InXile Entertainment
{{Short description|American video game developer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Lowercase title}}
{{Infobox company
| name = inXile Entertainment, Inc.
| logo = InXile Entertainment Logo.png
| type = Subsidiary
| industry = Video games
| founded = {{Start date and age|2002|10|26}} in Newport Beach, California, US
| founder = Brian Fargo
| hq_location_city = Tustin, California
| hq_location_country = US
| num_locations = 2
| num_locations_year = 2024
| key_people = {{Unbulleted list|Brian Fargo (CEO)|Chris Keenan (president)}}
| parent = Xbox Game Studios (2018–present)
| num_employees = 70{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-11-19-inxile-acquired-by-microsoft-the-interview |title=InXile acquired by Microsoft: the interview |first=Robert |last=Purchese |date=19 November 2018 |website=Eurogamer}}
| num_employees_year = 2018
| website = {{URL|https://www.inxile-entertainment.com/|inxile-entertainment.com}}
}}
inXile Entertainment, Inc. is an American video game developer and a studio of Xbox Game Studios based in Tustin, California. Specializing in role-playing video games, inXile was founded in 2002 by Interplay co-founder Brian Fargo. The studio produced the fantasy games The Bard's Tale and Hunted: The Demon's Forge, along with various games for Flash and iOS such as Fantastic Contraption in its first decade of development. In 2014, inXile released the post-apocalyptic game Wasteland 2, following a successful Kickstarter campaign. Following the game's critical success, the studio went on to raise a then-record US$4 million on Kickstarter to develop Torment: Tides of Numenera, a spiritual successor to Interplay's Planescape: Torment. The studio was purchased by Microsoft and became part of Xbox Game Studios in 2018, just as they were developing Wasteland 3, which they released in 2020. The studio is currently developing Clockwork Revolution for Windows and Xbox Series X/S.
History
inXile Entertainment was founded on October 26, 2002,{{cite tweet|number=1055836056573145089|user=inXile|title=#HappyBirthday to us! Sixteen years...|date=October 26, 2018}} by Brian Fargo in Newport Beach, California.{{cite web|first=Larino|last=Jennifer|url=https://www.nola.com/business/2018/11/microsoft-is-buying-video-game-developer-inxile-and-its-new-orleans-studio.html|title=Microsoft is buying video game developer inXile and its New Orleans studio|date=November 12, 2018|access-date=April 27, 2019}}
In an interview with Joystiq, inXile's President Matthew Findley shared some of the company's history: "I worked with Brian Fargo at Interplay for a number of years and we both left Interplay at the same time. We knew we wanted to stay in video games, so starting a company seemed like a good idea -- he spent 20 years at Interplay and I was there for 13. When we were first out there, trying to figure out what to do next, we kinda felt like we were in exile, and we made fake cards with a fake company name just to have a card to go to E3 with. And before we ever thought of the name "inXile", Brian put as his job description on the cards: "Leader in exile." People got such a kick out of that card, we kept saying "in exile, in exile, in exile" so much that we just thought, "Why not make up a new word?" And so we did."{{cite web|last=Hinkle|first=David|title=What's in a Name: InXile Entertainment|url=https://www.engadget.com/2011/02/16/whats-in-a-name-inxile-entertainment/|website=Engadget|publisher=AOL|date=February 16, 2011|access-date=November 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219010140/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/16/whats-in-a-name-inxile-entertainment/ | archive-date=February 19, 2011}}
In May 2008, inXile announced the creation of SparkWorkz, an online business division with a focus on user-generated content, using their experience with Line Rider as base for the venture.{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/05/07/inxile-entertainment-announces-sparkworkz-division|title=Inxile Entertainment Announces Sparkworz Division|date=May 7, 2008|access-date=April 27, 2019}} David Heeley, a former executive for Microsoft, was hired to oversee the creation of the division.{{cite web|first=Matt|last=Martin|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/inxile-hires-former-microsoft-exec-for-new-division|title=inXile hires former Microsoft exec for new division|date=May 8, 2008|access-date=April 27, 2019}}
In April 2012, inXile launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund Wasteland 2, the sequel to Interplay's Wasteland, with most of the original team on board. The crowdfunding drive raised more than 300% of its initial goal of $900,000, ending at $2,933,252.{{cite web|url=http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/inxile/wasteland-2/ |title=Wasteland 2 Kickstarter |publisher=Kickstarter |access-date=March 26, 2013}} In March 2013, inXile returned to Kickstarter to crowdfund Torment: Tides of Numenera.{{cite web|url=http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/inxile/torment-tides-of-numenera |title=Torment: Tides of Numenera Kickstarter |publisher=Kickstarter |access-date=March 26, 2013}} The Kickstarter for Torment: Tides of Numenera broke the record of fastest Kickstart drive to $1 million, raising that amount in seven hours and two minutes.{{cite web |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/122588-Torment-Tides-of-Numenera-Shatters-Kickstarter-Record |title=Torment: Tides of Numenera Shatters Kickstarter Record |publisher=The Escapist |access-date=March 26, 2013 |archive-date=December 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223054740/https://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/122588-Torment-Tides-of-Numenera-Shatters-Kickstarter-Record |url-status=dead }}
During a Kickstarter campaign for the game Wasteland 2, Brian Fargo developed the Kicking it Forward program.{{cite web|author=Rob Lammle 7 |url=http://mashable.com/2012/04/15/retro-games-kickstarter/ |title=5 Retro Games Brought Back From the Dead By Kickstarter |publisher=Mashable.com |date=April 15, 2012 |access-date=April 29, 2012}} Under this program, inXile Entertainment pledged to use 5% of post-launch net profits to back future Kickstarter projects.{{cite web|last=Fargo|first=Brian|url=http://kickingitforward.org/|title=inXile entertainment|publisher=Kicking It Forward|access-date=April 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130310225845/http://www.kickingitforward.org/|archive-date=March 10, 2013|url-status=dead}}
In October 2015, inXile opened inXile New Orleans as a second studio based in New Orleans.{{cite web|last=Makuch|first=Eddie|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/wasteland-2-dev-opening-new-orleans-office-will-pa/1100-6431622/|title=Wasteland 2 Dev Opening New Orleans Office, Will Pay $75,000 Salaries|website=GameSpot|publisher=CBS Interactive|date=October 22, 2015|access-date=November 20, 2016}} The Newport Beach office was moved to Tustin by January 2021.{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/job-listings-suggest-the-next-inxile-game-will-be-a-first-person-shooter-rpg/ |title=Job listings suggest the next inXile game will be a first-person shooter RPG |first=Jody |last=Macgregor |date=January 6, 2021 |website=PC Gamer |access-date=January 15, 2021}}
In November 2018, Microsoft Studios announced they were in the final stages of acquiring InXile, as well as Obsidian Entertainment, another studio known for its role-playing games.{{cite web |last1=Conditt |first1=Jessica |title=Microsoft Studios buys 'Fallout: New Vegas' house Obsidian and 'Wasteland 2' developer inXile Entertainment. |url=https://www.engadget.com/2018/11/10/microsoft-studios-fallout-new-vegas-wasteland-obsidian-inxile/ |website=Engadget |access-date=11 November 2018}} According to Fargo, they were approached in April 2018 by Noah Musler, one of Microsoft's business development executives that had former ties to the studio, who suggested the possibility of acquisition. Fargo believed the acquisition was beneficial for the studio, as at the time, they were in the "uncanny valley" between more independent game development and high-budget AAA games where there was a significant difference in expectations on quality and pricing of the game. Microsoft's support would help them make games that are closer to AAA games and better compete in the current state of the industry.
In June 2023, inXile unveiled their new game Clockwork Revolution during the Xbox Games Showcase 2023.{{Cite web |last=Bhattacharyya |first=Kushal |date=2023-06-12 |title=Clockwork Revolution by creators of Fallout and Wasteland revealed: expected release date, gameplay, and more |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/esports/clockwork-revolution-creator-fallout-wasteland-revealed-expected-release-date-gameplay |access-date=2023-07-17 |website=www.sportskeeda.com |language=en-us}}
Games developed
| class="wikitable sortable" width="100%" |
| Year
! Title ! Platform(s) |
|---|
| 2004
| Android, BlackBerry PlayBook, Classic Mac OS, iOS, Linux, Microsoft Windows, Ouya, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
| rowspan="2" | 2008
| Adobe Flash, iOS, Wii |
| Line Rider 2: Unbound
| iOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, Wii |
| rowspan="3" | 2009
| Super Stacker | rowspan="3" | Adobe Flash, iOS |
| Super Stacker 2 |
| Shape Shape |
| 2010
| Super Stacker Party |
| 2011
| Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 |
| 2012
| Microsoft Windows, Ouya, PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade |
| 2014
| Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
| rowspan="2" | 2017
| Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
| The Mage's Tale
| Microsoft Windows |
| 2018
| The Bard's Tale IV: Barrows Deep{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-05-18-inxile-reveals-the-bards-tale-4-kickstarter|title=Brian Fargo's vision for The Bard's Tale 4. Kickstarter launches next month. First "promo screen" released|work=Eurogamer|publisher=Gamer Network Ltd.|date=May 18, 2015|access-date=May 18, 2015|first=Wesley|last=Yin-Poole}} | Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
| rowspan="3" | 2020
| Microsoft Windows, Xbox One |
| Wasteland 3
| Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
| Frostpoint VR: Proving Grounds
|Microsoft Windows |
| TBA
|Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X/S |
= Cancelled games =
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Title !Platform(s) |
| Heist
|Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.inxile-entertainment.com/}}
{{inXile}}
{{Xbox Game Studios}}
{{Obsidian Entertainment}}
{{Bard's Tale series}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2002 establishments in California
Category:2018 mergers and acquisitions
Category:American companies established in 2002
Category:Companies based in Newport Beach, California
Category:First-party video game developers
Category:Microsoft subsidiaries
Category:Video game companies based in California
Category:Video game companies established in 2002