Futuremark Explained

Futuremark Oy
Type:Subsidiary
Industry:Computer software
Fate:Acquired and rebranded
Successor:UL Benchmarks
Hq Location City:Espoo
Hq Location Country:Finland
Area Served:Worldwide
Products:Computer benchmark applications
Parent:UL

Futuremark Oy was a Finnish software development company that produced computer benchmark applications for home, business, and press use. Futuremark was acquired by UL on 31 October 2014,[1] and was formally merged into the company on 23 April 2018.[2]

History

Prior to Futuremark, the founding team developed Final Reality, a benchmarking tool, at Remedy Entertainment, in cooperation with VNU European Labs. Following the tool's release, Futuremark was founded in Espoo in November 1997 and formally launched on 27 February 1998.[3]

Soon after being founded the company altered its trading name to "MadOnion.com"[4] until finally settling on "Futuremark Corporation" in 2002.[5]

The 3DMark series has been the company's most popular and successful to date.

Futuremark's applications are distributed via the Internet as well as offline media. In addition to its benchmarking software, the company has also provided services such as IHV/ISV customised benchmarks, 3D demos as well as online and data services.

In March 2007, Futuremark launched a website specialising in news and reviews of PC games, called YouGamers.[6]

In January 2008, Futuremark announced the formation of the Futuremark Games Studio.[7] In August 2008, at the Leipzig Games Convention, Futuremark Games Studio announced details of its first game, Shattered Horizon.[8]

In December 2009, Futuremark's mobile and embedded business unit was spun off and renamed Rightware.

In March 2012, Futuremark sold its game development division to Rovio Entertainment (developer of the Angry Birds franchise) for an undisclosed sum.[9] The sale was intended to allow the company to focus on its benchmarking software.[10]

On 31 October 2014, Futuremark was acquired by UL for an undisclosed sum.[11]

On 23 April 2018, Futuremark was rebranded as UL Benchmarks. The Futuremark website was closed, and its content was moved to a new UL Benchmarks website. Despite the acquisition and rebranding, UL Benchmarks retains its headquarters and R&D operations in Espoo, Finland.[12]

Products

PC benchmarks

Smartphone and tablet benchmarks

Cellphone benchmarks

Video games

Other products

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: UL Signals Strategic Expansion into Performance Benchmarking Services with Futuremark Acquisition UL. 3 November 2014. UL. 25 April 2018. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20180130204521/https://www.ul.com/newsroom/pressreleases/ul-signals-strategic-expansion-into-performance-benchmarking-services-with-futuremark-acquisition/. 30 January 2018. live. dmy-all.
  2. News: 'Futuremark' Is No More; Benchmark Maker Adopts Parent Company's 'UL' Branding . 23 April 2018 . Tom's Hardware. 25 April 2018 . en.
  3. Web site: Remedy Press Release: Futuremark Corporation Launched . 24 August 2020 . 29 January 1999 . https://web.archive.org/web/19990129024848/http://www.remedy.fi/remedy/pressrel/press190398e.html . live .
  4. Web site: Futuremark press release Nov 9th 1999 . 21 May 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120303174423/http://www.futuremark.com/pressroom/pressreleases/20409/ . 3 March 2012 . live . dmy-all .
  5. Web site: MadOnion press release Dec 11th 2002 . 21 May 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120303174436/http://www.futuremark.com/pressroom/pressreleases/20433/ . 3 March 2012 . live . dmy-all .
  6. Web site: Futuremark press release Mar 7th 2007 . 21 May 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110717102826/http://www.futuremark.com//pressroom/pressreleases/50642/ . 17 July 2011 . live . dmy-all .
  7. Web site: Futuremark press release Jan 29th 2008 . 21 May 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120303174448/http://www.futuremark.com/pressroom/pressreleases/52482/ . 3 March 2012 . live . dmy-all .
  8. Web site: Futuremark press release Aug 19th 2008 . 21 May 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120303174525/http://www.futuremark.com/pressroom/pressreleases/53949/ . 3 March 2012 . live . dmy-all .
  9. http://www.cio.com/article/703004/Angry_Birds_Creator_Acquires_Games_Developer?taxonomyId=3194 Angry Birds creator acquires games developer
  10. News: Ratcliffe . Chris . "Angry Birds" creator adds Futuremark Game Studio's team to fleet of talent . Bloomberg . 28 March 2012 . 27 March 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140203073252/http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/techology/angry-birds-creator-adds-futuremark-game-studios-team-to-fleet-of-talent/2012/03/27/gIQAHWooeS_story.html . 3 February 2014 . live . dmy-all .
  11. News: Futuremark Acquired by Underwriters Laboratories . Hartley . Darleen . 3 November 2014 . Bright Side of News . https://web.archive.org/web/20141105145304/http://www.brightsideofnews.com/2014/11/03/futuremark-gets-acquired-underwriters-laboratories/ . 5 November 2014 . live . dmy-all .
  12. Web site: About us . UL Benchmarks . en . 2019-01-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181223035942/https://benchmarks.ul.com/about . 23 December 2018 . live . dmy-all .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Futuremark".

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