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Digital Extremes

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Digital Extremes
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo game industry
Founded1993
HeadquartersLondon, Ontario, Canada
Number of employees
170
ParentLeyou
DivisionsDigital Extremes Toronto[1]
Websitewww.digitalextremes.com

Digital Extremes is a majority Chinese-owned[2], Canadian-operated computer and video game development studio founded in 1993 by James Schmalz, best known for its co-creation of Epic Games' highly successful Unreal series of games. Digital Extremes is headquartered in London, Ontario. In 2014, 61% of the company was sold to Chinese holding company Multi Dynamic, now Leyou, for $73 million. President Michael Schmalz and two partners retained 39% of Digital Extremes, and will continue to manage it.[3]

History

Founder James Schmalz created Epic Pinball, published by then shareware publisher, Epic MegaGames. Bolstered from the success of Epic Pinball[4] and the rising technology movement in the mid-90's toward realistic 3D graphics, Schmalz officially founded Digital Extremes in 1993 and the company began co-development with Epic Games on what would become Epic Games' Unreal franchise.[5]

Unreal was a first-person shooter released in 1998, and was followed up with Unreal Tournament in 1999, which received numerous industry awards.[6] Subsequent sequels in the Unreal franchise, included Unreal Championship, Unreal Tournament 2003, and Unreal Tournament 2004. To date, the Unreal series has sold more than 15 million units worldwide across a multitude of gaming platforms including PlayStation 2, Dreamcast, Xbox, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Mac and PC. Several of the game's iterations are currently available for download on Steam (software).

After years of working in the same universe with Unreal, Digital Extremes broadened its library and technology with development of its original IP, Dark Sector. A third-person shooter, released in 2008 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC, Dark Sector used Digital Extremes' proprietary game engine, Evolution.

In recent years, Digital Extremes has assisted 2K with the PS3 version of blockbuster hit, BioShock,[7] as well as developed the multiplayer component of the sequel, BioShock 2 while simultaneously developing the multiplayer portion of THQ's first-person shooter, Homefront.[8] Digital Extremes developed the game for the Star Trek Into Darkness movie, working with Bandai Namco and Paramount to develop Star Trek.

On October 14, 2014, Sumpo Food Holdings Ltd. acquired majority share of Digital Extremes, with Perfect World Co. acquiring minority.[9][10][11]

In 2016, it was revealed[12] that Digital Extremes' game Warframe had been hacked, exposing the email addresses of over 700,000 players.

On October 6, 2017 it announced the opening a development studio in Toronto set to begin operations the following month.[1]

Projects

Digital Extremes has recently developed Warframe, a Free-to-play title.[13]

Digital Extremes is currently working with n-Space-(as the title confirms) to develop a fantasy role-playing game, Sword Coast Legends, which is set within the Dungeon and Dragons franchise.[14]

Technology

The Evolution logo

Evolution is Digital Extremes' proprietary game engine.[15] The engine made its debut with Dark Sector; and was again utilized in The Darkness II.[16] 2013's Star Trek featured use of the Evolution engine; and the engine is currently in use on the free-to-play online title Warframe, released 2013.

Awards, work environment, and labour disputes

Digital Extremes employment environment has been recognized as one of Canada's Top Employers for 2010, 2011 and 2012.[17] Additionally, the company has been recognized as one of Canada's top employers for Young People.[18] In 2010 and 2011, the Financial Post named Digital Extremes one of the ten best companies to work for in Canada.[19] However, the company has only a 3 star rating on the employer review site Glassdoor, with only 51% of employees saying they would recommend it as a workplace to a friend.[20] On the provincial level, Digital Extremes received the Ontario Small Business Award in 2010.[21] Digital Extremes was also presented with the Large Business of the Year award in 2011 from the London Chamber of Commerce.[22] Digital Extremes was also awarded the Excellence in Human Resources award from The London Chamber of Commerce in early 2012.[23]

In 2011, a Quality Assurance tester filed a claim with the Ontario Ministry of Labour for alleged working hour violations and unpaid overtime, on the basis that the Quality Assurance tester position did not fall under an "Information Technology Professional" exemption from working hour and overtime pay regulations. The Ministry upheld the claim and Digital Extremes complied with its judgment without contest, re-imbursing the employee for unpaid overtime.[24]

Games developed

Year Title Platform(s)
DC DOS Lin Mac PS PS2 PS3 PS4 Win Xbox X360 XOne
1993 Solar Winds No Yes No No No No No No No No No No
1993 Epic Pinball No Yes No No No No No No No No No No
1993 Silverball No Yes No No No No No No No No No No
1995 Extreme Pinball No Yes No No Yes No Yes No No No No No
1998 Unreal No No No Yes No No No No Yes No No No
1999 Unreal Tournament Yes No Yes Yes No Yes No No Yes No No No
2001 Adventure Pinball: Forgotten Island No No No No No No No No Yes No No No
2002 Unreal Championship No No No No No No No No No Yes No No
2002 Unreal Tournament 2003 No No Yes Yes No No No No Yes No No No
2004 Unreal Tournament 2004 No No Yes Yes No No No No Yes No No No
2005 Pariah No No No No No No No No Yes Yes No No
2006 Warpath No No No No No No No No Yes Yes No No
2008 Dark Sector No No No No No No Yes No Yes No Yes No
2008 BioShock (PS3 port) No No No No No No Yes No No No No No
2010 BioShock 2 (multiplayer) No No No Yes No No Yes No Yes No Yes No
2011 Homefront (multiplayer) No No No No No No No No Yes No No No
2012 The Darkness II No No No Yes No No Yes No Yes No Yes No
2013 Warframe No No No No No No No Yes Yes No No Yes
2013 Star Trek No No No No No No Yes No Yes No Yes No
2015 Sword Coast Legends No No Yes Yes No No No Yes Yes No No Yes
2017 The Amazing Eternals No No No No No No No No Yes No No No

Further reading

  • Keighley, Geoffrey. "Blinded By Reality: The True Story Behind the Creation of Unreal". GameSpot. Archived from the original on May 19, 2001. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  • Lafferty, Michael. "Digital Extremes moves from the days of shareware programs to set the mark in mainstream gaming". GameZone. Archived from the original on June 13, 2002. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  • "Made-in-Canada game is Unreal hit". The Globe and Mail.

References

  1. ^ a b "Digital Extremes expands to Toronto".
  2. ^ "Majority share in Warframe dev purchased by Chinese companies".
  3. ^ DeBono, Norman (October 15, 2014). "London's Digital Extremes sold to Multi Dynamic Games Group". The London Free Press. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  4. ^ RGB Classic Games. "Epic Pinball". RGB Classic Games.
  5. ^ David Jenkins (August 20, 2007). "Digital Extremes Weighs In On Unreal Engine 3 for PS3". Gamasutra.com. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  6. ^ "GT Interactive and Epic Games Earn Coveted 'Game of the Year' Honors for 'Unreal Tournament'". Business Wire. February 17, 2000. p. 1261.
  7. ^ Mike Bendel (June 8, 2008). "Digital Extremes To Assist In BioShock PS3 Development". exophase.com. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  8. ^ Jaz McDougall (August 18, 2010). "Homefront PC port has dedicated servers". pcgamer.com. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  9. ^ Digital Extremes (October 14, 2014). "In-Depth: Partnership Announced".
  10. ^ Makuch, Eddie (October 15, 2014). "Unreal, BioShock Dev Digital Extremes Sold to Chinese Companies". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  11. ^ Futter, Mike (October 16, 2014). "Digital Extremes: No Changes To Leadership Following Majority Acquisition By Chinese Firms". Game Informer. GameStop. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  12. ^ "Digital Extremes admits Warframe hack".
  13. ^ Kotaku (August 10, 2012). "Warframe, The Next Game From The Darkness II's Developers, Looks Interesting". kotaku. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
  14. ^ Jared Petty (February 13, 2015). "New Dungeons & Dragons Game Sword Coast Legends coming in 2015". IGN. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
  15. ^ Mark DeLoura (March 9, 2010). "In-Depth: The State Of Game Engines At GDC 2010". gamasutra.com. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  16. ^ Kranzl, Justin. "Preview: The Darkness II". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved September 6, 2011.
  17. ^ Canada's Top 100 (October 7, 2011). "Canada's Top 100 Employers: National Competition". Canadastop100.com. Retrieved February 9, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ Canada's Top 100 (September 19, 2011). "Canada's Top 100 Employers for Young People". Canadastop100.com. Retrieved February 9, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ Canada's Top 100 (February 1, 2011). "Financial Post's Ten Best Companies To Work For". Canadastop100.com. Retrieved March 13, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ "Working at Digital Extremes". Glassdoor.
  21. ^ Jody Lundrigan (September 16, 2010). "Twelve Ontario Businesses Named Winners of Business and Export Excellence". Ontario Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  22. ^ London Chamber of Commerce. "Business Achievement Awards – Business of the Year Hall of Fame".
  23. ^ London Free Press. "Celebrating City's Best".
  24. ^ File:Employment Standards Ruling Digital Extremes 2011.pdf
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