Certain Affinity

Certain Affinity's creation was announced in December 2006. The studio was founded by ex-Bungie employee Max Hoberman. In addition to staff from Bungie, it also includes ex-members of companies such as Microsoft, Red Storm, Origin, Electronic Arts, Digital Anvil, NCSoft, and the now-defunct Midway Austin and Ion Storm Austin.{{cite web|url=http://www.certainaffinity.com/about.htm|title=Certain Affinity about page|access-date=April 4, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120420031714/http://www.certainaffinity.com/about.htm|archive-date=April 20, 2012|url-status=dead}}

The studio's first work was in creating two additional multiplayer levels for the popular Xbox game Halo 2. These maps, called "Tombstone" and "Desolation" (which comprised the "Blastacular Map Pack") were the last Halo 2 maps to be released; they are remakes of levels from the original Halo, called "Hang 'Em High" and "Derelict" respectively.{{cite web|url=http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=certainaffinitymaps|title=Certain affinity Maps revealed|access-date=April 4, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522103801/http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=certainaffinitymaps|archive-date=May 22, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} They were released for Halo 2 on the Xbox Live on April 17, 2007. These maps were not released for Halo 2 Vista, but were replaced with two new maps exclusive to Halo 2 Vista: "District" and "Uplift". Certain Affinity worked closely with members of Bungie and Microsoft Game Studios during the development of these two maps.{{citation needed|date=November 2014}}

Certain Affinity started working on another project in November 2006, which was revealed to be an unannounced original IP game in the action role-playing game genre.{{cite web|url=http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=certainaffinityinterview|title=Mapmakers to the Stars|access-date=April 4, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070406202649/http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&link=certainaffinityinterview|archive-date=April 6, 2007|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

Certain Affinity's first original game was Age of Booty, a downloadable real-time strategy game released on Steam, Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network. The title was published by Capcom on October 15, 2008.{{cite web|title=Certain Affinity Making Pimps at Sea, Sorta|work=Shacknews|first=Chris|last=Faylor|date=March 4, 2008|url=http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/51613|accessdate=March 5, 2008}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.certainaffinity.com/news.htm |title=Age of Booty Release Date |access-date=February 11, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207015139/http://www.certainaffinity.com/news.htm |archive-date=February 7, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

The company helped Valve port Left 4 Dead to the Xbox 360.{{Cite web |url=http://www.certainaffinity.com/2008/02/04/cat-outta-the-bag/ |title=Cat Outta The Bag |access-date=February 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708132808/http://www.certainaffinity.com/2008/02/04/cat-outta-the-bag/ |archive-date=July 8, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}

In 2009, the company announced the completion of Halo Waypoint, developed in conjunction with 343 Industries.{{cite web|last1=Yin-Poole|first1=Wesley|title=Meet Certain Affinity, the Halo 4 Developer You've Never Heard Of|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-11-09-meet-certain-affinity-the-halo-4-developer-youve-never-heard-of|website=Eurogamer|accessdate=November 30, 2014|date=September 11, 2012}}

The company worked on the "Defiant Map Pack" for Halo: Reach, released on March 15, 2011.{{Cite web |url=http://www.certainaffinity.com/2011/02/14/halo-reach-defiant-map-pack-announced/ |title=Halo: Reach Defiant Map Pack Announced! |access-date=February 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708132825/http://www.certainaffinity.com/2011/02/14/halo-reach-defiant-map-pack-announced/ |archive-date=July 8, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}

The company announced its new game, due to release in summer 2011, called Crimson Alliance, at RTX 2011.{{Cite web |url=http://www.certainaffinity.com/2011/05/27/crimson-alliance-announced/ |title=Crimson Alliance Announced |access-date=May 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920223153/http://www.certainaffinity.com/2011/05/27/crimson-alliance-announced/ |archive-date=September 20, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.crimsonalliance.com/ |title=Current website for Crimson Alliance |access-date=May 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525014306/http://crimsonalliance.com/ |archive-date=May 25, 2011 |url-status=dead }}

Certain Affinity also partnered with 343 Industries again for the development of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, which was released exclusively for Xbox 360 on November 15, 2011.

At RTX 2012, Certain Affinity announced that the studio was working with 343 Industries again on developing the Forge map-making tools for Halo 4.{{cite web|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2012/07/08/halo-4-39-s-forge-mode-being-developed-by-certain-affinity.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120711023202/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2012/07/08/halo-4-39-s-forge-mode-being-developed-by-certain-affinity.aspx|url-status=live|archive-date=July 11, 2012|title=Halo 4's Forge Mode Developed By Certain Affinity|publisher=Game Informer|first=Kyle|last=Hilliard|date=July 8, 2012|access-date=July 8, 2012}}

At RTX 2014, Certain Affinity showed off their involvement in Halo: The Master Chief Collection with the reveal of one of the six remade Halo 2 maps, Coagulation, along with a new vehicle, the Gungoose.{{cite web|author=Xbox Wire Staff|title=343 Shows Off Returning Favorites and New Additions for Halo: The Master Chief Collection|url=http://news.xbox.com/2014/07/games-rtx-halo-recap|website=news.xbox.com|publisher=Xbox|accessdate=August 4, 2015}}

In 2017, Leyou Tech invested $10 million in Certain Affinity to develop an original game.{{Cite news|url=http://www.siliconhillsnews.com/2017/10/17/austin-game-maker-certain-affinity-lands-10-million-investment-hong-kong-firm/|title=Austin Game Maker Certain Affinity Lands $10 Million Investment from Hong Kong Firm - SiliconHills|date=2017-10-17|work=SiliconHills|access-date=2018-07-24|language=en-US}}

In March 2024, it was announced that Certain Affinity would be laying off 25 employees, or 10% of the company's workforce.{{Cite news |last=Chalk |first=Andy |date=2024-04-01 |title=Halo Infinite support studio Certain Affinity lays off employees for the first time in 17 years, blames industry slowdown and 'reluctance of third party investors to fund games or game companies' |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/halo-infinite-support-studio-certain-affinity-lays-off-employees-for-the-first-time-in-17-years-blames-industry-slowdown-and-reluctance-of-third-party-investors-to-fund-games-or-game-companies/ |access-date=2024-04-02 |work=PC Gamer |language=en}}

On October 18, 2024, Certain Affinity was acquired by Keywords Studios. The acquisition include a team of 180 employees based in the U.S. and Canada. Certain Affinity will continue to operate under its current leadership, including CEO Max Hoberman and President and COO Paul Sams.{{Cite web |last=Valentine |first=Rebekah |date=2024-10-18 |title=Halo, Hogwarts Legacy Co-developer Certain Affinity Becomes the Latest Keywords Studios Acquisition |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/halo-hogwarts-legacy-co-developer-certain-affinity-becomes-the-latest-keywords-studios-acquisition |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=IGN |language=en}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.certainaffinity.com/}}

{{Keywords Studios}}

Category:Companies based in Austin, Texas

Category:Video game companies established in 2006

Category:Video game companies based in Texas

Category:Video game development companies

Category:2006 establishments in Texas

Category:2024 mergers and acquisitions

Category:Keywords Studios