Black Forest Games
 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Predecessor | Spellbound Entertainment |
| Founded | 13 July 2012 |
| Founder | Andreas Speer |
| Headquarters | , Germany |
Key people | Andreas Speer (CEO) |
| Products | Giana Sistersseries |
Number of employees | 55[1](2024) |
| Parent | THQ Nordic(2017–present) |
| Website | black-forest-games |
Black Forest Games GmbHis a Germanvideo game developerbased inOffenburg.The company was founded in July 2012 by a team of 40 staff members, includingchief executive officerAndreas Speer, previously employed bySpellbound Entertainment,which filed forinsolvencyearlier that year. As of August 2017, it is a subsidiary ofTHQ Nordic.[2]As of January 2024, the company employs 55 people.[3]
History[edit]
Following the release ofArcania: Fall of Setarrif,the game's developer,Spellbound Entertainment,filed forinsolvencyin March 2012.[4]Upon completion, on 13 July 2012, it was announced that Black Forest Games was founded inOffenburgas a successor to Spellbound, employing 40 of the Spellbound's former 65 staff.[4][5]Under these 40 was most of the former management, includingchief executive officerAndreas Speer.[5][6]
In July 2012, Black Forest Games started aKickstartercampaign for a new installment ofThe Great Giana Sisterstentatively titledProject Giana,stating "Project Gianais the grandchild ofThe Great Giana Sisters".The game features music fromThe Great Giana Sisters'original composerChris Huelsbeckand the Swedish "SID metal" bandMachinae Supremacy.[7]Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreamswas released on October 23, 2012 for PC with later releases onXbox Live Arcade,PlayStation Network,andNintendo eShop.[8]
Rogue Stormerswas revealed at theGame Developers Conference2010, in San Francisco under the project nameRavensDale,although it has been in development since 2007. After an unsuccessful attempt onKickstarterin 2013 the game was put on hold. In a second attempt in early 2014 the game, then known asDieselStormers,was successfully funded on Kickstarter and went toSteamearly access in July 2014.[9][10][11]
Due to a trademark registration ofDieselStormersbyDiesel S.p.A.'s successful trademark lawsuit, Black Forest Games decided to change the name fromDieselStormerstoRogue Stormers.[12]Fade to Silencewas announced atThe Game Awards 2017.It is asurvival gameset in a snow-covered forest, requiring the player to collect resources, build a refuge, and recruit others as followers to survive. The game enteredearly accessonSteamon 14 December 2017, and had its full release on 30 April 2019 forMicrosoft Windows,PlayStation 4,andXbox One.The game was published byTHQ Nordic.[13]
On 7 June 2019, THQ Nordic announced a remake of the 2005 science fiction gameDestroy All Humans!is in development at Black Forest Studios, set for a release in 2020 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The remake will feature content that was cut from the original release developed by Pandemic Studios.[14]The game was officially announced in June 2019. An extended gameplay demo was launched atE3 2019.[15]In August 2019, Google announced that the game will also be available forStadia.[16]
In August 2023, it was announced that Black Forest Studios would develop a game based onTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin,with the game set to release onPlayStation 5,Xbox Series X/S,andMicrosoft Windows.[17]
In January 2024, it was announced that the studio had laid off roughly 50% of its team, with the creative directors and most of the executives keeping their jobs.[18][19][20]
Games developed[edit]
References[edit]
- ^Fröhlich, Petra (16 January 2023)."Die größten Games-Studios in Deutschland 2023 (Update)"[The largest game studios in Germany in 2023 (update)].GamesWirtschaft(in German).Archivedfrom the original on 21 January 2023.Retrieved21 January2023.
- ^McAloon, Alissa (21 August 2017)."THQ Nordic picks upGiana Sisters: Twisted Dreamsdev Black Forest Games ".Gamasutra.
- ^"Destroy All Humans dev Black Forest Games reportedly cuts 50% of staff".www.gamedeveloper.com.Retrieved13 March2024.
- ^abSteinlechner, Peter (13 July 2012)."Nach Insolvenz: Spellbound wird zu Black Forest Games"[After insolvency: Spellbound becomes Black Forest Games].Golem.de(in German).
- ^abGera, Emily (13 July 2012)."'Gothic 4' developer emerges from insolvency as Black Forest Games ".Polygon.
- ^Holmes, Mike (13 July 2012)."Black Forest Games launch".Gamereactor.
- ^"Giana Sisters: Twisted DreamsGiana Sisters: Twisted Dreams - a platformer with a twist!".Archived fromthe originalon 3 March 2016.Retrieved10 June2019.
- ^"Project Giana by Black Forest Games".
- ^"Dag Frommhold, Managing Partner, Trinigy - GDC 2010, San Francisco, CAIDIA GPU Computing Theater".Archived fromthe originalon 20 November 2012.Retrieved10 January2013.
- ^"DieselStörmers".Kickstarter.
- ^"Save 75% on Rogue Stormers on Steam".store.steampowered.com.
- ^"Blog – Black Forest Games".Archived fromthe originalon 18 April 2016.Retrieved29 October2015.
- ^Roemer, Dan (7 December 2017)."New Early Access survival game Fade to Silence leaked ahead of The Game Awards".Destructoid.Retrieved7 December2017.
- ^Yin-Poole, Wesley (7 June 2019)."The trailer for the Destroy All Humans! remake is certainly something".Eurogamer.Retrieved8 June2019.
- ^"Destroy All Humans Remake - 15 Minutes Of Cinematics And Extended Gameplay Demo | E3 2019".GameSpot.13 June 2019.
- ^Romano, Sal (19 August 2019)."Destroy All Humans! remake adds Stadia version".Gematsu.Retrieved19 August2019.
- ^Lyles, Taylor (11 August 2023)."Destroy All Humans! Studio Announced As TMNT: The Last Ronin Developer".IGN.Retrieved11 August2023.
- ^"24 Days Into 2024 And 3,900+ Video Game Layoffs Have Been Announced".Kotaku.10 January 2024.Retrieved25 January2024.
- ^Carter, Justin (25 January 2024)."Destroy All Humans dev Black Forest Games reportedly cuts 50% of staff".www.gamedeveloper.com.Retrieved5 March2024.
- ^"Destroy All Humans Remake Developer Black Forest Games Reportedly Lays Off 50 Employees".Game Informer.Retrieved1 April2024.
External links[edit]
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