamesIndustry.biz.Archivedfrom the original on 27 March 2023.Retrieved28 March2023.
- ^Corden, Jez (5 January 2022)."Playground Games' co-founder Trevor Williams is set to replace Gavin Raeburn as Studio Head".Windows Central.Archivedfrom the original on 7 January 2022.Retrieved7 January2022.