New World Interactive

In 2002, Andrew Spearin, a Canadian Army veteran,{{Cite news |last=Gillen |first=Kieron |date=2008-02-08 |title=Rise Up: Andrew Spearin on Insurgency's victory |language=en |work=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/rise-up-andrew-spearin-on-insurgency |access-date=2022-03-22}} began development of a total conversion mod for Valve's Source Engine that depicted a conflict between the United States Marine Corps and rebel insurgents, with a focus on realism and authenticity based on Spearin's military experiences.{{Cite web |title=Insurgency mod for Half-Life 2 |url=https://www.moddb.com/mods/insurgency |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=Mod DB |language=en}} Three years later, in 2005, Jeremy Blum and other Red Orchestra developers joined Andrew Spearin to work on the mod. The mod, titled Insurgency: Modern Infantry Combat, was released in 2007.{{Cite web |title=INSURGENCY: Modern Infantry Combat - Valve Developer Community |url=https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/INSURGENCY:_Modern_Infantry_Combat |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=developer.valvesoftware.com}}

In 2010, Spearin and Blum co-founded New World Interactive. Four years later, Insurgency, the standalone sequel to Modern Infantry Combat, was released by the NWI. The game was very well-received.

After the major success of Insurgency, NWI started development on Day of Infamy, another tactical shooter similar to Insurgency, but set in World War II and featuring new gameplay mechanics absent from Insurgency. Development on Day of Infamy began in 2016 as a mod for Insurgency, and was further developed as a standalone game.

In 2018, NWI released Insurgency: Sandstorm, a direct sequel to the original Insurgency. Sandstorm was the first NWI-developed game to not be developed in Source (instead using Unreal Engine 4), and featured both improvements over Insurgency and returning game mechanics from Day of Infamy. The game was announced to be released for Xbox and PlayStation systems, but they were significantly delayed over several years, eventually releasing in 2021. Sandstorm was positively received on release.

In February 2019, New World Interactive announced it would be expanding with a new development studio known as New World North in Calgary, Alberta.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-02-06-insurgency-developer-new-world-interactive-opens-canadian-studio|title=Insurgency developer New World Interactive opens Canadian studio|website=GamesIndustry.biz|language=en|access-date=2019-02-07}} In July 2019, NWI Calgary announced their hiring of Michael Grills (formerly of BioWare; hired into the newly formed position of Art Director){{Cite web|url=https://en.cbreaker.net/4342-former-bioware-lead-artist-joins-insurgency-developer-new-world-interactive/|title=Former Bioware Lead Artist Joins Insurgency Developer New World Interactive|website=en.cbreaker.net|language=en|access-date=2019-07-26}} and Derek Czerkaski (hired as the also newly formed position of Head of Production).{{Cite web|url=https://app.robly.com/archive?id=cf0f99854b2c86c87f012d743cee5994&v=true|title=Insurgency developer New World Interactive hires Tencent, Ubisoft, and Epic veteran Derek Czerkaski to new Head of Production role, in Calgary AB..|website=Robly Email Marketing|access-date=2019-07-25}}

In March 2020, it was announced that former company President Keith Warner would take over as CEO, with Founder Jeremy Blum acting as Strategic and Creative Advisor.{{cite web | url=https://www.pcgamesinsider.biz/job-news/70605/insurgency-dev-new-world-appoints-new-ceo/ | title=Insurgency dev New World appoints new CEO }}

In August 2020, New World Interactive was acquired by Saber Interactive as part of Embracer Group.{{cite web | url = https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/thq-parent-company-embracer-has-purchased-i-metro-i-dev-4a-games-and-others | title = THQ parent company Embracer has purchased Metro dev 4A Games and others | first = Chris | last =Kerr | date = 13 August 2020 | access-date= 13 August 2020 | website = Gamasutra }}{{cite press release | url = https://embracer.com/release/embracer-group-acquires-new-world-interactive/ | title = Embracer Group Acquires New World Interactive | date = August 13, 2020 | access-date = August 13, 2020 | publisher = Embracer Group }} In December 2023, during larger restucturings at Embracer Group, Saber Interactive instituted several layoffs at New World Interactive and shifted others to fill open positions at Saber Interactive, while work on Insurgency: Sandstorm and an unannounced project would continue.{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/embracer-confirms-layoffs-at-insurgency-developer-new-world-interactive |title=Embracer confirms layoffs at Insurgency developer New World Interactive |first=Liv |last=Ngan |date=December 5, 2023 |website=Eurogamer |access-date=December 13, 2023}}

In March 2024, Saber was sold to Beacon Interactive, a new company from Saber co-founder Matthew Karch. Many of Saber's studios, including New World Interactive, were included in the sale.{{Cite web |last=McEvoy |first=Sophie |date=2024-03-14 |title=Embracer sells Saber Interactive for $247m |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/embracer-sells-saber-interactive-for-247m |access-date=2024-03-14 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}}

{{Main|Insurgency (video game)}}

Insurgency is a 2014 tactical shooter video game, following a fictional conflict between the "Security" and "Insurgents" faction in a fictional Middle Eastern region. As a tactical shooter, Insurgency features a limited HUD, lethal weaponry, and a lack of regular respawning. The player's inventory is determined by their character class and supply points (SP), which limit the weapons and equipment the player can bring with them.

Production began in September 2011, and the game was released in early access in 2013.{{cite web|url=http://steamcommunity.com/games/insurgency/announcements/detail/1299558532717053019|title=NEW WORLD INTERACTIVE PROVIDES "EARLY ACCESS" TO INSURGENCY TODAY AT 6 PM PACIFIC|date=March 2013 }} The game was fully released on Steam on January 22, 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.ausgamers.com/games/insurgency/review/ |title=Insurgency Review |publisher=AusGamers.com |date=2014-01-23 |access-date=2014-02-09}} The game was a success, selling 400,000 copies in the first 8 months and ending up with approximately 3.76 million copies sold up to July 2017.{{Cite web |last=Spearin |first=Andrew |date=2014-09-24 |title=First 24hrs: Results from Steam's update |url=https://medium.com/@andrewspearin/first-24hrs-results-from-steams-update-de7cd18c4a31 |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=Medium |language=en}} Insurgency was awarded Indie DB's Indie of the Year 2014 Editor's Choice{{cite web|url=http://www.indiedb.com/groups/2014-indie-of-the-year-awards/features/indie-of-the-year-2014-editors-choice |title=Indie of the Year 2014 - Editor's Choice |publisher=IndieDB.com |date=2014-12-24 |access-date=2017-03-20}} and Indie of the Year 2014 Player's Choice.{{cite web|url=http://www.indiedb.com/games/insurgency/features/indie-of-the-year-2014 |title=Indie of the Year 2014 - Player's Choice |publisher=IndieDB.com |date=2014-12-24 |access-date=2017-03-20}}

{{Main|Day of Infamy (video game)}}

Day of Infamy is a 2017 tactical shooter video game, following battles between the Allies and Axis on the Western Front of World War II. Though sharing basic gameplay elements with Insurgency, Day of Infamy features significant gameplay changes including a lack of low-powered optical sights, the addition of purchasable cosmetic items, and a new fire support and command system.

Initially developed as a Steam Workshop mod for Insurgency in 2016, development shifted to the creation of an independent game, with the now-standalone Day of Infamy being released in early access in July 2016{{Cite web|url=http://steamcommunity.com/games/447820/announcements/detail/818911970862748079|title= Steam Community :: Group Announcements ::Day of Infamy|website=steamcommunity.com|date= 28 July 2016|language=en|access-date=2017-03-15}} and seeing a full release on Steam on March 23, 2017.{{Cite web|url=http://steamcommunity.com/games/447820/announcements/detail/508183896485689930|title= Steam Community :: Group Announcements ::Day of Infamy|website=steamcommunity.com|date= 9 March 2017|language=en|access-date=2017-03-15}} The game was generally well-received.

{{Main|Insurgency: Sandstorm}}

Insurgency: Sandstorm is a 2018 tactical shooter video game, following the same setting of the original Insurgency. Sandstorm refines gameplay mechanics from both Insurgency and Day of Infamy, including a retouched fire support system, and introduces a detailed cosmetics system, purchasable outfits, weapon skins, and drivable vehicles, among other gameplay mechanics.

Development began in 2016, and was the first NWI-developed game to not use Source (instead using Unreal Engine 4), as well as the first to be released for consoles. A campaign, following characters as they survive the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the lasting Iraqi insurgency, was planned and highlighted in prerelease marketing, but was ultimately canceled during development.{{Cite web |date=January 3, 2018 |title=Insurgency: Sandstorm Community Update - A Shift in Direction |url=https://forums.focus-home.com/topic/2842/insurgency-sandstorm-community-update-a-shift-in-direction |access-date=October 13, 2019 |website=Focus Home Interactive - Official Forums |language=en-GB}} The Windows version was released on Steam on December 12, 2018;{{Cite web|url=https://newworldinteractive.com/announcing-insurgency-sandstorm/|title=Announcing Insurgency: Sandstorm {{!}} New World Interactive|website=newworldinteractive.com|date=23 February 2016 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-04-02}} however, the planned MacOS and Linux versions were canceled in 2019,{{Cite web |date=December 9, 2019 |title=Steam :: Insurgency: Sandstorm :: State of Production 4 |url=https://steamcommunity.com/games/581320/announcements/detail/1706231356225607555 |access-date=December 10, 2019 |website=steamcommunity.com |language=en}} while the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions saw repeated delays{{Cite web |date=June 3, 2018 |title=Insurgency Sandstorm PS4 and Xbox One Versions Delayed |url=https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2018/06/03/insurgency-sandstorm-ps4-xbox-one-delayed/ |access-date=January 6, 2021 |website=PlayStation LifeStyle}}{{Cite web |date=February 26, 2020 |title=Insurgency Sandstorm Console Release Date Confirmed for August 2020 |url=https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2020/02/26/insurgency-sandstorm-console-release-date/ |access-date=January 6, 2021 |website=PlayStation LifeStyle}} until they were released on September 29, 2021, including versions for the Xbox Series X and Series S and PlayStation 5.{{Cite web |date=August 13, 2020 |title=Insurgency Sandstorm Console Release Date Now Slated for 2021 |url=https://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2020/08/13/insurgency-sandstorm-console-release-date-2/ |access-date=January 6, 2021 |website=PlayStation LifeStyle}} The game was released to critical acclaim and continues to maintain live service content updates as of 2024.

In July 2019, NWI announced that they were hiring, among other positions, an art director position for an "as-yet unannounced new IP being developed by New World." Job listings suggested the new IPs would be a looter shooter and a cover-based shooter.{{Cite web |date=2022-01-03 |title=Senior AI Programmer |url=https://jobs.newworldinteractive.com/jobs/1510880-senior-ai-programmer |access-date=2022-03-22 |website=New World Interactive |language=en}}{{Speculation inline|date=date=March 2023}} As of 2024, no new information on upcoming IPs have been announced and all job listing have since been removed.

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.newworldinteractive.com/|New World Interactive official website}}
• {{Official website|http://www.playinsurgency.com/|Insurgency official website}}

{{Embracer Group}}

Category:2010 establishments in Colorado

Category:Companies based in Denver

Category:American companies established in 2010

Category:Video game companies established in 2010

Category:Video game companies of the United States

Category:Video game development companies

Category:Saber Interactive

Category:2020 mergers and acquisitions