Bloober Team Explained

Bloober Team S.A.
Type:Public
Industry:Video games
Hq Location City:Kraków
Hq Location Country:Poland
Key People:Peter Babieno (CEO)
Products:See developed games
Num Employees:>100[1]
Num Employees Year:2020

Bloober Team S.A. is a Polish video game developer based in Kraków. Founded in November 2008 by Peter Babieno and Peter Bielatowicz, the company is best known for developing horror games such as Layers of Fear (2016), Observer (2017), Blair Witch (2019), and The Medium (2021). In January 2018, Bloober Team received the Paszport Polityki award in the "Digital Culture" category. It owns third-party publisher Feardemic.[2]

History

Bloober Team was founded by Peter Babieno and Peter Bielatowicz.[3] The studio was originally part of Nibris, a developer set up in 2006, but sought to become independent through investor funding.[4] The studio formally launched on 6 November 2008, employing 20 people in Kraków offices. Babieno became the chief executive officer for the company. In October 2010, following Nibris' decision to exit the game development business and the cancellation of their only video game, Sadness, many of the company's developers joined Bloober Team.[5]

One of their first titles they developed was Music Master: Chopin for Microsoft Windows and iOS. Because it was released to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Frédéric Chopin, the game contains several piano and vocal performances of Chopin's work.[6] [7] In 2013, they released a free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena game Deathmatch Village for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita. It features cross-play interactivity between the two consoles and consists of three-on-three arena battles.[8] [9]

One of the turning points in Bloober Team's history was the development of Basement Crawl, which debuted alongside the PlayStation 4. Following poor reception, the studio reworked the game by re-using the core game concept while introducing new graphics, game mechanics, story, and game modes. The resulting product, Brawl, was released in February 2015 to favourable reviews and was made available free of charge for owners of Basement Crawl.[10]

The developer received the Paszport Polityki award in the "Digital Culture" category on 10 January 2018.[11] A new project, codenamed Project Méliès, was announced on 8 March 2018.[12] In October that year, the title was announced to be Layers of Fear 2, to be released in 2019 by Gun Media.[13]

In 2009, Bloober Team founded a subsidiary limited liability company iFun4all sp. z o.o.[14] and later brought it to NewConnect stock exchange with the initial public offering occurring on 23 September 2016.[15] On 23 August 2019 company changed its name from iFun4all to Draw Distance.[16] Bloober Team remains the owner of 34.98% of the Draw Distance shares.[17]

After about a year of negotiations with various companies related to the acquisition, Bloober Team stated in March 2021 that they plan to remain as an independent company, though will look to do strategic partnering with one of these companies in the future.[18]

Bloober Team and Konami announced a strategic partnership in June 2021 to jointly share technology and game development towards video game titles.[19]

In October 2021, Bloober Team announced that Tencent became their majority shareholder with 22% of shares.[20] In May 2022, Bloober Team announced a "significant license and distribution agreement" with Sony Interactive Entertainment.[21]

During Summer Game Fest 2022, Bloober Team confirmed they were working on a new Layers of Fear, described as both a remaster and sequel of the original series, built using Unreal Engine 5.[22]

In October 2022, after months of rumors, Konami announced that Bloober Team is remaking Silent Hill 2. The studio is using Unreal Engine 5 and it will be a timed console-exclusive on PlayStation 5 while also releasing on Windows through Steam.[23] In an interview with DreadXP, Bloober Team revealed that they were invited by Konami to pitch their idea for a Silent Hill 2 remake among other studios.[24]

In February 2023, Bloober Team revealed that a title codenamed "Project M" would be entering development, with Draw Distance as the main developer.[25] In July 2024, it was announced that Draw Distance would be removed from the project in favor of Bloober Team completing it in-house. In addition, it was stated that it would be the first game to be published by the company's new subsidiary, Broken Mirror Games.[26]

Bloober Team announced two new projects in April 2024. One, "Project C", was in partnership with Take-Two Interactive's publishing label Private Division, and will be a completely new IP owned by Bloober. The second, "Project R", was in partnership with Skybound Entertainment, with a planned 2025 release.[27]

Games developed

! Year! Title! Platform(s)! Genre(s)! Publisher(s)!
2010History: Egypt – Engineering an EmpireiOS, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable, Wii, WindowsStrategyBloober Team[28]
Hospital HavocNintendo DSSimulation[29]
Music Master: ChopiniOS, macOS, WindowsMusic[30]
Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable, Wii, Xbox 360, Nintendo SwitchStrategy[31]
2011Double BloobNintendo DSiAction[32]
2012A-MenPlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, WindowsPuzzle[33]
2013Deathmatch VillagePlayStation 3, PlayStation VitaMultiplayer online battle arena[34]
A-Men 2PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, WindowsPuzzle[35]
2014Basement CrawlPlayStation 4Action[36]
2015BrawlAndroid, Linux, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows
2016Layers of FearLinux, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox OnePsychological horrorAspyr[37] [38]
2017ObserverLinux, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One[39]
2019Layers of Fear 2Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox OneGun Media
Blair WitchAmazon Luna, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox OneLionsgate Games[40]
2020Observer: System ReduxAmazon Luna, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/SBloober Team[41]
2021The MediumAmazon Luna, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S[42]
2023Layers of FearmacOS, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S[43]
2024Silent Hill 2PlayStation 5, WindowsSurvival horrorKonami[44]

Cancelled games

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 704: The Medium and Call of the Sea on Xbox Series X - Xbox Live's Major Nelson . Wojciech . Piejko . 26 June 2020 . . 29 June 2020 . 12 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210512183619/https://majornelson.com/podcast/704-the-medium-and-call-of-the-sea-on-xbox-series-x/ . live .
  2. Web site: Makuch . Eddie . 2 August 2021 . Feardemic Names New CEO As It Welcomes More Investors For Its "Aggressive Expansion Plans" . 2023-11-17 . GameSpot . en-US . 27 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230227063237/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/feardemic-names-new-ceo-as-it-welcomes-more-investors-for-its-aggressive-expansion-plans/1100-6494641/ . live .
  3. Web site: Bloober Team Breaks Down the Psychology of 'Hidden Horror' in New Video for >observer_ . 23 June 2017 . . 8 May 2018 . https://archive.today/20180508193349/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/300512/Bloober_Team_Breaks_Down_the_Psychology_of_lsquoHiddenHorrorrsquo_in_New_Video_for_gtobserver.php . live.
  4. Web site: Bloober team announces company formation . Phil . Elliott . 6 November 2008 . . 16 December 2018 . 20 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190620192231/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/bloober-team-announces-company-formation . live .
  5. Web site: Sadness developer Nibris no longer makes videogames . Jim . Sterling . Jim Sterling . 19 October 2010 . . 16 December 2018 . 5 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160305024556/http://www.destructoid.com/sadness-developer-nibris-no-longer-makes-videogames-186215.phtml . live .
  6. Web site: Classical Music Goes Guitar Hero in Music Master: Chopin . . 15 April 2010 . 9 January 2021 . Andy . Chalk . 20 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181120211326/https://v1.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/100021-Classical-Music-Goes-Guitar-Hero-in-Music-Master-Chopin . dead .
  7. Web site: Music Master: Chopin - Classic - recenzja gry . . 15 December 2010 . 9 January 2021 . Krystian . Smoszna . 13 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210513102257/https://www.gry-online.pl/S020.asp?ID=7116 . live .
  8. Web site: F2P brawler Deathmatch Village to make Cross-Play a cost-free proposition . . 1 February 2013 . 18 April 2015 . Gilmour, James . 29 September 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190929233755/https://www.pocketgamer.com/articles/048240/f2p-brawler-deathmatch-village-to-make-cross-play-a-cost-free-proposition/ . live .
  9. Web site: Deathmatch Village brings redneck MOBA action to PS3 and PS Vita . . 18 February 2013 . 18 April 2015 . Bochenek, Michal . 19 April 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150419052351/http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2013/02/18/deathmatch-village-brings-redneck-moba-action-to-ps3-and-ps-vita/ . live .
  10. Web site: Brawl Coming to PS4 This Week . Miranda . Sanchez . 22 April 2015 . . 16 December 2018 . 16 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181216211121/https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/04/22/brawl-coming-to-ps4-this-week/ . live .
  11. News: Twórcy Observer ze studia Bloober Team laureatami Paszportu Polityki . Daniel . Kłosiński . 10 January 2018 . . 8 May 2018 . 29 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180629183027/https://www.eurogamer.pl/articles/2018-01-10-tworcy-observer-laureatami-paszportu-polityki . live .
  12. Web site: Project Méliès is the next game from Observer, Layers of Fear dev . Austin . Wood . 8 March 2018 . . 29 March 2018 . 5 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180705151151/https://www.pcgamer.com/project-melies-is-the-next-game-from-observer-layers-of-fear-dev/ . live .
  13. Web site: Layers of Fear 2 revealed, set to come out next year . Andy . Chalk . 25 October 2018 . . 16 December 2018 . 17 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181217014834/https://www.pcgamer.com/layers-of-fear-2-revealed-set-to-come-out-next-year/ . live .
  14. Web site: Monitor Sądowy i Gospodarczy nr 101/2009 (3204) - Pozycja 65841 . National Court Register in Poland, entry for iFun4all . 1 July 2020 . 29 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210729010415/http://www.krs-online.com.pl/msig-3204-65841.html . live .
  15. Web site: ESPI/EBI Report of the admission to trading . NewConnect . 1 July 2020 . 18 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240118151401/https://newconnect.pl/komunikat?geru_id=115108 . live .
  16. Web site: ESPI/EBI Report of the name change . NewConnect .
  17. Web site: ESPI Report 29/2020 . Bloober Team investor relations portal . 1 July 2020 . 1 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200701150002/https://ir.blooberteam.com/2020/06/26/raport-biezacy-29-2020/ . live .
  18. Web site: The Medium's studio has backed away from acquisition talks . Chris . Scullion . March 30, 2021 . March 30, 2021 . . 30 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210330132110/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/the-mediums-studio-has-backed-away-from-acquisition-talks/ . live .
  19. Web site: The Medium dev Bloober Team working with Konami on new projects . Sherif . Saed . June 30, 2021 . June 30, 2021 . . 30 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210630132240/https://www.vg247.com/2021/06/30/konami-bloober-team-partnership-silent-hill/ . live .
  20. Web site: Tencent becomes Bloober Team's largest shareholder by acquiring 22% of its shares for $19.5 million. 13 May 2022. 26 September 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220926021836/https://gameworldobserver.com/2021/10/11/tencent-becomes-bloober-teams-largest-shareholder-by-acquiring-22-of-its-shares-for-19-5-million. live.
  21. Web site: Bloober Team "enters into a significant license and distribution agreement with Sony Interactive Entertainment" (PS Plus?). 13 May 2022. 13 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220513174200/https://www.resetera.com/threads/bloober-team-enters-into-a-significant-license-and-distribution-agreement-with-sony-interactive-entertainment-ps-plus.583244/. live.
  22. Web site: 2022-06-09 . Bloober Team Reveals Horror Sequel That's Not Silent Hill . 2022-06-10 . Kotaku . en-us . 10 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220610132534/https://kotaku.com/bloober-team-reveals-horror-sequel-thats-not-silent-hil-1849042229 . live .
  23. Web site: 2022-10-19 . Silent Hill 2 Remake Announced From Bloober Team, First Look at Pyramid Head . 2022-10-20 . IGN . en-us . 31 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221031223544/https://www.ign.com/articles/konami-announces-silent-hill-2-remake . live .
  24. Web site: Bringing The Fear: Interview With Anna Jasińska From Bloober Team . DreadXP . January 3, 2024 . February 15, 2023 . Wood, Justin . 4 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230104161017/https://www.dreadxp.com/interview/bringing-the-fear-interview-with-anna-jasinska-from-bloober-team/ . live .
  25. Web site: Bloober Team's Project M Will Be Made By Serial Cleaners Dev. Lu-Hai. Liang. February 14, 2023. July 14, 2024. The Gamer.
  26. Web site: Bloober Team nie widzi związku między końcem współpracy z Draw Distance a wypowiedzianą umową przez Take-Two (wywiad). Maciej. Białobrzeski. July 8, 2024. July 14, 2024. Strefa Inwestorow.
  27. Web site: Bloober Team is working with Take-Two to develop a brand game based on a new IP . Vikki . Blake . 27 April 2024 . 27 April 2024 . .
  28. Web site: Egypt: Engineering an Empire Taking Over WiiWare and DSiWare . Trevor . Chan . 11 May 2011 . . 16 December 2018 . 16 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181216210946/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2011/05/egypt_engineering_an_empire_taking_over_wiiware_and_dsiware . live .
  29. Web site: Review: Hospital Havoc (DSiWare) . Zach . Kaplan . 26 July 2010 . . 14 June 2023 . 22 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230622141318/https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2010/07/hospital_havoc_dsiware . live .
  30. Web site: Music Master: Chopin is a music game for the classically inclined . JC . Fletcher . 13 April 2010 . . 16 December 2018 . 16 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181216210847/https://www.engadget.com/2010/04/13/music-master-chopin-is-a-music-game-for-the-classically-incline/ . live .
  31. Web site: Bloober Team Working on NGP Launch Title . Patrick . Elliot . 21 April 2011 . . 14 June 2023 . 22 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230622141318/https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2011/04/bloober_team_working_on_ngp_launch_title . live .
  32. Web site: Double Bloob Now Bouncing on DSiWare Instead . Trevor . Chan . 17 May 2011 . . 14 June 2023 . 22 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230622141322/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2011/05/double_bloob_now_bouncing_on_dsiware_instead . live .
  33. Web site: A-MEN out today for PS3 with PS Vita Cross Play support . Olivier . Latanicki . 17 October 2012 . . 16 December 2018 . 3 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180703050730/https://blog.eu.playstation.com/2012/10/17/a-men-out-today-for-ps3-with-ps-vita-cross-play-support/ . live .
  34. Web site: Deathmatch Village beta due "really soon" . Brenna . Hillier . 18 February 2013 . . 16 December 2018 . 16 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181216211438/https://www.vg247.com/2013/02/18/deathmatch-village-beta-due-really-soon/ . live .
  35. Web site: A-Men 2 announced for PS3 and Vita . Wesley . Yin-Poole . 24 October 2013 . . 16 December 2018 . 17 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181217014823/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-10-24-a-men-2-announced-for-ps3-and-vita . live .
  36. Web site: Basement Crawl brings its grindhouse flavor to Europe Jan. 29 . Jenna . Pitcher . 24 January 2014 . . 16 December 2018 . 16 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181216210909/https://www.polygon.com/2014/1/24/5340680/basement-crawl-brings-its-grindhouse-flavor-to-europe-jan-29 . live .
  37. Web site: Layers of Fear 2 announced . Sal . Romano . 25 October 2018 . Gematsu . 16 December 2018 . 17 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181217014811/https://gematsu.com/2018/10/layers-of-fear-2-announced . live .
  38. Web site: Observer developer unveils its classic-cinema-themed horror Layers of Fear 2 . Matt . Wales . 25 October 2018 . . 16 December 2018 . 17 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181217014806/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-10-25-bloober-team-unveils-its-silver-screen-themed-layers-of-fear-2 . live .
  39. Web site: Observer coming to Switch . Sal . Romano . 31 August 2018 . Gematsu . 16 December 2018 . 21 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181221050733/https://gematsu.com/2018/08/observer-coming-to-switch . live .
  40. Web site: Blair Witch returns to reclaim its camera-toting horror crown from Outlast . James . Billcliffe . June 10, 2019 . . 10 June 2019 . 10 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190610194758/https://www.vg247.com/2019/06/10/blair-witch-game-e3-trailer/ . live .
  41. Web site: Bloober Team Observer System Redux. 28 December 2023. 28 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231228025321/https://www.blooberteam.com/observer-redux. live.
  42. Web site: Bloober Team Announces Psychological Horror Game, the Medium, Coming to Xbox Series X in 2020. 7 May 2020. 7 May 2020. 7 May 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200507173758/https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2020/05/07/bloober-team-announces-the-medium-xbox-series-x/. live.
  43. Web site: Bloober team announces Layers of Fears at Summer game Fest 2022, Layers of Fears, Coming to Xbox Series X in 2023. 2023. 13 June 2022. 13 June 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220613081724/https://www.ign.com/articles/layers-of-fear-bloober-team-summer-game-fest. live.
  44. Web site: McWhertor . Michael . 2022-10-19 . Silent Hill 2 remake coming to PS5, PC . 2022-10-19 . Polygon . en-US . 23 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221023220419/https://www.polygon.com/23413363/silent-hill-2-remake-release-date-ps5-pc-konami . live .
  45. Web site: Future Fight . GamesIndustry International . 29 April 2010 . . 16 December 2018 . 17 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181217014715/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/future-fight-manage-your-armies---conquer . live .
  46. Web site: Last Flight devs announce 'Gender Wars: The Battle,' an iPad strategy game . Ben . Gilbert . February 9, 2010 . . 16 December 2018 . 16 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181216210906/https://www.engadget.com/2010/02/09/last-flight-devs-announce-gender-wars-the-battle-an-ipad-str/ . live .
  47. Web site: Last Flight . . 22 June 2013 . 16 December 2018 . 16 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181216210948/http://www.nintendolife.com/games/wiiware/last_flight . live .
  48. Web site: Colin . Moriarty . 2014-08-15 . Introducing an All-New Victorian Horror Game: Scopophobia . 2023-06-22 . IGN . en . 22 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230622225039/https://www.ign.com/articles/2014/08/15/introducing-an-all-new-victorian-horror-game-scopophobia . live .

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