Saber Interactive
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Type | Subsidiary |
---|---|
Industry | Video games |
Founded | 2001 |
Founders |
|
Headquarters | , U.S. |
Key people |
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Number of employees | 1,543[1] (2021) |
Parent | Embracer Group (2020–present) |
Divisions |
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Subsidiaries |
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Website | saber3d |
Saber Interactive Inc. is an American video game developer founded in 2001 with headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Saber was acquired by Embracer Group in February 2020, making the studio a direct subsidiary.[2] The company's portfolio includes World War Z, NBA Playgrounds, SnowRunner, Crysis Remastered and WWE 2K Battlegrounds among others. The company employs over 1350 people.[3][4]
History[]
Saber Interactive was founded in 2001 by Andrey Iones, Matthew Karch, and Anton Krupkin.[5][6] The founders envisioned creating a studio that could develop great games at a price that the average gamer could afford. Together they created a 3D engine from scratch, gathered a team of artists from Saint Petersburg, Russia and began working on their first game, Will Rock.[7] After the release of Will Rock, Saber developed their proprietary game engine, Saber3D, which was used in their second title, TimeShift (2007).[8] The Saber3D engine has since been continuously updated and evolved for use in current games.[9][10]
In 2010, Saber was approached by Microsoft's 343 Industries to remake Halo: Combat Evolved for the game's tenth anniversary. This would be Saber's first involvement in a major franchise and COO Andrey Iones considered it "an opportunity that we couldn’t miss." To maintain the original game experience, Saber used the original engine for game play and the Saber3D engine for visuals.[11] Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary was released on November 15, 2011 to positive reviews.[12] Saber then assisted in 2014 on the development of Halo: The Master Chief Collection.[13]
On August 1, 2016, Saber Interactive opened its first internal studio outside of Russia in Madrid.[14] This was the beginning of a major international expansion, with Saber opening studios Sundsvall, Sweden, and Minsk, Belarus.
CDProjekt RED partnered with Saber in 2018 on the Nintendo Switch port of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Complete Edition.[15] The port was released on October 15, 2019 to positive reviews highlighting the performance and playability.[16][17]
On April 16, 2019, Saber launched World War Z. The game sold over one million units in its first week of release.[18]
id Software studio director Tim Willits joined Saber as chief creative officer on August 1, 2019.[19]
In October 2019, Saber Interactive acquired Bigmoon Entertainment,[20] a game development studio of forty people based in Porto, Portugal, and rebranded the studio as Saber Porto.[20][21]
Saber was acquired by Embracer Group in February 2020 in a deal worth US$525 million.[2] Under the deal, Saber became the fifth direct subsidiary under Embracer and maintains autonomy. Post-acquisition, Matthew Karch continues to serve as chief executive officer and Andrey Iones as chief operating officer.[22] After joining Embracer, Saber became a platform for future acquisitions of other studios.
In August 2020, Saber Interactive acquired 4A Games, the developers behind the Metro video game series and New World Interactive, the developers of Insurgency: Sandstorm.[23][24] In November 2020, Saber Interactive acquired 34BigThings, Mad Head Games, Nimble Giant Entertainment, Snapshot Games and Zen Studios.[25] Former President and CEO of id Software, Todd Hollenshead, joined Saber as Head of Publishing on November 18, 2020.[26]
Saber and Boss Team Games announced Evil Dead: The Game during The Game Awards 2020.[27]
In February 2021, Embracer Group announced that they acquired Aspyr and that the developer would be a subsidiary for Saber Interactive. The day one purchase price amounts to US$100 million on a cash and debt free basis, where US$60 million is paid in cash and US$40 million is paid in newly issued Embracer B shares. An additional consideration of a maximum of US$350 million may be paid under the agreement subject to certain conditions.[28]
In June 2021, new publishing label Prime Matter announced Saber Interactive was developing a new entry in the Painkiller franchise.
On June 10, 2021, Warhorse Studios announced that Saber Interactive will be developing a Kingdom Come: Deliverance port for the Nintendo Switch.[29]
In August 2021, Saber Interactive acquired 3D Realms, Slipgate Ironworks, SmartPhone Labs, Demiurge Studios, and Fractured Byte[30].[31]
In September 2021, Saber Interactive acquired Bytex[32].
In December 2021, Saber Interactive acquired DIGIC Pictures and Shiver Entertainment[33][34].
Studios[]
Name | Location | Acquisition | Ref |
---|---|---|---|
34BigThings | Turin | November 2020 | [35] |
3D Realms | Aalborg | August 2021 | [36] |
4A Games | Kyiv | August 2020 | [37] |
Sliema | |||
Aspyr Media | Austin, Texas | February 2021 | [38] |
Bytex | Saransk | September 2021 | [39] |
Demiurge Studios | Cambridge, Massachusetts | August 2021 | [40] |
DIGIC Pictures | Budapest, Hunagary | December 2021 | [33] |
Fractured Byte | Tallinn | August 2021 | [41] |
Mad Head Games | Belgrade | November 2020 | [42] |
Novi Sad | |||
New World Interactive | Calgary | August 2020 | [43] |
Denver, Colorado | |||
Montréal | November 2020 | [44] | |
Nimble Giant Entertainment | Buenos Aires | [45] | |
Saber Belarus | Minsk | February 2020 | [46] |
Saber Portugal | Porto | ||
Saber Russia | Saint Petersburg | ||
Saber Spain | Alcobendas | ||
Saber Sweden | Sundsvall | ||
Sandbox Strategies | Manhattan, New York | November 2020 | [47] |
Slipgate Ironworks | Aalborg | August 2021 | [48] |
Shiver Entertainment | Miami, USA | December 2021 | [34] |
SmartPhone Labs | Veliky Novgorod | August 2021 | [49] |
Snapshot Games | Los Angeles, California | November 2020 | [50] |
Sofia | |||
Zen Studios | Budapest | [51] |
Games Developed[]
Games Published[]
Year | Title | Developer | Platform(s) |
---|---|---|---|
2022 | A Quiet Place | Illogika Epitome Studios |
TBA |
Redout 2 | 34BigThings | Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | |
Circus Electrique | Zen Studios | ||
Dakar: Desert Rally | Saber Porto | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S |
Notes[]
- ^ Developed by Saber Saint Petersburg.
- ^ Supported 343 Industries.
- ^ Assisted My.com.
- ^ Developed by Saber Spain and Saber Saint Petersburg.
- ^ Assisted Id Software.
- ^ Assisted Redemption Ark.
- ^ Developed by Big Deez Productions.
- ^ Assisted Tripwire Interactive.
- ^ Developed by Saber Saint Petersburg.
- ^ Developed by Saber Porto.
- ^ Assisted 343 Industries.
- ^ Assisted 343 Industries.
- ^ Assisted 343 Industries.
- ^ Assisted 343 Industries.
- ^ Assisted 343 Industries.
- ^ Developed by Saber Madrid.
- ^ Developed by Saber Porto.
- ^ Developed by Saber Porto.
- ^ Developed by Saber Porto.
- ^ Saber Minsk Assisted Snapshot Games.
References[]
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- ^ a b "Saber Interactive | Saber and Embracer join forces". Retrieved September 2, 2020.
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- ^ Palumbo, Alessio (May 25, 2020). "Saber Interactive Interview - World War Z's Success (Over 10M Registered Players) and Beyond". Wccftech. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
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- ^ The Horse You Rode In On (A Halo: The Master Chief Collection Story) – IGN First - IGN, retrieved December 2, 2020
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- ^ a b Valentine, Rebekah (October 18, 2019). "Saber Interactive acquires Bigmoon Entertainment". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on October 20, 2019. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
- ^ "Saber Interactive buys Bigmoon Entertainment, announces two new projects". VentureBeat. October 18, 2019. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
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- ^ "Saber Interactive | EMBRACER GROUP ACQUIRES 4A GAMES". Retrieved September 2, 2020.
- ^ "Saber Interactive | EMBRACER GROUP ACQUIRES NEW WORLD INTERACTIVE". Retrieved September 2, 2020.
- ^ "Embracer Group acquires 34BigThings, Flying Wild Hog, Nimble Giant Entertainment, Purple Lamp Studios, Snapshot Games, Zen Studios, more". Gematsu. November 18, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
- ^ "Former id Software president Todd Hollenshead takes over publishing at Saber". VentureBeat. November 18, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
- ^ "Evil Dead: The Game Announced At The Game Awards 2020". GameSpot. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
- ^ Takahashi, Dean (February 2, 2021). "Embracer Group acquires Aspyr Media for up to $450 million". Venture Beat. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
- ^ "Yes, Kingdom Come: Deliverance is actually coming to Nintendo Switch". TheSixthAxis. June 11, 2021.
- ^ "Saber Interactive | Saber Interactive Welcomes Three Specialized Video Game Studios". Retrieved December 23, 2021.
- ^ "Embracer Group acquires 3D Realms, CrazyLabs, Digixart, Easy Trigger, Force Field, Ghost Ship Games, Grimfrost, and Slipgate Ironworks". Gematsu. August 4, 2021.
- ^ "Saber Interactive | Saber Interactive Reaches Agreement to acquire Bytex". Retrieved December 23, 2021.
- ^ a b "Saber Interactive | Embracer Group Enters Into Agreement To Acquire Digic". Retrieved December 23, 2021.
- ^ a b "Saber Interactive | Embracer Group Acquires Shiver Entertainment". Retrieved December 23, 2021.
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- ^ "Embracer Group acquires 3D Realms". Embracer. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
- ^ "Embracer Group acquires 4A Games". Embracer. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
- ^ "Embracer Group acquires Aspyr Media". Embracer. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
- ^ "Embracer Group enters into an agreement to acquire Bytex". Embracer. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
- ^ "Embracer Group enters into agreement to acquire Demiurge Studios". Embracer. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
- ^ "Embracer Group enters into agreement to acquire OÜ Fractured Byte". Embracer. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
- ^ "Embracer Group acquires Mad Head Games". Embracer. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
- ^ "Embracer Group acquires New World Interactive". Embracer. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
- ^ "Insurgency developer New World Interactive opens new studio in Montréal". Montréal International. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
- ^ "Embracer Group acquires Nimble Giant Entertainment". Embracer. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
- ^ "Embracer Group acquires Saber Interactive – initial consideration USD 150 million". Embracer. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
- ^ "Embracer Group acquires Sandbox Strategies LLC". Embracer. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
- ^ "Embracer Group acquires Slipgate Ironworks". Embracer. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
- ^ "Embracer Group acquires SmartPhone Labs". Embracer. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
- ^ "Embracer Group acquires Snapshot Games". Embracer. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
- ^ "Embracer Group acquires Zen Studios". Embracer. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
- ^ Bramwell, Tom (October 24, 2002). "Saber Will Rock FPS". Eurogamer. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
- ^ TimeShift Announced - IGN, retrieved April 30, 2020
- ^ "Battle: Los Angeles game being made by Saber Interactive, ratings board suggests". Engadget. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
- ^ Halo: Anniversary isn't a George Lucas-style Remake - IGN, retrieved April 30, 2020
- ^ Reeves, Ben. "Saber Interactive Bends Gravity With Inversion". Game Informer. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
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External links[]
- ^ "Space Marine 2 - Focus Entertainment". www.focus-entmt.com. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
- Saber Interactive
- American companies established in 2001
- Video game companies established in 2001
- Video game companies of the United States
- Video game development companies
- 2020 mergers and acquisitions
- Companies based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- 2001 establishments in New Jersey
- American subsidiaries of foreign companies