Digital Extremes

Founder James Schmalz created Epic Pinball, published by then shareware publisher, Epic MegaGames. Bolstered from the success of Epic Pinball{{cite web|author=RGB Classic Games |url=http://www.classicdosgames.com/game/Epic_Pinball.html |title=Epic Pinball |publisher=RGB Classic Games}} and the rising technology movement in the mid-'90s toward realistic 3D graphics, Schmalz founded Digital Extremes in 1993 and the company began co-development with Epic on what would become Epic's Unreal franchise.{{cite web|author=David Jenkins |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/digital-extremes-weighs-in-on-unreal-engine-3-for-ps3 |title=Digital Extremes Weighs In On Unreal Engine 3 for PS3 |publisher=Gamasutra.com |date=August 20, 2007 |access-date=February 8, 2012}}

Unreal is a first-person shooter, released in 1998, and was followed up with Unreal Tournament in 1999, which received numerous industry awards.{{cite news | title = GT Interactive and Epic Games Earn Coveted 'Game of the Year' Honors for 'Unreal Tournament' | pages = 1261 | publisher = Business Wire | date = February 17, 2000}} Subsequent sequels in the Unreal franchise include Unreal Championship, Unreal Tournament 2003, and Unreal Tournament 2004. The Unreal series has sold more than 15 million units worldwide across a multitude of game platforms including PlayStation 2, Dreamcast, Xbox, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Mac and PC.

According to Scott Miller, the cofounder of the video game company 3D Realms, Digital Extremes was willing to take over development of their much-delayed game Duke Nukem Forever in 2004, but the proposal was rejected by others at 3D Realms, which Miller described as a "fatal suicide shot" for the project.{{Cite news |author1=Tyler Wilde |date=2022-05-11 |title=Former 3D Realms owners clash over Duke Nukem Forever blame |language=en |work=PC Gamer |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/former-3d-realms-owners-blame-each-other-for-losing-duke-nukem-forever/ |access-date=2022-05-12}}

After years of working in the same universe with Unreal, Digital Extremes broadened its library and technology with development of its original intellectual property, Dark Sector. A third-person shooter released in 2008 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC, Dark Sector used Digital Extremes' proprietary game engine, the Evolution Engine.

Digital Extremes worked with 2K to develop the comic-book franchise video game sequel, The Darkness II, which met with positive reviews.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/the-darkness-2-review/|title=PC Gamer review|website=PC Gamer |date=February 7, 2012}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.giantbomb.com/reviews/the-darkness-ii-review/1900-461/|title=Giant Bomb review|date=February 7, 2012 }}{{Cite web|url=http://www.egmnow.com/articles/reviews/egm-review-the-darkness-ii/|title=EGM Review|access-date=October 8, 2018|archive-date=July 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703040126/http://www.egmnow.com/articles/reviews/egm-review-the-darkness-ii/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.quartertothree.com/fp/2012/02/28/in-the-grip-of-the-darkness-ii/|title=Quarter to Three Review|date=February 28, 2012}} Digital Extremes developed the PlayStation 3 version of BioShock,{{cite web|author=Mike Bendel |url=http://exophase.com/6192/digital-extremes-to-assist-in-bioshock-ps3-development/ |title=Digital Extremes To Assist In BioShock PS3 Development|publisher=exophase.com |date=June 8, 2008 |access-date=February 8, 2012}} as well as developed the multiplayer component of the sequel, BioShock 2, while simultaneously developing the multiplayer portion of THQ's first-person shooter Homefront.{{cite web|author=Jaz McDougall |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/homefront-pc-port-has-dedicated-servers/ |title=Homefront PC port has dedicated servers|publisher=pcgamer.com |date=August 18, 2010 |access-date=February 8, 2012}}

Digital Extremes developed the game for the 2013 Star Trek Into Darkness film, working with Bandai Namco and Paramount to develop Star Trek, which was poorly received.{{cite web|url= https://www.polygon.com/2013/9/13/4726170/star-trek-director-j-j-abrams-emotionally-hurt-by-star-trek-the-video|title = Star Trek director J.J. Abrams 'emotionally hurt' by Star Trek: The Video Game|website = Polygon|date = September 13, 2013}}

In October 2014, Sumpo Food Holdings Ltd. acquired a majority share of Digital Extremes, with Perfect World Co. acquiring minority shares.{{cite web|author=Digital Extremes |url=https://warframe.com/news/partnership-announced |title=In-Depth: Partnership Announced|date=October 14, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/unreal-bioshock-dev-digital-extremes-sold-to-chine/1100-6422976/|title=Unreal, BioShock Dev Digital Extremes Sold to Chinese Companies|work=GameSpot|publisher=CBS Interactive|date=October 15, 2014|access-date=October 18, 2014|first=Eddie|last=Makuch}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/10/16/two-chinese-companies-acquire-majority-of-warframe-dev-digital-extremes.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017082655/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/10/16/two-chinese-companies-acquire-majority-of-warframe-dev-digital-extremes.aspx|url-status=live|archive-date=October 17, 2014|title=Digital Extremes: No Changes To Leadership Following Majority Acquisition By Chinese Firms|magazine=Game Informer|publisher=GameStop|date=October 16, 2014|access-date=October 18, 2014|first=Mike|last=Futter}} Sumpo was rebranded as Leyou in 2015, and by June 2016, had purchased the remaining shares in Digital Extremes.{{Cite news|url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/09/02/gamesbeat-boss-interview-chinas-leyou-moves-from-chicken-meat-to-triple-a-game-publishing/|title=GamesBeat Boss interview: China's Leyou moves from chicken meat to triple-A game publishing|date=2017-09-02|work=VentureBeat|access-date=2018-07-23|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.lexpert.ca/article/leyou-technologies-acquires-39-of-digital-extremes-for-us65-million/?p=14%7C119|title=Lexpert ® {{!}} Leyou Technologies acquires 39% of Digital Extremes for US$65 million|access-date=2018-07-23|language=en}}

In 2016, it was revealed that Digital Extremes' game Warframe had been hacked, exposing the email addresses of more than 700,000 players.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2016-07-23-digital-extremes-admits-warframe-hack|title=Digital Extremes admits Warframe hack|date=July 22, 2016}}

Digital Extremes opened a development studio in Toronto, Canada, and began operations in January 2018.

In December 2020, Leyou was acquired by Tencent, which included Digital Extremes. The developer stated that this would not change how they operate as they remained independent of Tencent, though through Tencent they would be able to provide better support for the Chinese version of the Warframe client.{{cite web | url = https://www.pcgamer.com/tencent-acquires-warframe-developer-digital-extremes-and-several-other-studios/ | title = Tencent acquires Warframe developer Digital Extremes and several other studios | first = Rich | last = Stanton | date = December 23, 2020 | access-date = December 23, 2020 | work = PC Gamer}}

In October 2023, James Schmalz stepped down as CEO, with former Warframe director Steve Sinclair promoted to CEO. Community manager Rebecca Ford became the game's new director.{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=Jeffrey Rousseau Staff |date=2023-10-24 |title=James Schmalz steps down as CEO of Digital Extremes |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/james-schmalz-steps-down-as-ceo-of-digital-extremes |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}} In the following month, Digital Extremes reportedly laid off about 30 employees, mostly from their external projects division. While the layoffs were confirmed, the company would not state how many people were affected. They also terminated their partnership with Airship Syndicate, returning Wayfinder to their control.{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=Sophie McEvoy Staff |date=2023-11-10 |title=Digital Extremes impacted by layoffs, closing publishing division |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/digital-extremes-impacted-by-layoffs-closing-publishing-division |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}}

Digital Extremes started development of Warframe, a free-to-play title, in 2000. Digital Extremes launched Warframe on PC in March 2013, PlayStation 4 in November, and on Xbox One in September 2014. The company released Warframe on Nintendo Switch in November 2018. Digital Extremes continues to refresh this games-as-a-service title on a regular basis with updates including "Plains of Eidolon" (October 2017), "The Sacrifice" (June 2018), "Fortuna" (November 2018), the Nightwave series (February 2019), "The Jovian Concord" (May 2019), "Empyrean" (Christmas 2019), "Heart of Deimos" (August 2020), "The New War" (December 2021), "Angels of the Zariman" (April 2022), "The Duviri Paradox" (April 2023), and "Warframe 1999" (December 2024).

Digital Extremes worked with developer n-Space to develop the fantasy role-playing video game, Sword Coast Legends, set within the Dungeons & Dragons franchise.{{cite web |url=https://ca.ign.com/articles/2015/02/12/new-dungeons-and-dragons-game-sword-coast-legends-coming-in-2015 |title=New Dungeons & Dragons Game Sword Coast Legends coming in 2015 |author=Jared Petty |work=IGN |date=February 13, 2015 |access-date=February 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402142531/https://ca.ign.com/articles/2015/02/12/new-dungeons-and-dragons-game-sword-coast-legends-coming-in-2015 |archive-date=2 April 2020 |url-status=dead}}

Digital Extremes worked with Madison, Wisconsin-based developer Human Head Studios to publish Survived By, a free-to-play bullet-hell MMO with crafting and role-playing elements. Survived By was shut down as of April 2019.{{cite web |url=https://www.survivedby.com/news/a-message-to-our-players |title=Survived By: A MESSAGE TO OUR PLAYERS |date=March 19, 2019 |access-date=May 9, 2019 |archive-date=May 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190519104748/https://www.survivedby.com/news/a-message-to-our-players |url-status=dead}}

During TennoCon 2022, Digital Extremes announced Soulframe, an upcoming fantasy MMORPG. It also said that it would be publishing a massively multiplayer online game from Airship Syndicate, Wayfinder,{{cite web|url=https://www.vg247.com/soulframe-digital-extremes-publishing-airship-syndicate|title=Digital Extremes announces Soulframe and indie publishing during TennoCon 2022|first=Connor|last=Maker|work=VG 247|date=July 16, 2022|accessdate=July 17, 2022}} but after Wayfinder{{'s}} release in August 2023, Digital Extremes cut their external games division, leaving Wayfinder under Airship Syndicate's control.{{cite web |last=Carpenter |first=Nicole |date=November 9, 2023 |title=Wayfinder, Warframe publisher Digital Extremes cuts workers, divests from Wayfinder |url=https://www.polygon.com/23954222/warframe-publisher-digital-extremes-layoffs |accessdate=November 9, 2023 |work=Polygon}}

Image:Evolution Engine Logo.jpg

Evolution is Digital Extremes' proprietary game engine.{{cite web|author=Mark DeLoura |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/in-depth-the-state-of-game-engines-at-gdc-2010 |title=In-Depth: The State Of Game Engines At GDC 2010|publisher=gamasutra.com |date=March 9, 2010 |access-date=February 8, 2012}} The engine made its debut with Dark Sector and was again utilized in The Darkness II.{{cite web|last=Kranzl|first=Justin|title=Preview: The Darkness II|date=May 5, 2011|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/games/4967002/Preview-The-Darkness-II|publisher=Stuff.co.nz|access-date=September 6, 2011}} 2013's Star Trek featured use of the Evolution engine. It is currently utilised in Warframe and the upcoming Soulframe.

Since the launch of Warframe, its expansion and popularity has grown, resulting in multiple awards. In late 2017, Warframe won the Steam Labor of Love award,{{Cite web|url=https://store.steampowered.com/SteamAwards/2017/|title=The Steam Awards|website=store.steampowered.com|language=en|access-date=2018-10-08}} an award nominated by Steam's internal team, but voted on by players. Warframe was nominated in The 2017 and 2018 Game Awards as one of the Best Ongoing Games, losing to Overwatch and Fortnite, respectively.{{Cite news|url=http://thegameawards.com/awards/#best-ongoing-game|title=Awards - The Game Awards|work=The Game Awards|access-date=2018-10-08|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226060713/http://thegameawards.com/awards/#best-ongoing-game|archive-date=February 26, 2018|url-status=dead}}

In early 2018, Warframe won the People's Voice Webby Award for Best Action Game,{{Cite news|title=Warframe {{!}} The Webby Awards|language=en-US|url=https://www.webbyawards.com/winners/2018/games/general/action/warframe/|access-date=2018-10-08}} and ProMax's Best Marketing Campaign of the Year Award.{{Cite web|title=Best Marketing Campaign of the Year|url=http://promaxpd.edgesuite.net/mm/flvmedia/1786/o/q/7/oq73h126_cui60y3w_h264_1676K.mp4?cid=1786&aid=3524314&afid=7451861&assetid=3524314|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009014111/http://promaxpd.edgesuite.net/mm/flvmedia/1786/o/q/7/oq73h126_cui60y3w_h264_1676K.mp4?cid=1786&aid=3524314&afid=7451861&assetid=3524314|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 9, 2018}} In March 2018, Noclip published the video documentary on the making of Warframe. The two-part feature tells the story of how Warframe succeeded as an independently developed and published game that changed the course of Digital Extremes.{{Citation|last=Noclip|author-link=Noclip|title=Warframe Documentary (Part One) - The Story of Digital Extremes|date=2018-03-19|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOE6528pwFc |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/UOE6528pwFc |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|access-date=2018-10-08}}{{cbignore}}{{Citation|last=Noclip|author-link=Noclip|title=Warframe Documentary (Part Two) - The Story of Warframe|date=2018-03-21|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NA5vT1LooXk&t=47s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/NA5vT1LooXk |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|access-date=2018-10-08}}{{cbignore}}

Digital Extremes' employment environment has been recognized as one of Canada's Top Employers for 2010, 2011, 2012{{cite web|author=Canada's Top 100 |url=https://www.canadastop100.com/national/ |title=Canada's Top 100 Employers: National Competition |publisher=Canadastop100.com |date=October 7, 2011 |access-date=February 9, 2012}} and through to 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://content.eluta.ca/top-employer-digital-extremes|title=Top Employer: Digital Extremes Ltd.|website=content.eluta.ca|access-date=2018-10-08}} Additionally, the company has been recognized as one of Canada's top employers for Young People.{{cite web|author=Canada's Top 100 |url=https://www.canadastop100.com/young_people/ |title=Canada's Top 100 Employers for Young People |publisher=Canadastop100.com |date=September 19, 2011 |access-date=February 9, 2012}} In 2010 and 2011, the Financial Post named Digital Extremes one of the 10 best companies to work for in Canada.{{cite web|author=Canada's Top 100 |url=http://www.canadastop100.com/fp10/ |title=Financial Post's Ten Best Companies To Work For |publisher=Canadastop100.com |date=February 1, 2011 |access-date=March 13, 2012}}

On the provincial level, Digital Extremes received the Ontario Small Business Award in 2010.{{cite web |author=Jody Lundrigan |url=http://occ.on.ca/2010/twelve-ontario-businesses-named-winners-of-business-and-export-excellence/ |title=Twelve Ontario Businesses Named Winners of Business and Export Excellence |publisher=Ontario Chamber of Commerce |date=September 16, 2010 |access-date=February 9, 2012}}{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821042101/http://www.occ.ca/occ-events/twelve-ontario-businesses-named-winners-of-business-and-export-excellence/ |archive-date=21 August 2016}} Digital Extremes was also presented with the Large Business of the Year award in 2011 from the London Chamber of Commerce.{{cite web|author=London Chamber of Commerce |title=Business Achievement Awards – Business of the Year Hall of Fame |url=https://www.londonchamber.com/business-achievement-awards/}} Digital Extremes was also awarded the Excellence in Human Resources award from The London Chamber of Commerce in early 2012.{{cite web |author=London Free Press |title=Celebrating City's Best |url=https://lfpress.com/news/london/2012/03/21/19533386.html/ |access-date=October 4, 2018 |archive-date=January 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107061024/http://www.lfpress.com/news/london/2012/03/21/19533386.html/ |url-status=dead}}

• {{Cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/makeunreal/ |title=Blinded By Reality: The True Story Behind the Creation of Unreal |last=Keighley |first=Geoff |website=GameSpot |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010519154729/http://www.gamespot.com/features/makeunreal/ |archive-date=May 19, 2001 |url-status=dead}}
• {{Cite web |url=http://www.gamezone.com:80/news/03_13_02_08_44AM.htm |title=Digital Extremes moves from the days of shareware programs to set the mark in mainstream gaming |last=Lafferty |first=Michael |website=GameZone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020613103656/http://www.gamezone.com/news/03_13_02_08_44AM.htm |archive-date=June 13, 2002 |url-status=dead |access-date=July 25, 2019}}
• {{Cite news |url=https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/technology/made-in-canada-game-is-unreal-hit/article25697227/?ref=https://www.theglobeandmail.com& |title=Made-in-Canada game is Unreal hit |website=The Globe and Mail}}
• {{Cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/11/21/16687590/warframe-perfect-game-for-real?ref=https://www.polygon.com& |title=Why didn't anyone tell me Warframe is now the perfect game? |last=Kuchera |first=Ben |website=Polygon|date=November 21, 2017}}
• {{Cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/1/2/16830328/warframe-free-to-play-f2p-platinum?ref=https://www.polygon.com& |title=How Warframe built an ethical free-to-play economy |last=Kuchera |first=Ben |website=Polygon|date=January 2, 2018}}
• {{Cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-12-04-warframe-dev-industry-must-get-better-at-giving-players-a-choice-and-a-voice/ |title=Warframe dev: Industry must get better at giving players a choice and a voice |last=Brightman |first=James |website=Eurogamer#Gamesindustry.biz|date=December 4, 2017}}
• {{Cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-03-28-redefining-community-management-for-games-as-a-service/ |title=Redefining community management for games-as-a-service |last=Sinclair |first=Brendan |website=Eurogamer#Gamesindustry.biz|date=March 28, 2017}}
• {{Cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/videos/theres-no-other-game-like-warframe-on-the-switch/2300-6447323/ |title=There's No Other Game Like Warframe On The Switch |last=Fillari |first=Alessandro |website=GameSpot}}
• {{Cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/11/20/warframe-review-3/ |title=Warframe Review - 2018 |last=Marks |first=Tom |website=IGN|date=November 20, 2018}}
• {{Cite magazine |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/from-epic-pinball-to-warframe-25-years-of-digital-extremes/ |title=From Epic Pinball to Warframe: 25 years of Digital Extremes |last=Senior |first=Tom |magazine=PC Gamer|date=December 14, 2018}}
• {{Cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/videos/you-should-be-playing-warframe/2300-6448956/ |title=You Should be Playing Warframe |last=Mahardy |first=Mike |website=GameSpot}}

{{Reflist|2}}

• {{Official website|https://www.digitalextremes.com/}}
• https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3145836/why-tencent-spent-us13-billion-buy-video-gaming-firm-leyou-left-it

{{Digital Extremes}}

{{Tencent}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Canadian companies established in 1993

Category:Video game companies established in 1993

Category:1993 establishments in Ontario

Category:Video game companies of Canada

Category:Video game development companies

Category:Companies based in London, Ontario

Category:2016 mergers and acquisitions

Category:Canadian subsidiaries of foreign companies

Category:Tencent Games