Maximum Games#Modus Games

{{Infobox company

| name = Maximum Games, Inc.

| logo = MaximumGamesLogo.png

| type = Subsidiary

| genre =

| foundation = {{Start date and age|2009|August}}

| founder = {{ubl|Christina Seelye (CEO)|Len Ciciretto (former president)}}

| location_city = Walnut Creek, California

| location_country = United States

| area_served = International

| industry = Video games

| products =

| num_employees = 60–70

| parent = Zordix AB (2021–present)

| subsid = {{ubl|Maximum Games Limited|Maximum Games Ireland Limited||Modus Games|Modus Studios Brazil|Mane6}}

| homepage = {{URL|https://www.maximumgames.com}}

}}

Maximum Games, Inc. is an American video game publisher based in Walnut Creek, California.{{cite web|title=IGN: Maximum Family Games Company Profile|url=http://games.ign.com/objects/053/053844.html|publisher=IGN|access-date=4 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120140829/http://games.ign.com/objects/053/053844.html|archive-date=20 January 2012}} Originally founded in 2009 as a publisher of family-oriented titles for the Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii, the company shifted to publishing games of all genres for all ages across all platforms shortly after inception.{{cite web|title=Maximum Games's Profile|url=http://www.metacritic.com/company/maximum-games?filter-options=games&num_items=100&sort_options=user_score|publisher=Metacritic}}

Maximum Games has acted as a sub-publisher and North American distributor for many other major video game publishers including Nacon, Microids, Funcom, and Focus Home Interactive. Some of the most notable franchises they have partnered on include the Farming Simulator series, Five Nights at Freddy's, Bendy and the Ink Machine, Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid, Divinity: Original Sin, and the WRC series.

Maximum Games expanded into funding and development with a new publishing label in 2018 called Modus Games.{{cite web|title=Maximum Games to fully launch new indie publishing label Modus Games|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-03-20-maximum-games-to-fully-launch-new-indie-publishing-label-modus-games|website=GamesIndustry.biz|date=20 March 2019 |language=en}} In 2019, the company acquired its first studio, Brazilian-based The Balance, Inc. and rebranded it as Modus Studios Brazil.{{cite web|title=Modus Games acquires The Balance Inc|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-08-29-modus-games-acquires-the-balance-inc|access-date=2021-04-22|website=GamesIndustry.biz|date=29 August 2019 |language=en}} In 2024, Maximum Games was grouped together with several other related publisher labels under the parent brand Maximum Entertainment.

History

Maximum Games is a privately held California corporation, and was founded as "Maximum Family Games" in 2009 by Christina Seelye and Len Ciciretto. During the 2009 holiday season, the company launched two successful Nintendo DS titles, Junior Brain Trainer and Junior Classic Games,{{cite web|url=https://www.gamekult.com/actualite/maximum-games-annonce-dead-alliance-3050795611.html|title=Maximum Games announce Dead Alliance|date=2017-05-24|website=www.gamekult.com|language=fr|access-date=2018-12-28}} with placement in major US retailers. In 2010, the company published 16 new products for the Nintendo DS, Wii and PC platforms. In the same year, the company was granted third-party publishing status with Nintendo of America{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/10/20/nintendo-wants-all-third-party-games-on-the-nintendo-switch/|title=Nintendo wants all third-party games on the Nintendo Switch|website=TechCrunch|date=20 October 2016 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-28}} and Sony Computer Entertainment America, and in 2011, they were granted the same status in Europe with both companies. In 2012, the company also secured its license with Microsoft. That May, the company legally changed its name to Maximum Games.{{cite web|title=Gamasutra: Maximum Family Games Changes Name to Maximum Games|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/171156/Maximum_Family_Games_Changes_Name_to_Maximum_Games.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105055035/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/171156/Maximum_Family_Games_Changes_Name_to_Maximum_Games.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 5, 2013|publisher=Gamasutra|access-date=25 May 2012}}

Following the rebrand, Maximum Games began rapidly expanding into sales and physical distribution in North America for European publishers, specifically for the seventh console generation.{{cite web|title=Maximum Games Leads the Retro Revolution at E3 Tomorrow|url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/194003/Maximum_Games_Leads_the_Retro_Revolution_at_E3%0ATomorrow.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425213912/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/194003/Maximum_Games_Leads_the_Retro_Revolution_at_E3Tomorrow.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 25, 2021|access-date=2021-04-22|website=www.gamasutra.com|language=en}} The company's output averaged around eight releases per year,{{cite web|title=Maximum Games Published Games|url=https://www.giantbomb.com/maximum-games/3010-8448/published/|access-date=2021-04-22|website=Giant Bomb|language=en}}{{cite web|title=MobyGames: Game Browser|url=https://www.mobygames.com/browse/games/maximum-games-llc/|access-date=2021-04-22|website=MobyGames}} handling packaging, third-party logistics, and negotiating with retailers to secure placements for physical releases. By 2015, the company had invested $2.5 million in future games and shipped a total of 1 million units across all releases.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}

In March 2016, Maximum Games acquired UK-based video game publisher and distributor Avanquest Software Publishing Ltd. The acquisition marked Maximum's move to expand distribution of its games globally, establishing a European sales and marketing position. During this time, they also established a second European subsidiary, Maximum Games Ireland Limited.{{Cite news|url=https://www.mcvuk.com/business/avanquest-now-100-focused-on-games-after-name-change|title=Avanquest now '100% focused on games' after name change|last=Dring|first=Christopher|date=2016-05-23|work=MCV|access-date=2018-12-28|language=en-US|issn=1469-4832}}{{cite web|title=Maximum Games Ireland Ltd - Irish Company Info - SoloCheck|url=https://www.solocheck.ie/Irish-Company/Maximum-Games-Ireland-Limited-577081|access-date=2021-04-22|website=www.solocheck.ie}}

In 2017, Maximum Games began development of its first fully owned IP, Extinction, which released in the following year.{{cite web|title=Iron Galaxy and Maximum Games Announce Extinction for PlayStation®4, Xbox One and PC|url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/299151/Iron_Galaxy_and_Maximum_Games_Announce_Extinction_for%0APlayStationreg4_Xbox_One_and_PC.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170604034657/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/299151/Iron_Galaxy_and_Maximum_Games_Announce_Extinction_forPlayStationreg4_Xbox_One_and_PC.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 4, 2017|access-date=2021-04-22|website=www.gamasutra.com|language=en}}{{cite magazine|date=2017-06-02|title=Maximum Games' new action IP Extinction will be playable at E3|url=https://www.mcvuk.com/business-news/maximum-games-new-action-ip-extinction-will-be-playable-at-e3/|access-date=2021-04-22|magazine=MCV/DEVELOP|language=en-GB}} The expansion into development would lay the foundation for its publishing label Modus Games, focusing on AAA publishing services for independent developers.{{cite web|title=Maximum Games announces new indie publishing label Modus Games|url=https://gamedaily.biz/article/705/maximum-games-announces-new-indie-publishing-label-modus-games|access-date=2021-04-22|website=GameDaily.biz|date=20 March 2019 |language=en}} During this same time, the company further developed its European network of partners and retailers, offering games in over 30+ countries.

In 2018, Len Ciciretto transitioned out of the company and is no longer a shareholder.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}

In October 2020, Maximum Games entered an agreement with Nacon to handle third-party logistics for their lineup of RIG computer and gaming accessories.

Maximum Games began offering direct-to-consumer shipping from its own digital storefront in December 2020. It currently sells partner titles, Modus Games titles, and store exclusive collector's editions.{{cite web|date=2021-01-20|title=Cris Tales Getting Collector's Edition in Limited Quantities|url=https://gamerant.com/cris-tales-collectors-edition/|access-date=2021-04-22|website=Game Rant|language=en-US}}

The company was purchased by Swedish firm Zordix AB in November 2021, for a total of $42 million, with additional earnouts of up to $30 million.{{Cite web|last=Rousseau|first=Jeffrey|date=November 29, 2021|title=Zordix acquires Maximum Games for $42m|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-29-zordix-acquires-maximum-games-for-usd42m|access-date=29 November 2021|website=gamesindustry.biz}}

In February 2023, Zordix consolidated Dimfrost, Invictus Games, Mane6, Modus Brazil, and Zordix Racing to create Modus Studios.{{Cite web |last=Dring |first=Christopher |date=2023-02-07 |title=Zordix launches Maximum Entertainment and restructures its studio organisation |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/zordix-launches-maximum-entertainment-and-restructures-its-studio-organisation |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}} It also acquired FUN Labs.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-14 |title=Maximum Entertainment Completes the Acquisition of FUN Labs |url=https://maximument.com/mfn_news/maximum-entertainment-completes-the-acquisition-of-fun-labs/ |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=Maximum Entertainment |language=en-US}} The company further consolidated in February 2024, announcing that publishers Maximum Games, Modus Games, Just For Games, and Merge Games, and developer Modus Studios, would all be grouped under the name Maximum Entertainment.{{Cite web |last=Dealessandri |first=Marie |date=2024-02-15 |title=Maximum Entertainment merges six games divisions under parent brand |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/maximum-entertainment-merges-six-games-divisions-under-parent-brand |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}}

Modus Games

In December 2017, Maximum Games created a new division of the company called Modus Games, focused on providing full-service publishing services to independent video game developers. Modus Games' first title published was action-adventure title Extinction, developed by Iron Galaxy.

In 2019, Modus Games purchased the independent Brazilian game studio The Balance, Inc., which it previously partnered with to publish the action game Override: Mech City Brawl. The company was rebranded as Modus Studios Brazil and operates independently of the publishing arm, offering porting, development support, and development of original IPs.

= History =

Modus Games was first introduced in 2018 when the company was soft launched with the release of Iron Galaxy's Extinction.{{cite web|last=McWhertor|first=Michael|date=2017-06-01|title=Bloody giant ogre battles are at the heart of Extinction|url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/6/1/15724532/extinction-announcement-iron-galaxy-ps4-xbox-one-pc|access-date=2021-04-08|website=Polygon|language=en}} The company was fully launched in March 2019.{{cite web|title=Maximum Games announces new indie publishing label Modus Games|url=https://gamedaily.biz/article/705/maximum-games-announces-new-indie-publishing-label-modus-games|access-date=2021-04-08|website=GameDaily.biz|date=20 March 2019 |language=en}} Their first title as a publishing label was Finnish developer Frozenbyte's Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince, which received favorable reviews.{{cite web|title=Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/trine-4-the-nightmare-prince/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|access-date=2021-04-08|website=Metacritic|language=en}}

Modus Games has since partnered with several developers of varying sizes for both physical and digital releases globally. The company has made their first foray into the collectibles market with the announcement of a collector's edition for Dreams Uncorporated's action role-playing game Cris Tales.{{cite web|title=Cris Tales collector's edition includes art book and cuddly Matias|url=https://www.destructoid.com/stories/cris-tales-collector-s-edition-includes-art-book-and-cuddly-matias-617221.phtml|access-date=2021-04-08|website=Destructoid|date=19 January 2021 |language=english}}

In October 2020, Modus Games initiated an ongoing charitable initiative called Games Giving Back,{{cite web|title=Modus Games launches the Games Giving Back charity initiative|url=https://gamedaily.biz/article/1909/modus-games-launches-the-games-giving-back-charity-initiative|access-date=2021-04-08|website=GameDaily.biz|date=23 October 2020 |language=en}} in which the company donates a portion of each games' profits towards a charity, often in a similar theme to each game being highlighted. The first of these donations was to the Exceptional Women Awardees Foundation, an organization that helps women advance their careers through coaching and mentorship.

In January 2022, Modus Games acquired Mane6, the development team behind Them's Fightin' Herds.{{cite press release |url=https://modusgames.com/news/mane6acquisition/ |title=Maximum Games acquires Them's Fightin' Herds developer Mane6, teases upcoming additions to the game |first=Joscelyn |last=Willett |date=2022-01-20 |access-date=2022-01-20}}

= Modus Studios Brazil =

Following the release of Override: Mech City Brawl by Brazilian studio The Balance, Inc., Modus Games purchased and rebranded the developer as Modus Studios Brazil in 2019.{{cite web|last=Kerr|first=Chris|title=Trine 4 publisher Modus Games acquires Brazilian studio The Balance|url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/349937/Trine_4_publisher_Modus_Games_acquires_Brazilian_studio_The_Balance.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903230753/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/349937/Trine_4_publisher_Modus_Games_acquires_Brazilian_studio_The_Balance.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 3, 2019|access-date=2021-04-08|website=www.gamasutra.com|date=3 September 2019 |language=en}} The company operates independently of the publishing arm, and has since released a sequel titled Override 2: Super Mech League. It is the company's first developer acquisition under the Modus name. In addition to development, the studio also co-develops and offers porting services for other Modus published games.{{cite web|title=Modus Games Expands by Acquiring The Balance Inc., Porting Override to Switch|date=29 August 2019 |url=https://www.dualshockers.com/modus-games-brazil-formation-override-switch-port/|access-date=2021-04-08|language=en-US}}

= List of video games =

Games published and/or developed{{cite web|title=Modus Games|url=https://www.metacritic.com/company/modus-games|access-date=2021-04-09|website=Metacritic|language=en}}

class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"

!Year

!Title

!Platform(s)

!Developer(s)

!Role

!Publisher

rowspan="3" |2018

|Extinction

|Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

|Iron Galaxy

| rowspan="2" |Publisher

|Maximum Games, Modus Games

Ninjin: Clash of Carrots

| rowspan="3" |Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

|Pocket Trap

|Modus Games

Override: Mech City Brawl

|Modus Studios Brazil (formerly The Balance, Inc.)

|Publisher, Developer

|Modus Games, 3goo

rowspan="3" |2019

|Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince, Trine: Ultimate Collection

|Frozenbyte

| rowspan="6" |Publisher

|Modus Games

Bear with Me: The Lost Robots, The Complete Collection

|Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS

|Exordium Games

|Modus Games, Exordium Games

Degrees of Separation

|Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

|Moondrop

| rowspan="4" |Modus Games

rowspan="8" |2020

|Ary and the Secret of Seasons

|Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Stadia

|eXiin, Fishing Cactus

Skully

|Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

|Finish Line Games

Them's Fightin' Herds

|Windows, iOS, Linux{{refn|Linux port was released in 2021, not 2020. Modus acquired Mane6 in January 2022.|group=nc}}

|Mane6

Lost Words: Beyond the Page

|Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Stadia

|Sketchbook Games

Super Animal Royale

|Windows, Macintosh, Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Stadia

|Pixile Studios

|Publisher

|Modus Games (Self-published by Pixile Studios as of May 8, 2024)

Override 2: Super Mech League

|Windows, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

|Modus Studios Brazil (formerly The Balance, Inc.)

|Publisher, Developer

| rowspan="2" |Modus Games

Remothered: Broken Porcelain

|Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

|Stormind Games

| rowspan="6" |Publisher

Rock of Ages 3: Make & Break

|Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Stadia

|ACE Team, Giant Monkey Robot

rowspan="3" |2021

|Rustler

|Windows, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

|Modus Games, PlayWay

Cris Tales

|Windows, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Stadia

|Dreams Uncorporated, SYCK

| rowspan="7" |Modus Games

In Sound Mind

|Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch

| We Create Stuff

2022

|Soulstice

|Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X

|Reply Game Studios

rowspan=4 | 2023

|Maximum Football

|Windows, MacOS, Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One

|Invictus Games

|Publisher, Developer

Teslagrad 2{{cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/games/teslagrad-2|title=Teslagrad 2|work=Gematsu|date=24 August 2022 |accessdate=2023-07-08}}

| rowspan=2 | Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch

| Rain Games

| rowspan=3 | Publisher

Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons

| Secret Base, Arc System Works

Paleo Pines

| Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, Linux

| Italic Pig

2024

|Until Then{{Cite web |title=Until Then |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/until-then/ |access-date=2024-07-19 |website=www.metacritic.com |language=en}}

|Windows, Linux, PlayStation 5

|Polychroma Games

|Publisher

|Maximum Entertainment