Changes: Eidos Interactive

Latest revision as of 19:52, 8 November 2019

Eidos Interactive
Eidos logo.png
Type	Defunct (merged into Square Enix Europe)
Founded	1990
Defunct	2009
Headquarters	United States Germany France Australia Japan
Products	Tomb Raider series Thief series Hitman series
Parent Company	Square Enix
Website	http://www.eidosinteractive.com/

Eidos was a developer and publisher of entertainment software with game titles for PC, PlayStation, GameCube, Xbox and N-Gage consoles.

Eidos was the largest video games developer and publisher in the United Kingdom. They are perhaps best known for the Tomb Raider series, Thief series and the Hitman series.

In July 2009, Eidos was absorbed into Square Enix's new European division Square Enix Europe and its development studios were taken over by that organization as well as Square Enix, Inc. The Eidos publishing franchise ended around 2010.

Current Studios[ | ]

Current[ | ]

Crystal Dynamics in Redwood City, California, founded in 1992, acquired in 1998.
IO Interactive in Copenhagen, Denmark, founded in 1998.
Eidos Montreal in Canada, founded in 2007
Beautiful Game Studios in London, England, started in 2003
Eidos Shanghai in China, started in 2008

Part-owned[ | ]

Rocksteady (25.1%)

Defunct[ | ]

Eidos Hungary in Hungary, founded in 2005, closed October 2009.
Pivotal Games in Bath, England, founded in March 2000, acquired by SCi on 29 September 2003, closed 22 August 2008.
Core Design in Derby, England, founded in 1988, acquired by Eidos on 1996, closed 11 May 2006.
Ion Storm, Inc. in Texas, founded in 1996, acquired by Eidos on July 2001, closed 9 February 2005.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Infobox Company
+{{Company| title = Eidos Interactive
+|type = Defunct (merged into [[Square Enix Europe]])
-| name             = Eidos Interactive Ltd.
-| logo             = [[File:Eidos logo.svg|256px]]
+|image = Eidos logo.png
+|founded = 1990
-| type             = [[Subsidiary]] of [[Square Enix]]
+|headquarters =  United States<br>Germany<br>France<br>Australia<br>Japan
-| genre            =
+|products = [[Tomb Raider series]]<br />[[Thief series]]<br />[[Hitman series]]
-| fate             = Merged with [[Square Enix]]
+|parent = [[Square Enix]]
-| predecessor      =
+|website = http://www.eidosinteractive.com/
-| successor        = [[Square Enix Europe]]
+|defunct = 2009}}
-| foundation       = 1990
+'''Eidos''' was a developer and publisher of entertainment software with game titles for [[PC]], [[PlayStation]], [[GameCube]], [[Xbox]] and [[N-Gage]] [[console]]s.
-| founder          =
-| location_city    = [[Wimbledon, London|Wimbledon]], [[London]]
-| location_country = [[England]]
-| location         =
-| locations        =
-| area_served      =
-| key_people       = [[Stephen Bernard Streater]] (Founder),<br/> [[Ian Livingstone]] (Eidos President and CEO),<br/> Phil Rogers (Square Enix Europe CEO)<ref name="gs">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/action/tombraider8/news.html?sid=6213037 |title=
-Square Enix retires Eidos publishing label |date=2009-07-08 |accessdate=2009-07-10}}</ref>
-| industry         = [[Computer and video game industry|Interactive entertainment]]
-|products          = [[Tomb Raider (series)|''Tomb Raider'' series]]<br />[[Hitman (series)|''Hitman'' series]]<br />[[Deus Ex|''Deus Ex'' series]]<br />''[[Kane & Lynch]]''<br />[[Thief (series)|''Thief'' series]]<br />[[Championship Manager|''Championship Manager'' series]]<br />[[Legacy of Kain|''Legacy of Kain'' series]]
-| services         =
-| market cap       =
-| revenue          = {{profit}} £179.1 million (2006)
-| operating_income = {{profit}} £28.8 million (2006)
-| net_income       = {{profit}} £8.1 million (2006)
-| aum              =
-| assets           =
-| equity           =
-| owner            = [[Independent business|Independent]] (1990–2004)<br>[[Sci Entertainment]] (2004–2009)<br>[[Square Enix]] (2009–present)
-| num_employees    = 600
-| parent           = [[Independent business|Independent]] (1990–2004)<br>[[Sci Entertainment]] (Eidos plc) (2004–2009)<br>[[Square Enix]] (2009–present)
-| divisions        =
-| subsid           =
-| homepage         = [http://www.eidos.com/ www.eidos.com]
-| footnotes        =
-| intl             = Yes
-}}
+Eidos was the largest video games [[developer]] and [[publisher]] in the [[United Kingdom]]. They are perhaps best known for the [[Tomb Raider]] series, [[Thief series]] and the [[Hitman series]].
-'''Eidos Interactive Ltd.''' ({{pron-en|ˈaɪdɒs}}, {{respell|EYE|dos}}) was a British [[video game developer]] and [[video game publisher|publisher]]. It is now part of [[Square Enix Europe]].<ref name="gs" />
+In July 2009, Eidos was absorbed into Square Enix's new European division [[Square Enix]] Europe and its development studios were taken over by that organization as well as Square Enix, Inc. The Eidos publishing franchise ended around 2010.
-Its best-known game series include ''[[Tomb Raider (series)|Tomb Raider]]'', ''[[Hitman (series)|Hitman]]'', ''[[Commandos (series)|Commandos]]'', ''[[Deus Ex]]'', ''[[Legacy of Kain]]'', ''[[Thief (computer game)|Thief]]'', ''[[TimeSplitters (series)|Timesplitters]]'', and ''[[Fear Effect]]''. The company maintains offices all around the world, including the [[United States]], [[Canada]], [[Germany]], [[France]], [[Australia]] and [[Japan]].
+==Current Studios==
-Eidos officially became part of [[Square Enix]] on 22 April 2009. Following a reorganization of Square Enix's European operations, Eidos is slated to be consolidated into a new branch, named [[Square Enix Europe]].<ref name="gs" /> The Eidos Interactive brand will cease to be used for game publishing thereafter.<ref>[http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/square-enix-revamps-europe-operation gamesindustry.biz - Square Enix revamps Europe operation // News]</ref>
-== History ==
+===Current===
+*[[Crystal Dynamics]] in Redwood City, California, founded in 1992, acquired in 1998.
-=== Beginnings and company growth ===
+*[[IO Interactive]] in Copenhagen, Denmark, founded in 1998.
-Eidos plc, later to become the parent company of Eidos Interactive, was founded in 1990 as a company specialising in [[video compression]] and [[non-linear editing]] systems, particularly for [[Acorn Archimedes]] computers, and floated on the [[London Stock Exchange]].<ref>{{cite web|title=NEWCOMER EIDOS PERKY IN EARLY TRADING ON HOPES OVER APPLE-ACORN LINK|publisher=CBR|date=|url=http://www.cbronline.com/news/newcomer_eidos_perky_in_early_trading_on_hopes_over_apple_acorn_link?print=1|accessdate=14 April 2010}}</ref>
+*[[Eidos Montreal]] in Canada, founded in 2007
+*[[Beautiful Game Studios]] in London, England, started in 2003
+*[[Eidos Shanghai]] in China, started in 2008
+===Part-owned===
-Following a series of rights issues and a strongly rising share price, Eidos plc undertook a series of acquisitions in the games sector, starting with the acquisition of the PC games companies [[Domark|Domark Group Limited]] (Domark), [[Simis]] and [[Big Red Software]] in 1995 through a [[reverse takeover]]. At the time, Domark was known for ''[[3D Construction Kit]]'', ''[[Championship Manager]]'','' [[Hard Drivin']]'', and many other games. Domark (by far the largest of the set), Simis and Big Red were combined into Eidos Interactive.
+*''[[Rocksteady]] (25.1%) ''
+===Defunct===
-In 1996, with the success of the Sony PlayStation imminent, Eidos plc acquired CentreGold plc (which included US Gold and Centresoft). Centresoft was sold back in an [[MBO]]. US Gold included the valuable asset of [[Core Design]] (probably best known for ''[[Tomb Raider]]'', ''[[Chuck Rock]]'', ''[[Curse of Enchantia]]'', ''[[Heimdall (computer game)|Heimdall]]'', ''[[Rick Dangerous]] ''and ''[[E-Motion]]''). A further series of acquisitions and skilful use of capital meant that Eidos plc (now almost entirely consisting of Eidos Interactive) was the fastest growing company in the world in the 1990s, with the share price rising over 400 times from its 1993 low to its 1999 high.
+*[[Eidos Hungary]] in Hungary, founded in 2005, closed October 2009.
+*[[Pivotal Games]] in Bath, England, founded in March 2000, acquired by SCi on 29 September 2003, closed 22 August 2008.
+*[[Core Design]] in Derby, England, founded in 1988, acquired by Eidos on 1996, closed 11 May 2006.
+*[[Ion Storm|Ion Storm, Inc.]] in Texas, founded in 1996, acquired by Eidos on July 2001, closed 9 February 2005.
+[[Category:Game developers]]
-In February 2007, Eidos acquired [[Rockpool Games]], along with its two sister companies [[Ironstone Partners]] and [[SoGoPlay]].
+[[Category:Game publishers]]
-=== Takeover by SCi ===
-On 3 August 2004, the ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' reported that Eidos was in preliminary discussions with a small number of companies in relation of a possible business combinations. In early March 2005, Eidos admitted that [[money creation|cash reserves]] had dwindled to £11.9m during the second half of 2004, and pre-tax losses had grown to £29m.
-On 21 March 2005, Eidos received a takeover bid from [[Elevation Partners]], the [[private equity]] firm owned by former [[Electronic Arts]] president [[John Riccitiello]] and with a number of notable partners, including [[U2]]'s lead singer [[Bono]]. This takeover valued the company at £71m ($135m), and would inject £23m in order to keep the company [[bankruptcy|solvent]] in the short term.
-On 22 March, Eidos received a second takeover bid from the British games manufacturer [[SCi Entertainment]]. Sci offered £74m ($139m), and tabled a restructuring plan to cut £14m from annual costs. To fund this takeover, SCi proposed to sell £60m worth of stock. Eventually, in late April, Elevation Partners formally withdrew its offer, leaving the way clear for SCi. The takeover was finalized on 16 May 2005.
-Since the Sci purchase, the vast majority of the old Eidos management were let go. SCi left their [[Battersea]] Office and moved into the old Eidos office on the second floor of Wimbledon Bridge House, 1 Hartfield Road, [[Wimbledon, London|Wimbledon]]. Eidos announced on 15 February 2007 that they would open a new studio in [[Montreal]], Quebec, Canada responsible for "new undisclosed next-generation projects".  Eidos Montreal started developing a new game in the ''Deus Ex'' franchise.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=16365 |publisher=Gamasutra |title=Eidos Announces ''Deus Ex 3'' |title=Talks New Montreal Studio}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://uk.gamespot.com/news/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=25638028&part=rss&tag=gs_news&subj=6171079 |title=Eidos resurrecting Deus Ex? |publisher=Gamespot}}</ref>
-On 4 September 2007, the board of Sci Entertainment confirmed recent speculation that the company has been approached with a view to making an offer.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz:80/content_page.php?aid=28301 |title=SCi confirms approach has been made |publisher=GamesIndustry.biz}}</ref> On 10 January 2008 SCi announced take over and/or merger talks had been halted.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7182603.stm |publisher=BBC News |title=Lara Croft firm scraps bid talks |date=11 January 2008 |accessdate=3 January 2010}}</ref> As a result, the share price dropped by over 50%. Major investors called for the resignation of key personnel, including CEO Jane Cavanagh, over this issue as well as delays to key titles.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/technology/article3176808.ece |title=Game Over for Tomb Raider boss |publisher=Times Online |location=London | first=Louise | last=Armitstead | date=13 January 2008 | accessdate=1 May 2010}}</ref> On January 18, 2008 Jane Cavanagh, Bill Ennis and Rob Murphy (Managing Directors of Publishing and Studios, respectively) left the company.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thunderboltgames.com/news/article/eidos-management-quit-due-to-pressure-from-shareholders-news-for-all.html |title=Eidos management quit due to pressure from shareholders |publisher=Thunderbolt Games}}</ref>
-Eidos's parent company, Sci, revealed its 2008 financial report. Losses were at £100 million, but new CEO Phil Rogers claimed this was only due to the reconstructing plans.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mcvuk.com/opinion/212/SCi-results-reaction |title=SCi results reaction |publisher=MVC}}</ref> On September 19, 2008 Eidos opened a Shanghai based studio consisting of a small team to build up relations in Asia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mcvuk.com/news/31828/Eidos-opens-Shanghai-base |publisher=MVC |title=Eidos opens Shanghai base}}</ref> On 3 December 2008, Sci changed its name to Eidos plc (the name of Eidos, prior to the Sci takeover), and also changed its London Stock Exchange ticker symbol from SEG to EID.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hemscott.com/servlet/HsPublic?context=ir.access&ir_option=RNS_NEWS&item=71264244871010&ir_client_id=3144 |title=SCi Entertainment Group Plc - Change of Company Name to Eidos plc |publisher=SCi Entertainment Group PLC |date=2008-12-02 |accessdate=2009-01-18}}</ref>
-=== Part of Square Enix Europe ===
-In February 2009, Square Enix reached an agreement to purchase Eidos for £84.3 million, pending shareholder approval,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/5152117/square-enix-trying-to-buy-tomb-raider |title=Square Enix Trying To Buy Tombraider |publisher=Kotaku}}</ref> with an initial aim of fully buying Eidos on 6 May 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/5164380/eidos-pencils-in-square-enix-takeover-for-may |title=Eidos Pencils In Square Enix Takeover For May |publisher=Kotaku}}</ref> The date was brought forward and Square Enix officially took over Eidos on 22 April 2009.
-Although Square Enix said earlier that it would let Eidos Interactive remain as it is currently and not meddle in its internal affairs,<ref>[http://kotaku.com/5229444/square-enix-lets-eidos-be-eidos Square Enix Lets Eidos Be Eidos - Eidos - Kotaku]</ref> Square Enix recently announced that it would be stopping game publishing under the Eidos brand and renaming it into Square Enix Europe. Eidos Interactive will most likely cease publishing in 2010.
-== Studios ==
-=== Current ===
-*[[Crystal Dynamics]] in [[Redwood City, California]] ([http://www.crystald.com Official site]), founded in 1992, acquired in 1998.
-*[[IO Interactive]] in [[Copenhagen, Denmark]] ([http://www.ioi.dk Official site]), founded in 1998.
-*Eidos Montreal in [[Canada]] ([http://eidosmontreal.com Official site]), founded in 2007
-*[[Beautiful Game Studios]] in [[London, England]] ([http://bgstudios.co.uk Official site]), started in 2003
-*Eidos Shanghai in [[China]], started in 2008
-=== Part-owned ===
-*''[[Rocksteady Studios|Rocksteady]] (25.1%) ([http://www.rocksteadyltd.com Official site])
-=== Defunct ===
-*[[Eidos Hungary]] in [[Hungary]] ([http://eidos.hu Official site]), founded in 2005, closed October 2009.
-*[[Pivotal Games]] in [[Bath, England]], founded in March 2000, acquired by SCi on 29 September 2003, closed 22 August 2008.
-*[[Core Design]] in [[Derby, England]], founded in 1988, acquired by Eidos on 1996, closed 11 May 2006.
-*[[Ion Storm Inc.]] in [[Texas]], founded in 1996, acquired by Eidos on July 2001, closed 9 February 2005.
-== Games ==
-* ''[[25 To Life]]'' (2006)
-* ''[[Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures]]'' (2008)
-* ''[[AionGuard]]'' (TBA)
-* ''Alisal Matters'' (TBA)
-* ''[[Backyard Wrestling: Don't Try This At Home]]'' (2003)
-**''[[Backyard Wrestling 2: There Goes the Neighborhood]]'' (2004)
-* ''[[Battlestations: Midway]]'' (2007)
-* ''[[Battlestations: Pacific]]'' (2009)
-* ''[[Batman: Arkham Asylum]]'' (2009)
-* ''[[Championship Manager 5]]'' (2005)
-* ''[[Chili Con Carnage]]'' (2007)
-* ''[[Chuck Rock]]'' (1991)
-* ''[[Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines]]'' (1998)
-** ''[[Commandos: Beyond the Call of Duty]]''
-** ''[[Commandos 2: Men of Courage]]'' (2001)
-** ''[[Commandos 3: Destination Berlin]]'' (2003)
-** ''[[Commandos: Strike Force]]'' (2006)
-* ''[[Conflict: Denied Ops]]'' (2008)
-* ''[[Cutthroats: Terror on the High Seas]]'' (1999)
-* ''[[Daikatana]]'' (2000)
-* ''[[Deathtrap Dungeon (game)|Deathtrap Dungeon]]'' (1998)
-* ''[[Deus Ex]]'' (2000)
-** ''[[Deus Ex: Invisible War]]'' (2003)
-** ''[[Deus Ex: Human Revolution]]'' (2011)
-* ''[[Doctor Who: Top Trumps]]'' (2008)
-* ''[[Eve of Extinction]]'' (2002)
-* ''[[Fear Effect]]'' (2000)
-** ''[[Fear Effect 2: Retro Helix]]'' (2001)
-* ''[[Fighting Force]]'' (1997)
-** ''[[Fighting Force 2]]'' (1999)
-* ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]''  (1997)
-* ''[[Gangsters: Organized Crime]]'' (1998)
-** ''[[Gangsters 2]]'' (2001)
-* ''[[Geon: Emotions]]'' (2007)
-* ''[[Hitman: Codename 47]]'' (2000)
-** ''[[Hitman 2: Silent Assassin]]'' (2002)
-** ''[[Hitman: Contracts]]'' (2004)
-** ''[[Hitman: Blood Money]]'' (2006)
-** ''[[Hitman 5]]'' (2010)
-* ''[[Imperial Glory]]'' (2005)
-* ''[[Infernal (video game)|Infernal]]'' (2007)
-* ''[[Joint Strike Fighter (video game)|Joint Strike Fighter]]'' (1997)
-* ''[[Just Cause (video game)]]'' (2006)
-* ''[[Just Cause 2]]'' (2010)
-* ''[[Kane & Lynch: Dead Men]]'' (2007)
-**''[[Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days]]'' (2010)
-<!-- Do *not* add Kane & Lynch 2, this is a list for released games only -->
-* ''[[Legacy of Kain]]
-** ''[[Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain]]'' (1996)
-** ''[[Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver]]'' (1999)
-** ''[[Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2]]'' (2001)
-** ''[[Blood Omen 2: Legacy of Kain]]'' (2002)
-** ''[[Legacy of Kain: Defiance]]'' (2003)
-* ''[[Legaia 2: Duel Saga]]'' (2001)
-* ''[[Lego Star Wars: The Video Game]]'' (2005)
-* ''[[Mad Dash Racing]]'' (2001)
-* ''[[Mad Maestro]]'' (2001)
-* ''[[Mini Ninjas]]'' [http://www.minininjas.com Official Site] (2009)
-* ''[[Mister Mosquito]]'' (2001)
-* ''[[Monster Lab]]'' (2008)
-* ''[[Ninja: Shadow of Darkness]]'' (1998)
-* ''[[Official Formula 1 Racing]]''
-* ''Orion Burger''
-* ''[[Pocket Pool]]'' (2007)
-* ''[[Praetorians (game)|Praetorians]]'' (2003)
-* ''[[Project Eden]]'' (2001)
-* ''[[Project IGI: I'm Going In]]'' (2000)
-* ''[[Project Snowblind]]'' (2005)
-* ''[[Revenant (game)|Revenant]]'' (1999)
-* ''[[Reservoir Dogs (video game)|Reservoir Dogs]]'' (2006)
-* ''[[Rogue Trooper (2006 video game)|Rogue Trooper]]'' (2006)
-* ''[[Shellshock]]''
-* ''[[Shellshock: Nam '67]]'' (2004)
-* ''[[Soul Bubbles]]'' (2008)
-* ''[[Spider: The Video Game]]'' (1996)
-* ''[[Startopia]]'' (2001)
-* ''[[Terracide]]'' (1997)
-* ''[[Thief (computer game series)|Thief]]''
-** ''[[Thief: The Dark Project]]'' (1998)
-** ''[[Thief II: The Metal Age]]'' (2000)
-** ''[[Thief: Deadly Shadows]]'' (2004)
-** ''[[Thief 4]] (TBA)
-<!-- Do *not* add Thief 4, this is a list for released games only -->
-* ''[[Timesplitters]]'' (2000)
-** ''[[Timesplitters 2]]'' (2002)
-* ''[[Tomb Raider]]'' (1996)
-** ''[[Tomb Raider II]]'' (1997)
-** ''[[Tomb Raider III]]'' (1998)
-** ''[[Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation]]'' (1999)
-** ''[[Tomb Raider Chronicles]]'' (2000)
-** ''[[Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness]]'' (2003)
-** ''[[Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Legend]]'' (2006)
-** ''[[Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary]]'' (2007)
-** ''[[Tomb Raider: Underworld]]'' (2008)
-** ''[[Tomb Raider 9]] (TBA)
-* ''[[Total Overdose]]'' (2005)
-* ''[[Top Trumps Adventures (Wii)|Top Trumps Adventures]]'' (2007)
-* ''[[Top Trumps Adventures: Dogs and Dinosaurs]]'' (2007)
-* ''[[Top Trumps Adventures: Horror and Predators]]'' (2007)
-* ''[[Touch the Dead]]'' (2007)
-* ''[[Trade Empires]]'' (2001)
-* ''[[The Unholy War]]'' (1998)
-* ''[[Urban Chaos]]'' (1999)
-* ''[[Urban Chaos: Riot Response]]'' (2006)
-* ''[[Virtual Resort: Spring Break]]'' (2002)
-* ''[[Warzone 2100]]'' (1999)
-* ''[[Way of the Samurai]]'' (2002)
-== See also ==
-[[Square Enix Europe]]
-== References ==
-{{Reflist}}
-== External links ==
-* [http://www.eidos.com/ Official website]
-* [http://corporate.eidos.com Eidos] corporate site
-* [http://www.uiqo.com/ ''Eidos'' Press Vault] - press vault with media and trailers
-* [http://www.mobygames.com/company/eidos-inc ''Eidos Interactive''] at [[MobyGames]]
-{{Square Enix}}
-[[Category:Companies established in 1990]]
-[[Category:Companies disestablished in 2009]]
-[[Category:Entertainment Software Association]]
-[[Category:Video game companies of the United Kingdom]]
-[[Category:Video game developers]]
-[[Category:Companies based in Redwood City, California]]
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