Modiphius Entertainment
{{short description|British game company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Modiphius Entertainment
| type = Private
| industry = Game company
| founded = {{date and age|2012}} in London
| founders = Chris Birch, Rita Birch
| owners = {{ubl| Chris Birch (45%)|Marharyta Kokhna (45%)|Michael Cross (5%)|Robin Harris (5%)}}
| website = {{url|https://www.modiphius.net/}}
| location = London, UK
}}
Modiphius Entertainment is a tabletop role-playing game and board game publisher based in Fulham, London that is known for licensed adaptations of established media. Notable titles include Star Trek Adventures, Fallout the Roleplaying Game, Dune: Adventures in the Imperium, Terry Pratchett’s Discworld: Adventures in Ankh-Morpork, and the Mass Effect board game.
History
Modiphius was founded in 2012 by husband-wife team Rita and Chris Birch to publish their first game, Achtung! Cthulhu.{{Cite web|url=https://www.modiphius.com/about.html|title=ABOUT|website=Modiphius|language=en|access-date=2019-07-14}} The company have since published a number of product lines based on independent licenses and established brands.
Games
=''Achtung! Cthulhu''=
In 2013 the company raised £177,000 through Kickstarter to create Achtung! Cthulhu, a tabletop RPG set in the Second World War inspired by the work of H.P. Lovecraft.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/modiphius/achtung-cthulhu-the-ww2-keepers-and-investigators|title=Achtung! Cthulhu - The WW2 Keeper's & Investigator's Guides|website=Kickstarter|language=en|access-date=2019-07-14}} The first series of adventures for Achtung! Cthulhu is called "Zero Point," with the first two chapters called "Three Kings" and "Heroes of the Sea" by Sarah Newton.{{cite web | url=https://www.blackgate.com/2012/10/27/discover-the-secret-history-of-world-war-two-in-achtung-cthulhu/ | title=Discover the Secret History of World War Two in Achtung! Cthulhu – Black Gate | date=27 October 2012 }} The game was well-received in the RPG community, and won several awards, including Best Roleplaying Game at the 2014 UK Games Expo.{{Cite web|url=https://www.modiphius.com/achtung-cthulhu.html|title=ACHTUNG! CTHULHU|website=Modiphius|language=en|access-date=2019-07-14}} In 2018 a videogame based on the franchise - called Achtung! Cthulhu Tactics - was released by Auroch Digital.{{Cite web|url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/874460/Achtung_Cthulhu_Tactics/|title=Achtung! Cthulhu Tactics on Steam|website=store.steampowered.com|language=en|access-date=2019-07-14}}
=''Mutant Chronicles''=
In 2013 Modiphius released the 3rd edition of popular post-apocalyptic RPG Mutant Chronicles.
=''Fallout''=
In 2017 the company acquired the license for Bethesda property Fallout and in 2018 released Fallout: Wasteland Warfare, a tabletop wargame featuring characters and settings from the videogame series.{{Cite web|url=https://www.modiphius.com/fallout.html|title=FALLOUT|website=Modiphius|language=en|access-date=2019-07-14}} The company announced in 2019 that they would be working on an RPG expansion to Fallout: Wasteland Warfare to be released in the same year.
Modiphius developed a Fallout tabletop RPG using their 2d20 system, called Fallout the Roleplaying Game.{{Cite web |last=Carter |first=Chase |date=2024-05-01 |title=Fallout TV show's popularity doubled sales of the series' tabletop games, sold out the official RPG |url=https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/fallout-roleplaying-game/news/fallout-tv-series-doubles-sales-of-miniature-game-sells-out-rpg-modiphius |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=Dicebreaker |language=en}} The game entered beta in 2019 with a projected release in 2020, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fallout the Roleplaying Game released digitally in March 2021, with a physical release in July the same year.{{Cite web |last=Velocci |first=Carli |date=2024-02-29 |title=The first Discworld RPG in nearly three decades is on the way from Modiphius |url=https://www.polygon.com/tabletop-games/24084600/discworld-tabletop-rpg-board-game-modiphius |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Zambrano |first=J. R. |date=2024-04-29 |title=One Day Left In The Fallout RPG Sale At Modiphius |url=https://www.belloflostsouls.net/2024/04/one-day-left-in-the-fallout-rpg-sale-at-modiphius.html |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=Bell of Lost Souls |language=en}}
= ''Star Trek Adventures'' =
In 2017 the company released their first edition of Star Trek Adventures, an RPG series based on the television series Star Trek.{{Cite web |title=STAR TREK |url=https://www.modiphius.com/star-trek.html |access-date=2019-07-14 |website=Modiphius |language=en}} In 2024 the company released the quick start guide for the second edition of Star Trek Adventures as a free PDF.{{Cite web |last=website |first=Jeff McAleerFounder/Editor-in-chief of The Gaming Gang |last2=Dispatch |first2=host of The Gaming Gang |last3=media |first3=other TGG |last4=any |first4=Jeff tackles |last5=Strategy |first5=All Sorts of Games but Has a Special Fondness for |last6=Sims |first6=Conflict |last7=Plus |first7=roleplaying games |last8=Opinion |first8=He's Certainly Never at a Loss for an |date=2024-04-24 |title=Score the Free Star Trek Adventures 2E Quickstart in PDF - The Gaming Gang |url=https://thegaminggang.com/game-news/score-the-free-star-trek-adventures-2e-quickstart-in-pdf/ |access-date=2024-04-27 |language=en-US}} The full core rules for the second edition released in August 2024 at Gen Con.{{Cite web |title=Modiphius Announces 'Star Trek Adventures RPG 2E' |url=https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/56350/modiphius-announces-star-trek-adventures-rpg-2e |access-date=2024-04-27 |website=icv2.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Zambrano |first=J. R. |date=2024-02-26 |title=Modiphius Opens Hailing Frequencies for 'Star Trek Adventures 2nd Edition' |url=https://www.belloflostsouls.net/2024/02/modiphius-opens-hailing-frequencies-for-star-trek-adventures-2nd-edition.html |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=Bell of Lost Souls |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Jovanée |first=Alice |date=2024-08-21 |title=Get over 30 campaigns and add-ons for Star Trek Adventures with this $25 bundle |url=https://www.polygon.com/good-deals/442609/star-trek-adventures-ttrpg-modiphius-humble-deal-sale |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}
= ''Dune: Adventures in the Imperium'' and ''Fall of the Imperium'' =
In May 2021, Modiphius released Dune: Adventures in the Imperium, based on Dune (franchise).{{Cite web |last=Mekinda |first=Sean |date=2021-10-27 |title=Like the film, Dune’s new tabletop role-playing game understands what makes the book great |url=https://www.polygon.com/reviews/22749018/dune-adventures-in-the-imperium-tabletop-ttrpg-review |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}{{cite web |date=May 6, 2021 |title=Dune: Adventures in the Imperium RPG review |url=https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/dune-adventures-in-the-imperium/review/dune-rpg-review-adventures-in-the-imperium |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220915033138/https://www.dicebreaker.com/games/dune-adventures-in-the-imperium/review/dune-rpg-review-adventures-in-the-imperium |archive-date=September 15, 2022 |access-date=September 14, 2022 |website=Dicebreaker}} It won a Gold ENNIE Award for "Best Writing" with a writing team including Banana Chan. It was also nominated for "Product of the Year.".{{Cite web |title=2022 Nominees and Winners – ENNIE Awards |url=https://ennie-awards.com/portfolio-item/2022-nominees-and-winners/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230424173634/https://ennie-awards.com/portfolio-item/2022-nominees-and-winners/ |archive-date=2023-04-24 |access-date=2023-04-24 |language=en-US}} Modiphius announced an upcoming sequel, Fall of the Imperium, in 2024.{{Cite web |last=Mekinda |first=Sean |date=2024-02-22 |title=Dune: Fall of the Imperium asks players to either confront Muad’dib, or bend the knee |url=https://www.polygon.com/tabletop-games/24079206/dune-fall-of-the-imperium-review-ttrpg-expansion-modiphius |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}
= ''Discworld'' =
In February 2024, Modiphius acquired the license to produce Terry Pratchett’s Discworld: Adventures in Ankh-Morpork. Modiphius launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the project in October 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-15 |title=The Discworld RPG Kickstarter offers impossible dice and a Tray Of Death |url=https://www.wargamer.com/terry-pratchett-discworld-rpg/kickstarter-bonuses |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=Wargamer |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2024-09-18 |title=The Discworld RPG lets you play any Terry Pratchett species you want |url=https://www.wargamer.com/terry-pratchett-discworld-rpg/all-species-playable |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=Wargamer |language=en-US}}
= ''Mass Effect'' =
In 2024, Modiphius announced pre-orders for a Mass Effect board game.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-29 |title=Gaze Upon The Majesty That Is The Mass Effect Board Game |url=https://kotaku.com/mass-effect-board-game-miniature-liara-tali-garrus-wrex-1851635545 |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=Kotaku |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Jovanée |first=Alice |date=2024-09-03 |title=Where to pre-order Mass Effect: The Board Game |url=https://www.polygon.com/pre-order/446633/mass-effect-board-game-where-to-buy-kickstarter |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Majumdar |first=Rahul |date=2024-03-05 |title=Mass Effect Is Getting a Tabletop RPG This Year, and It’s Looking Promising |url=https://www.mensjournal.com/videogames/mass-effect-board-game-priority-hagalaz |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=Men's Journal {{!}} Video Games |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Julian |first=Mark |date=2024-03-04 |title=Modiphius brings beloved sci-fi video game franchise to the tabletop. — GAMINGTREND |url=https://gamingtrend.com/news/modiphius-brings-beloved-sic-fi-video-game-franchise-to-the-tabletop/ |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=gamingtrend.com |language=en-US}}
=Other franchises=
- In 2014 the company released Thunderbirds, a co-operative board game designed by Matt Leacock based on the British children's TV show Thunderbirds.{{Cite web|url=https://www.modiphius.com/thunderbirds.html|title=THUNDERBIRDS|website=Modiphius|language=en|access-date=2019-07-14}}
- In 2015, the company announced a licensing deal for Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian property, with the publication of a roleplaying game, Conan: Adventures in an Age Undreamed Of, and an ongoing line of supplements in that setting.{{Cite web|url=http://vrworld.com/2015/02/11/modiphius-brings-robert-e-howards-conan-tabletop-rpgs/|title=Modiphius Brings Robert E. Howard's Conan To Tabletop RPGs|date=2015-02-11|website=VR World|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-14}}
- In 2018 the company announced they would be working with DreamWorks Animation to produce a board game based on the children's films Kung Fu Panda.{{Cite web|url=https://www.modiphius.com/kung-fu-panda.html|title=KUNG FU PANDA|website=Modiphius|language=en|access-date=2019-07-14}}
- In 2018, they announced a John Carter of Mars roleplaying game and line of supporting material,{{Cite web|url=https://www.modiphius.com/john-carter.html|title=JOHN CARTER|website=Modiphius|language=en|access-date=2019-07-14}} based on the early-1900s pulp science fantasy series by Edgar Rice Burroughs.
- In 2022, they collaborate with Shawn Tomkin, Ironsworn creator, to publish a deluxe edition of its sci-fi supplement, Starforged.{{Cite web |last=Zambrano |first=J. R. |date=2022-09-16 |title=RPG: Modiphius Teams Up With the Creator of 'Ironsworn: Starforged' for a Deluxe Edition |url=https://www.belloflostsouls.net/2022/09/rpg-modiphius-teams-up-with-the-creator-of-ironsworn-starforged-for-a-deluxe-edition.html |access-date=2024-11-16 |website=Bell of Lost Souls |language=en}}