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Eidos Interactive

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Square Enix Ltd.
Company typeSubsidiary of Square Enix
IndustryInteractive entertainment
Computer and video games
PredecessorEidos Interactive
Founded1988 (as Sales Curve Interactive)
2005 (as Eidos plc)
2009
FounderJane Cavanagh (as Sales Curve Interactive)
Yoichi Wada & Phil Rogers (as Square Enix Europe Ltd.)
Headquarters
Wimbledon Bridge House, 1 Hartfield Road, Wimbledon, London
,
England
Key people
Tim Ryan (Chairman of the Board)
Phil Rogers (CEO)
ProductsFinal Fantasy series
Dragon Quest series
Kingdom Hearts series
Tomb Raider series
Hitman series
Deus Ex series
Kane & Lynch
Thief series
Legacy of Kain series
Sleeping Dogs
Revenue£144.0 million (yr - Jun 07)[1]
Decrease £31.4 million (yr - Jun 07)[1]
Decrease £28.1 million (yr - Jun 07)[1]
OwnerIndependent (1988-2009)
Square Enix (2009-present)
Number of employees
870 (2007)[1]
ParentIndependent (1988-2009)
Square Enix (2009-present)
Website[1]

Square Enix Limited,[2] doing business as Square Enix Europe, is a British publisher of video game software wholly owned by Square Enix. Square Enix Europe has its head office in the Wimbledon Bridge House in Wimbledon, London Borough of Merton.[3]

Square Enix Europe was originally the now-defunct Eidos plc, when it was the holding company for the Eidos group of companies, including United Kingdom video game publisher Eidos Interactive, which is responsible for the Just Cause, Tomb Raider and Hitman games, among others. It is the successor to Square Enix Ltd. and Eidos Interactive and will distribute and publish both Eidos and Square Enix's games under the Square Enix label. After the takeover of Eidos plc, Namco Bandai Partners handed over the Australian distribution rights of Eidos to Ubisoft Australia, which have a distribution deal with Square Enix.

After a successful takeover by Square Enix which came into effect on 22 April 2009, shares of Eidos officially de-listed on 21 April 2009 a day before the takeover. The name Eidos plc ceased to be used following a reorganisation of the Eidos Group, after which all previous Eidos properties were published under Square Enix and Eidos Interactive now as a part of Square Enix Europe.[4]

History

Beginnings as SCI

SCi former logo

Throughout the company's history it has had a number of names; known originally as The Sales Curve and later as Sales Curve Interactive, the company was founded in 1988 by Jane Cavanagh. The company published games under the label Storm from 1990 to 1993. In 1999 the company floated on the London Stock Exchange as SCI Entertainment Group PLC, using the ticker symbol SEG.

Under the SCI banner, the companies most popular games were the Carmageddon and the Conflict: Desert Storm game series.

SCI purchase of Eidos

In 2005 the company gained ownership of Eidos Interactive, another British games company. Since then the company has been exclusively releasing games under the Eidos brand.

In December 2006, Time Warner's Warner Bros. Entertainment has bought a 10.3% stake in SCI Games, including sister company, Eidos. Part of the deal between the two companies includes an arrangement with Eidos to make Warner Bros. its primary U.S. distributor, providing warehousing, logistics, merchandising and media buying services.[5] In April 2008, Warner Bros. Entertainment increased its stake to 35% while gaining distribution rights to SCI titles in the US, Canada and Mexico.[6]

In February 2007, Eidos closed its Manchester studio which focused in Mobile games and acquired Rockpool Games, another mobile game company, along with its two sister companies Ironstone Partners and SoGoPlay.[7]

On 27 October 2008, SCI scrapped a "standstill" arrangement with Time Warner subsidiary Warner Bros. The agreement – which had been in place since April – prevented Warner Bros. from acquiring more SCI shares without the Eidos parent’s consent until January 2009. SCI said it would now allow Warner Bros to buy more shares without consultation until December 1, 2008 – providing its stake doesn't reach 30 percent. Subsequently SCI's share price rose 11%.[8] On December 15, 2008, Time Warner purchased 10 million more shares in Eidos to bring its total to 19.92%.[9]

On 3 December 2008, SCI changed its name to Eidos Plc (the former name of Eidos prior to the SCI takeover), and also changed its London Stock Exchange ticker symbol from SEG to EID.[10] On 15 January Eidos confirmed that it received a preliminary approach which may not lead to an offer being made for the Company.[11]

In January 2009, they closed Rockpool Games.[12]

Square Enix purchase of Eidos

Eidos plc former logo

On 12 February 2009 SQEX Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix, announced a takeover offer worth £84.3 million (32p per share) for Eidos plc.[13] The takeover is effective as of 22 April. According to Square Enix president Yoichi Wada, the company Eidos will remain independent and Phil Rogers will remain CEO of the company as its "Lifetime CEO", only answering to Yoichi Wada.[14]

On 7 July 2009, Square Enix announced the formation of its European division, officially named Square Enix Europe. The Eidos name will be cease to be used as a publisher, though existing Eidos Interactive studios will keep the name.[4][15]

On 10 November 2009, Square Enix officially announced that the integration of their European operations as well as Eidos has been completed and the two entities will merge into one under the name of Square Enix Europe and will operate under the business name of Square Enix Ltd. This means that future titles by Eidos will no longer be published under the Eidos brand but Square Enix instead. Square Enix Europe will publish all games developed by Square Enix, Eidos and Taito. It will also manage various development studios namely Crystal Dynamics, IO Interactive, Beautiful Game Studios, Square Enix London Studios and Eidos Montréal.[16]

Studios

Current

Part-owned

Defunct

Games

SCI

Eidos Interactive

Main franchises

Battlestations series

Championship Manager series

Deus Ex series

Fear Effect series

Hitman series

Just Cause series

Kane & Lynch series

Legacy of Kain series

Shellshock series

Thief series

Tomb Raider series

Urban Chaos series

Licensed Games

Others

Upcoming games

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Annual Report 2007" (PDF). SCi Entertainment Group. Retrieved 2008-05-29.
  2. ^ "Privacy Policy - Square Enix Europe". Square Enix Europe. Retrieved 2010-09-05.
  3. ^ "Terms of Use." Square Enix Europe. Retrieved on 30 January 2011. "This Site is owned and operated by Square Enix Ltd ("Square Enix" "Our", "We", or "Us"), a company registered in England and Wales (Company Number 01804186). Square Enix is registered for VAT with registration number GB 521500600. The registered office of Square Enix is Wimbledon Bridge House, 1 Hartfield Road, London SW19 3RU."
  4. ^ a b "Square Enix revamps Europe operation // News". Gamesindustry.biz. Retrieved 2009-08-09.
  5. ^ "Warner Bros, SCi Sign Investment, Licensing Agreement=". Gamasutra. 2006-12-15. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  6. ^ "Warner Bros. Strengthens Partnership with SCi". Edge Online. 2008-04-28. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  7. ^ "Eidos closes Manchester studio // News". Gamesindustry.biz. 2009-01-23. Retrieved 2009-08-09.
  8. ^ "SCi shares rocket as it encourages Warner Bros bid". MVC. 2008-10-27. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  9. ^ "Time Warner has picked up an additional 10 million shares, raising its total stake in Eidos to about 20 percent". Game Daily. 2008-12-15. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  10. ^ "SCi Entertainment Group Plc - Change of Company Name to Eidos plc". SCi Entertainment Group PLC. 2008-12-02. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  11. ^ "Statement re Possible Offer". Eidos plc. 2008-12-02. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  12. ^ Sliwinski, Alexander (2009-01-23). "Eidos closes mobile developer Rockpool Games". Joystiq.com. Retrieved 2009-08-09.
  13. ^ "Offer for Eidos plc". Square Enix Holdings Co Limited. 2009-02-12. Retrieved 2009-02-12.
  14. ^ Martin, Matt (April 29, 2009). "Livingstone takes life president role at Eidos". Games Industry. Retrieved November 10, 2009.
  15. ^ Plunkett, Luke (2009-07-08). "Goodbye Eidos, Hello Square Enix Europe - Eidos". Kotaku. Retrieved 2009-08-09.
  16. ^ "SQUARE ENIX EUROPE NEW IDENTITY CONFIRMED FOR SQUARE ENIX AND EIDOS" (PDF). Square Enix. November 10, 2009. Retrieved November 10, 2009.

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