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Futuremark

{{Short description|Defunct Finnish software company}}

{{Use British English|date=July 2018}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Futuremark Oy

| logo = Futuremark logo.png

| logo_size =

| caption =

| type = Subsidiary

| industry = Computer software

| fate = Acquired and rebranded

| successor = UL Benchmarks

| founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1997|11}}

| defunct = {{End date|df=yes|2018|04|23}}

| hq_location_city = Espoo

| hq_location_country = Finland

| area_served = Worldwide

| key_people =

| products = Computer benchmark applications

| num_employees =

| parent = UL

| website = {{URL|https://benchmarks.ul.com/}}

}}

Futuremark Oy was a Finnish software development company that produced computer benchmark applications for home, business, and press use. Futuremark was acquired by UL on 31 October 2014,{{Cite news|url=https://www.ul.com/newsroom/pressreleases/ul-signals-strategic-expansion-into-performance-benchmarking-services-with-futuremark-acquisition/|title=UL Signals Strategic Expansion into Performance Benchmarking Services with Futuremark Acquisition {{!}} UL|date=3 November 2014|work=UL|access-date=25 April 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130204521/https://www.ul.com/newsroom/pressreleases/ul-signals-strategic-expansion-into-performance-benchmarking-services-with-futuremark-acquisition/|archive-date=30 January 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} and was formally merged into the company on 23 April 2018.{{Cite news |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/news/futuremark-rebranded-as-ul,36940.html |title='Futuremark' Is No More; Benchmark Maker Adopts Parent Company's 'UL' Branding |date=23 April 2018 |work=Tom's Hardware|access-date=25 April 2018 |language=en}}

History

Prior to Futuremark, the founding team developed Final Reality, a benchmarking tool, at Remedy Entertainment, in cooperation with VNU European Labs. Following the tool's release, Futuremark was founded in Espoo in November 1997 and formally launched on 27 February 1998.{{Cite web |url=http://www.remedy.fi/remedy/pressrel/press190398e.html |title=Remedy Press Release: Futuremark Corporation Launched |access-date=24 August 2020 |archive-date=29 January 1999 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990129024848/http://www.remedy.fi/remedy/pressrel/press190398e.html |url-status=live }}

Soon after being founded the company altered its trading name to "MadOnion.com"{{Cite web |url=http://www.futuremark.com/pressroom/pressreleases/20409/ |title=Futuremark press release Nov 9th 1999 |access-date=21 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303174423/http://www.futuremark.com/pressroom/pressreleases/20409/ |archive-date=3 March 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} until finally settling on "Futuremark Corporation" in 2002.{{Cite web |url=http://www.futuremark.com/pressroom/pressreleases/20433/ |title=MadOnion press release Dec 11th 2002 |access-date=21 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303174436/http://www.futuremark.com/pressroom/pressreleases/20433/ |archive-date=3 March 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

The 3DMark series has been the company's most popular and successful to date.

Futuremark's applications are distributed via the Internet as well as offline media. In addition to its benchmarking software, the company has also provided services such as IHV/ISV customised benchmarks, 3D demos as well as online and data services.

In March 2007, Futuremark launched a website specialising in news and reviews of PC games, called YouGamers.{{Cite web |url=http://www.futuremark.com//pressroom/pressreleases/50642/ |title=Futuremark press release Mar 7th 2007 |access-date=21 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717102826/http://www.futuremark.com//pressroom/pressreleases/50642/ |archive-date=17 July 2011 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

In January 2008, Futuremark announced the formation of the Futuremark Games Studio.{{Cite web |url=http://www.futuremark.com/pressroom/pressreleases/52482/ |title=Futuremark press release Jan 29th 2008 |access-date=21 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303174448/http://www.futuremark.com/pressroom/pressreleases/52482/ |archive-date=3 March 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }} In August 2008, at the Leipzig Games Convention, Futuremark Games Studio announced details of its first game, Shattered Horizon.{{Cite web |url=http://www.futuremark.com/pressroom/pressreleases/53949/ |title=Futuremark press release Aug 19th 2008 |access-date=21 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303174525/http://www.futuremark.com/pressroom/pressreleases/53949/ |archive-date=3 March 2012 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

In December 2009, Futuremark's mobile and embedded business unit was spun off and renamed Rightware.

In March 2012, Futuremark sold its game development division to Rovio Entertainment (developer of the Angry Birds franchise) for an undisclosed sum.[http://www.cio.com/article/703004/Angry_Birds_Creator_Acquires_Games_Developer?taxonomyId=3194 Angry Birds creator acquires games developer] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614015820/http://www.cio.com/article/703004/Angry_Birds_Creator_Acquires_Games_Developer?taxonomyId=3194 |date=14 June 2013 }}, visited 3 April 2012 The sale was intended to allow the company to focus on its benchmarking software.{{cite news |last=Ratcliffe |first=Chris |title="Angry Birds" creator adds Futuremark Game Studio's team to fleet of talent |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/techology/angry-birds-creator-adds-futuremark-game-studios-team-to-fleet-of-talent/2012/03/27/gIQAHWooeS_story.html |publisher=Bloomberg |access-date=28 March 2012 |date=27 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203073252/http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/techology/angry-birds-creator-adds-futuremark-game-studios-team-to-fleet-of-talent/2012/03/27/gIQAHWooeS_story.html |archive-date=3 February 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

On 31 October 2014, Futuremark was acquired by UL for an undisclosed sum.{{Cite news |url=http://www.brightsideofnews.com/2014/11/03/futuremark-gets-acquired-underwriters-laboratories/ |title=Futuremark Acquired by Underwriters Laboratories |last=Hartley |first=Darleen |date=3 November 2014 |work=Bright Side of News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105145304/http://www.brightsideofnews.com/2014/11/03/futuremark-gets-acquired-underwriters-laboratories/ |archive-date=5 November 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

On 23 April 2018, Futuremark was rebranded as UL Benchmarks. The Futuremark website was closed, and its content was moved to a new UL Benchmarks website. Despite the acquisition and rebranding, UL Benchmarks retains its headquarters and R&D operations in Espoo, Finland.{{Cite web |url=http://benchmarks.ul.com/about |title=About us |website=UL Benchmarks |language=en |access-date=2019-01-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223035942/https://benchmarks.ul.com/about |archive-date=23 December 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}

Products

=PC benchmarks=

=Smartphone and tablet benchmarks=

=Cellphone benchmarks=

  • 3DMarkMobile
  • VGMark
  • SimulationMark
  • SPMark

=Video games=

=Other products=

  • Peacekeeper, web browser benchmark
  • XL-R8R, based on 3DMark2000
  • Video2000, video performance benchmark{{cite web |last=Abner |first=William |title=Video2000 released |url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/026/070/video2000.html |website=Computer Games Strategy Plus |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030709131009/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/026/070/video2000.html |archive-date=9 July 2003 |date=15 February 2000}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [https://benchmarks.ul.com UL Benchmarks]
  • [https://www.ul.com/ UL]

{{Benchmark}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Companies based in Espoo

Category:Software companies of Finland

Category:2014 mergers and acquisitions

Category:Defunct video game companies of Finland