Frontier Developments Explained

Frontier Developments plc.
Former Name:Frontier Developments Limited (1994–2013)
Type:Public limited company
Industry:Video games
Founder:David Braben
Hq Location:Cambridge Science Park
Hq Location City:Cambridge
Hq Location Country:England
Revenue: [1]
Revenue Year:2022
Income Year:2022
Net Income Year:2022
Num Employees:790 [2]
Num Employees Year:31 May 2022

Frontier Developments plc. is a British video game developer[3] founded by David Braben in January 1994 and based at the Cambridge Science Park in Cambridge, England.[4] Frontier develops management simulators Planet Coaster and Planet Zoo, and has produced several games in David Braben's Elite series, including Elite Dangerous. The company takes its name from the earliest titles in the Elite series with which it was involved, a port of and development of . In 2013, the company was listed on the AIM segment of the London Stock Exchange. It published third-party games under the Frontier Foundry label between 2019 and 2022.

History

Frontier Developments' first game was the 1993 Amiga CD32 port of followed by , second sequel to the 1984 game Elite by Acornsoft. David Braben owned all rights to Elite assigned to the company in 2008.

Between 2005 and 2011, Frontier developed The Outsider, an action-adventure game set in Washington DC that Braben said would advance video game storytelling.[5] The Outsider was cancelled in January 2011 after it was dropped by the publisher, Codemasters, leading to nearly 30 staff layoffs.[6] [7]

Frontier had been planning a new Elite sequel, under the working title Elite 4, since 1998. The company completed a successful Kickstarter campaign at the end of 2012, where the new sequel's name was revealed. Early-access versions of the game have been playable by backers since December 2013. The full game was released to PC on 16 December 2014.

Frontier Developments has made many other games, including Dog's Life, Thrillville, and RollerCoaster Tycoon 3. The company also made games for the Wallace and Gromit franchise, and has released Wallace & Gromit in Project Zoo, and a tie-in game for . In 2008, Frontier released LostWinds, a launch title for Nintendo's WiiWare platform. It was followed up with a sequel in 2009, entitled . In 2010, Frontier developed Kinectimals for Microsoft's Kinect controller on the Xbox 360. In 2011 Kinect Disneyland Adventures and Kinectimals: Now With Bears were developed, along with ports of LostWinds for iOS and Kinectimals for iOS and Windows Phone. In 2012, Frontier released Coaster Crazy, and started to work on Kickstarter, which successfully closed at the start of 2013. In 2013, Frontier released Xbox One and Xbox 360 exclusive Zoo Tycoon, published by Microsoft Studios, and launched backers alpha for Elite: Dangerous in December. In 2015 the company released Screamride, a theme park construction and management simulation game for the Xbox 360 and Xbox One. The company has recently released Planet Coaster, a construction and management simulation video game similar to the RollerCoaster Tycoon franchise. The game is the second major self-published franchises from Frontier along with the Elite series. Frontier announced that they will begin self-publishing all their future games, starting with Planet Coaster.[8]

Frontier opened a North American studio in August 2012 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada under the name Frontier Developments Inc. and headed by David Walsh.[9] It closed in January 2015.

On 3 January 2017 TMZ reported that the company sued Atari for not paying the company enough for royalties for their game RollerCoaster Tycoon 3; Frontier reported that they only received $1.17 million when they needed $3.37 million. David Walsh confirmed the report in a GameSpot interview, stating that they had previously attempted to resolve the issue without legal action since April 2016.[10] On 6 February 2017 Frontier announced that they had acquired licensing rights from Universal Pictures to be used in their third self-published title, an "enduring movie franchise of global renown".[11] This was later announced to be Jurassic World Evolution, which released on 12 June 2018.[12] On 26 July 2017 the company announced Frontier Expo 2017, a press and community event focusing on Elite: Dangerous, Planet Coaster, and Jurassic World Evolution. The event took place on 7 October 2017 at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, UK.[13] In July 2017, Tencent, a Chinese investment company, bought a 9% share in the company.[14]

On 10 March 2020, Frontier announced that they had signed an agreement with Formula One to develop and release several management simulation games based on the F1 license. In this agreement, Frontier will release four games, starting from F1 Manager 2022 in 2022.[15] On 10 June 2021, Frontier announced Jurassic World Evolution 2 a sequel to their 2018 park builder game would be releasing in late 2021. On 10 Mar 2022, Frontier announced they were cancelling all development of their latest version of Elite Dangerous, Odyssey, on consoles.[16]

On 10 August 2022, Frontier announced David Braben was to step down from the position of CEO and take on a newly established executive role of President and Founder. Jonny Watts who has been with the company for 24 years, the last decade of which in the position of Chief Creative Officer was to become the new CEO. The changes were effective immediately. It was also announced that David Gammon would be retiring from his role as Chairman in December 2022 and David Wilton would take on this role at that time.[17] On 2 November 2022, Frontier announced that they had completed an acquisition of Complex Games following on from the success of which was published under the Frontier Foundry label six months prior.[18]

On 17 October 2023, Frontier announced it would lay off an ‘unknown number of staff’ in an organisational review.[19]

Publishing

In June 2019, Frontier announced that it would begin publishing games from third-party developers under a new label named Frontier Publishing. At Gamescom 2020, Frontier announced that their publishing label would be renamed to "Frontier Foundry", and that it would publish Struggling from Chasing Rats in 2020, and Lemnis Gate from Ratloop Games in 2021.[20] [21] They would also publish an upcoming project from Haemimont Games.[22] This game was revealed to be named which initially released as an Early Access title on Steam in October 2022, with a full release anticipated during 2023.[23]

On 13 June 2021, Frontier announced Lemnis Gate would be released on 3 August 2021 with an open beta being scheduled for July 2021.[24] On 3 June 2021 during the Games Workshop Warhammer Skulls event, Frontier announced they would be publishing a reboot to the 1998 turn based game Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate named . The reboot is to be developed by Canadian developer Complex Games and published under the Frontier Foundry label. It is set to release in 2022.[25]

Additionally Frontier announced a sequel to named , developed by Okomotive and published under the Frontier Foundry label. The game was released in March 2022.[26] Deliver Us Mars, set ten years after the events of Deliver Us The Moon, was announced as part of the Future Games Show Spring Showcase on March 24, 2022.[27] It features a new protagonist who reactivates her companion robot after an apparent ship crash on the planet of Mars. Deliver Us Mars is set to launch on both Epic Games Store and Steam PC storefronts, as well as Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, and PS4 consoles. , a Real Time Strategy game developed by Petroglyph Games was announced as part of the Future Games Show during Gamescom on August 24, 2022.[28] It launched on the Epic Games Store and Steam PC storefronts in March 2023.

On 14 June 2023 it was announced that a review into the performance of Frontier Foundry concluded to cease all future third party publishing efforts due to disappointing financial performance, with most games releasing under the label failing to become profitable within one year of release. It was stated that games already released would continue to be supported but no further games would release under the label. Instead future funding that was to be allocated for this purpose would be diverted to producing games internally.[29]

Frontier released on November 17, 2023. Realms of Ruin flopped with a drop in concurrent players and lackluster sales. Frontier shares plunged 20%. Attempts to widen their game portfolio didn't achieve the anticipated success in the past 5 years. Frontier stated it will refocus on creative management simulation (CMS) games.[30]

On 15 March 2024, Frontier announced that the publishing rights to RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 would be sold back to Atari, Inc.[31] This was confirmed by their parent Atari SA on 2 April.[32]

Games

Games developed

YearTitlePublisher(s)Platform(s)
1995GameTekMS-DOS, Windows, Classic Mac OS, Linux
1996DarxideSega32X
1998V2000Grolier InteractiveWindows, PlayStation
2000InfestationUbi Soft
2003Darxide EMPFrontier DevelopmentsPocket PC
RollerCoaster Tycoon (Xbox port) Infogrames InteractiveXbox
Wallace & Gromit in Project ZooBAM! EntertainmentWindows, Xbox, PlayStation 2, GameCube
Dog's LifeSony Computer EntertainmentPlayStation 2
RollerCoaster Tycoon 2: Wacky WorldsInfogrames InteractiveWindows
RollerCoaster Tycoon 2: Time TwisterAtari Interactive
2004RollerCoaster Tycoon 3Atari Interactive (PC), Frontier Developments (iOS)Windows, OS X, iOS
2005RollerCoaster Tycoon 3: Soaked!Atari InteractiveWindows, OS X
RollerCoaster Tycoon 3: Wild!
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-RabbitKonamiPlayStation 2, Xbox
2006ThrillvilleLucasArts
Atari Europe		PlayStation 2, Xbox, PlayStation Portable
2007LucasArtsPlayStation 2, Xbox 360, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, Wii, Windows
2008LostWindsFrontier DevelopmentsiOS, Wii, Windows
2009
2010KinectimalsMicrosoft Game StudiosXbox 360, Windows Phone, iOS, Android
2011Microsoft Studios
Xbox 360
2012Coaster CrazyFrontier DevelopmentsiOS
2013Zoo TycoonMicrosoft StudiosXbox 360, Xbox One
Coaster Crazy DeluxeFrontier DevelopmentsWii U, iOS
2014Tales from Deep SpaceAmazon Game StudiosFire OS, iOS
Frontier DevelopmentsWindows, OS X, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
2015ScreamrideMicrosoft StudiosXbox 360, Xbox One
Frontier DevelopmentsWindows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4
2016Windows, Xbox One
Planet CoasterWindows, macOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
2018Jurassic World EvolutionWindows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
2019Planet ZooWindows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
2021[33]
Jurassic World Evolution 2[34] Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
2022F1 Manager 2022[35]
2023F1 Manager 2023[36]
[37] Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
2024F1 Manager 2024[38] Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
Planet Coaster 2[39] Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

Games published under the Frontier Foundry label

!Year!Title!Developer(s)!Platform(s)
2020StrugglingChasing Rats GamesWindows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
RollerCoaster Tycoon 3

Complete Edition[40]

Frontier DevelopmentsWindows, Nintendo Switch
2021Lemnis GateRatloop Games CanadaWindows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
2022OkomotiveWindows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
Complex GamesWindows
2023Haemimont GamesWindows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
Deliver Us MarsKeokeN Interactive
Petroglyph GamesWindows

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Annual Results . 21 September 2022 . London Stock Exchange . 22 September 2022 . 22 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220922063620/https://www.londonstockexchange.com/news-article/FDEV/fy22-results-a-thriving-and-expanding-portfolio/15637039 . live .
  2. Web site: FY22 Interim Results. 2022-06-14. London Stock Exchange. 14 June 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220614110526/https://www.londonstockexchange.com/news-article/FDEV/trading-update-record-annual-revenue-26-growth/15493393. live.
  3. News: Big tech presents next chapter for UK gaming companies . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221211221258/https://www.ft.com/content/b3a5cc22-6800-11e9-a79d-04f350474d62 . 11 December 2022 . subscription . live . April 26, 2019 . Financial Times . 27 April 2019 .
  4. Life on the Frontier . Seth . Barton . . 937 . July 2018 . . 14–18.
  5. Web site: Houlihan, John. 23 September 2005. Xbox Interviews: David Braben - The Outsider. 25 September 2007. Computer and Video Games. https://web.archive.org/web/20141220193624/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/126257/interviews/david-braben-the-outsider/. 20 December 2014.
  6. Web site: 20 January 2011. The Outsider 'not cancelled'. 1 May 2022. MCV. 9 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211109101237/https://www.mcvuk.com/development-news/the-outsider-not-cancelled/. live.
  7. News: David Braben says The Outsider "probably is gone for good". Eurogamer. 1 May 2022. 1 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220501234850/https://www.eurogamer.net/david-braben-says-the-outsider-probably-is-gone-for-good. live.
  8. Frontier cements total independence with self-published Planet Coaster . Jarvis . Matthew . 31 March 2016 . . . 24 September 2016 . 21 October 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161021014211/http://www.develop-online.net/news/frontier-cements-total-independence-with-self-published-planet-coaster/0218600 . live .
  9. Web site: Frontier Developments Officially Opens First North American Office in Nova Scotia . PR Newswire . 22 July 2022 . en . 22 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220722204831/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/frontier-developments-officially-opens-first-north-american-office-in-nova-scotia-174434611.html . live .
  10. News: Hussain. Tamoor. Atari Being Sued for Alleged Unpaid Rollercoaster Tycoon Royalties. January 3, 2017. GameSpot. January 3, 2017. 4 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170604085141/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/atari-being-sued-for-alleged-unpaid-rollercoaster-/1100-6446579/. live.
  11. News: Frontier Developments Secures Movie Licence For Third Game Franchise. February 8, 2017. London Stock Exchange. February 6, 2017. 8 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170208171131/http://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/alliance-news/detail/1486369700323150400.html. live.
  12. Web site: Frontier Announces Jurassic World Evolution. Frontier. 20 August 2017. 25 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220425094613/https://www.frontier.co.uk/news/press-releases/frontier-announces-jurassic-world-evolution. live.
  13. News: Elite Dangerous developer announces Frontier Expo 2017. July 27, 2017. PC Gamer. July 26, 2017. 29 July 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170729095956/http://www.pcgamer.com/elite-dangerous-developer-announces-frontier-expo-2017/. live.
  14. News: Chinese game giant Tencent buys 9% of Elite Dangerous dev Frontier. Eurogamer. July 28, 2017. 28 July 2017. 28 July 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170728202935/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-07-28-chinese-game-giant-tencent-buys-9-percent-of-elite-dangerous-dev-frontier. live.
  15. Web site: Frontier Developments signs exclusive license for multiple F1 management games. Rebekah. Valentine. Gameindustry.biz. March 10, 2022. March 27, 2022. 30 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220430141446/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-03-10-frontier-developments-signs-exclusive-license-for-multiple-f1-games. live.
  16. Web site: Hall . Charlie . 2022-03-10 . Elite Dangerous console development canceled, new content will be for PC only . 2022-03-10 . Polygon . 30 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220430141446/https://www.polygon.com/22971016/elite-dangerous-console-development-canceled-xbox-playstation-new-content-pc-only . live .
  17. Web site: Dealessandri . Marie . August 10, 2022 . David Braben to step down as CEO of Frontier . August 23, 2022 . Games Industry.biz . 22 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220822123536/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/david-braben-to-step-down-as-ceo-of-frontier . live .
  18. Web site: Acquisition of Complex Games Inc . 2022-11-02 . otp.tools.investis.com.
  19. Web site: Batchelor . James . October 17, 2023 . Frontier to lay off unknown number of staff in organisational review . November 10, 2023 . Games Industry.biz . 11 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231111172932/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/frontier-to-lay-off-unknown-number-of-staff-in-organisational-review . live .
  20. Web site: Flesh-flailing co-op platformer Struggling is the first game from Frontier Development's new publishing label. Matt. Wales. Eurogamer. August 27, 2020. August 28, 2020. 29 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210529221529/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2020-08-27-flesh-flailing-co-op-platformer-struggling-is-the-first-game-from-frontier-developments-new-publishing-label. live.
  21. Time Looping Lemnis Gate Featured At Gamescom 2020. Daniel. Tack. Game Informer. August 27, 2020. August 28, 2020. 30 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220430141446/https://www.gameinformer.com/gamescom-2020/2020/08/27/time-looping-lemnis-gate-featured-at-gamescom-2020. dead.
  22. Web site: Frontier signs first deal as third-party publisher. Matthew. Handrahan. June 12, 2019. December 14, 2019. Gameindustry.biz. 30 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220430141446/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-06-12-frontier-signs-first-deal-as-third-party-publisher. live.
  23. Web site: Stranded: Alien Dawn Is a New Survival Sim About a Community Marooned in Space. Matt. Kim. IGN. August 23, 2022. August 23, 2022.
  24. Web site: Park. Morgan. 2021-06-13. Time loop FPS Lemnis Gate gets a release date at the PC Gaming Show. 2021-06-14. PC Gamer. 25 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220425094614/https://www.pcgamer.com/time-loop-fps-lemnis-gate-gets-a-release-date-at-the-pc-gaming-show/. live.
  25. Web site: Hall. Charlie. 2021-06-03. Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters will reboot the turn-based classic. 2021-06-14. Polygon. 30 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220430141446/https://www.polygon.com/22496722/warhammer-40000-chaos-gate-daemonhunters-writer-aaron-dembski-bowden-platforms-release-date-price. live.
  26. Web site: Nightingale . Ed . 2022-01-11 . Far: Changing Tides now has a release date . 2022-05-01 . Eurogamer . 1 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220501234852/https://www.eurogamer.net/far-changing-tides-now-has-a-release-date . live .
  27. Web site: 'Deliver Us The Moon' sequel 'Deliver Us Mars' announced with new trailer. Brown, Andy. March 30, 2022. NME. 15 April 2022. 30 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220430141447/https://www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/deliver-us-the-moon-sequel-deliver-us-mars-announced-with-new-trailer-3190313. live.
  28. Web site: Command and Conquer Remastered studio reveals a brand-new RTS. Chalk, Andy. August 24, 2022. PC Gamer. 24 August 2022. 24 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220824191446/https://www.pcgamer.com/command-and-conquer-remastered-studio-reveals-a-brand-new-rts/. live.
  29. Web site: Full year trading update & Frontier Foundry review . 2023-07-08 . otp.tools.investis.com.
  30. Web site: Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin flops, Frontier shares tank nearly 20 per cent . The Economic Times . 27 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231207184350/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/warhammer-age-of-sigmar-realms-of-ruin-flops-frontier-shares-tank-nearly-20-per-cent/articleshow/105538221.cms . Dec 7, 2023.
  31. Web site: Archived copy . 2 April 2024 . 2 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240402172453/https://www.londonstockexchange.com/news-article/FDEV/trading-update-sale-of-publishing-rights/16401877 . live .
  32. Web site: Archived copy . 2 April 2024 . 2 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240402171357/https://atari.com/blogs/newsroom/atari-acquires-rollercoaster-tycoon-3 . live .
  33. Web site: IP Licence with Games Workshop and Trading Update, Frontier Developments PLC. London Stock Exchange. 3 October 2020. 30 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220430141515/https://www.londonstockexchange.com/news-article/FDEV/ip-licence-with-games-workshop-and-trading-update/14524668. live.
  34. Web site: Jurassic World Evolution 2 Announced, Launching in 2021. Alessandro. Barbosa. GameSpot. June 10, 2021. 10 June 2021. 25 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220425094617/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/jurassic-world-evolution-2-announced-launching-in-2021/1100-6492664/. live.
  35. Web site: New F1 Manager 2022 game set for summer release. 7 March 2022. 7 March 2022. 30 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220430141446/https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.new-f1-manager-2022-game-set-for-summer-release.2ZXn7fuS4g7qWDc5e91WEa.html. live.
  36. Web site: F1 Manager 23 to launch in the summer with a host of fresh features Formula 1® . 2023-05-25 . www.formula1.com . en . 24 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230524160846/https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.f1-manager-23-to-launch-in-the-summer-with-a-host-of-fresh-features.2wUbyExcmd4oWD4CJIMOVe.html . live .
  37. News: Castle . Katharine . 2023-05-25 . Elite Dangerous devs are making new Warhammer RTS, Age Of Sigmar: Realms Of Ruin . en . Rock, Paper, Shotgun . 2023-05-25 . 25 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230525165734/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/elite-dangerous-devs-are-making-new-warhammer-rts-age-of-sigmar-realms-of-ruin . live .
  38. Web site: Ngan. Liv. F1 Manager 2024 includes Create A Team, due this summer. Eurogamer. 12 March 2024. 11 July 2024.
  39. Web site: Nightingale. Ed. Frontier officially announces Planet Coaster 2, now with water parks . Eurogamer. 11 July 2024. 11 July 2024.
  40. Web site: Phillips. Tom. 2020-09-08. Rollercoaster Tycoon 3 Complete Edition headed to PC and Switch. 2021-06-14. Eurogamer. en. 9 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200909080425/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2020-09-08-rollercoaster-tycoon-3-complete-edition-headed-to-pc-and-switch. live.

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