Cryptic Studios
DECA Games (2023–present) | |
Website | crypticstudios.com |
---|
Cryptic Studios is an American
History
Established in June 2000, Michael Lewis and Rick Dakan conceived the idea for Cryptic Studios. "Rick and I wanted to do an online role-playing game," Lewis told the Los Gatos Weekly Times in January 2007. "We'd been role-playing gamers growing up, and thought that online would be a great way to continue that experience, while overcoming the distances involved. We decided that there were too many fantasy games in development—this was
At a New Year's party in 1999, Lewis and Dakan met Bruce Rogers, Matt Harvey and Cameron Petty, veterans of Atari Games, who had begun trying to found a computer game company but lacked funding. In 2000, Lewis sold his company, Stellar Semiconductor, Inc., to Broadcom Corporation. With Lewis' funding and Rogers' expertise, the group formed Cryptic Studios. Role-playing game writer Jack Emmert joined the team to work on game design. In March 2007, Cryptic Studios moved to a larger corporate headquarters in Los Gatos, California. Plans for the new headquarters include adding a state-of-the-art sound studio to be built by the Walters-Storyk Design Group.[6] At that time the company also adopted a new corporate logo.
On December 9, 2008,
In December 2021, Swedish holding company Embracer Group announced that it would acquire the North American and publishing arms of Perfect World Entertainment from Perfect World Europe through its Gearbox Software subsidiary.[13] Following the acquisition, Perfect World Entertainment was dissolved into Gearbox Publishing. Cryptic will continue operations as a subsidiary of The Gearbox Entertainment Company.[14] Cryptic Studios now has over 100 employees.[15]
In November 2023, restructuring efforts at Embracer Group led to layoffs at Cryptic Studios and Embracer announced that the studio will now be operating under DECA Games going forward.[16] In March 2024, it was announced that DECA Games would be taking over direct development of Cryptic's current titles, with Cryptic transitioning into a support role.[17] In March 2024, Embracer sold Gearbox to an external investor but announced it would retain several related studios, including Cryptic Studios.[18]
Products
City of Heroes/Villains
In early 2002, Cryptic signed a
Champions Online
On September 27, 2006,
Star Trek Online
On July 27, 2008, Cryptic announced that they had acquired the license to continue development of a Star Trek based MMORPG previously developed by Perpetual Entertainment. Earlier, on March 13, 2008, Star Trek news site TrekMovie.com reported Cryptic Studios as the developer for Star Trek Online based on unnamed sources, confirming a several-weeks-old rumor.[22] Star Trek Online was officially launched on February 2, 2010. The game resembles an action-oriented MMORPG, with combat and features divided between Space environments and Ground environments during play.
Neverwinter
In late August 2010, Atari and Cryptic announced the development of Neverwinter, a Dungeons & Dragons MMORPG. Neverwinter was released on PC in 2013,[23][24] Xbox One in 2015, and PlayStation 4 in 2016.
Magic: Legends
On June 7, 2017, Cryptic announced their new project, an MMORPG based on Magic: The Gathering.[25][26] It was later revealed under the name Magic: Legends.
It was announced on June 29, 2021, that the game would shut down on October 31, 2021, before the end of its open beta.
Other projects
On May 9, 2007, Cryptic Studios released the Cryptic Animation Rig (Cryptic AR), a free download that gives animators the same tools used by Cryptic to animate characters in its games. Cryptic Studios' website contains several images of concept art from one or more additional games currently in development.[27]
References
- ^ "Embracer Group enters into agreement to acquire Perfect World Entertainment".
- ^ Perfect World acquires Cryptic Studios
- ^ "Embracer Group enters into agreement to acquire Perfect World Entertainment".
- ^ "Embracer makes layoffs at Neverwinter developer Cryptic Studios". www.gamedeveloper.com. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
- ^ "Los Gatos Weekly-Times - Cover Story | 0705 | Wednesday, January 31, 2007". Archived from the original on October 28, 2008. Retrieved February 17, 2007.
- ^ Game Invasion: News[permanent dead link]
- ^ Brightman, James (2008-12-09). "Atari to Acquire Cryptic Studios". GameDaily. Retrieved 2008-12-09.
- ^ Bill Roper Departs Cryptic Studios
- ^ Jack Emmert Appointed CEO of Cryptic Studios Archived 2013-05-09 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Atari To Divest Champions Online Developer Cryptic Studios
- ^ "Perfect World and Atari Announce Agreement for the Acquisition of Cryptic Studios". Archived from the original on 2011-06-03. Retrieved 2011-05-31.
- ^ Cryptic Studios User Database Compromised Archived 2012-04-27 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Embracer Group Enters Into Agreement To Acquire Perfect World Entertainment" (Press release). Embracer Group. December 21, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
- ^ "Perfect World Entertainment rebrands to Gearbox Publishing".
- ^ "Cryptic Studios". www.glassdoor.com. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ Kerr, Chris (2023-11-03). "Embracer makes layoffs at Neverwinter developer Cryptic Studios". Game Developer. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
- ^ Christina, Gonzalez (March 20, 2024). "Cryptic Studios to Move Development of Its Games to DECA, All Current Titles to Get Content for 'Years to Come'". MMORPG.com. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
- ^ Valentine, Rebekah (2024-03-28). "Take-Two Buys Gearbox From Embracer, Confirms Development on New Borderlands Game". IGN. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
- ^ "Ordinary Hero - Forbes.com". Forbes. April 10, 2004. Archived from the original on October 10, 2004.
- ^ Marvel Universe Online Announced
- ^ Shane Kim on MUO cancellation
- ^ Cryptic Confirmed As New Developer for Star Trek Online
- ^ IGN
- ^ Gamasutra - News - Turbine Sues Atari For At Least $30 Million Over Dungeons & Dragons MMO
- ^ "Perfect World Entertainment and Cryptic Studios Announce Magic: The Gathering RPG". Business Wire. Business Wire. June 7, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ "Cryptic Studios is developing a new free-to-play, action MMORPG based on Magic: The Gathering, the acclaimed strategic card game". Cryptic Studios. Cryptic Studios. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
- ^ Cryptic Studios - Home