InnoGames explained

InnoGames GmbH
Type:Subsidiary
Industry:Video game industry
Founded: in Stade, Germany
Hq Location City:Hamburg
Hq Location Country:Germany
Key People:Michael Lenz (CAO), Felix Janzen (CMO), Christian Reshöft (CPO)[1]
Revenue:€220 million[2]
Revenue Year:2020
Num Employees:350[3]
Num Employees Year:2024
Parent:Modern Times Group

InnoGames GmbH is a German video game developer and publisher based in Hamburg. Founded in 2007, it focuses on the development of free-to-play online browser and mobile games.[4] The company reached a turnover of in 2020 and currently has ten live games.[5] [6]

History

In 2003, founders Eike and Hendrik Klindworth and Michael Zillmer created and released the browser-based massively multiplayer online game Tribal Wars as a hobby project. By 2005, the real-time strategy game had tens of thousands of players.[7] Due to the success, the three founders decided to work full-time on the development and publishing of browser games. In early 2006, they rented an office in their hometown Stade, wrote a business plan, and soon after hired their first full-time employees. The goal: to market Tribal Wars internationally.[8]

In early 2007, InnoGames GmbH was founded to handle the operation, continued development and marketing of Tribal Wars.[9] In the same year, InnoGames moved into new offices in Harburg, Hamburg with a total of 17 employees. At that time, the company's second browser game, The West, was already in development.[10] In April 2008, the role-playing game set in the Wild West was released.[11]

In the fall of 2009, InnoGames moved within Harburg to be able to grow beyond 50 employees.[12] In September 2009, the company's new empire-building browser game Grepolis started into an open beta with a limited number of users.[13]

In April 2010, InnoGames founded InnoGames Korea, a subsidiary specifically for the Asian market.[14] In May 2010, the entry of investor Fidelity Growth Partners Europe (FGPE) was announced.[15] In July, the company announced the launch of the open beta test of the Facebook game WestWars, based on The West.[16] This was followed in August by the open beta of the fantasy role-playing game Seven Lands.[17]

In February 2011, InnoGames launched innogames.com, a central gaming portal for its approximately 60 million registered users at that time.[18] In addition, the company announced the following day that it would in future be advised by Gerhard Florin as Chairman.[19] He had most recently worked at Electronic Arts as Executive Vice President of Publishing.[20] August saw the launch of the open beta test of Bounty Hounds Online, a client–basedscience fiction PC game, for which InnoGames had acquired exclusive marketing rights for Europe.[21] [22]

In April 2012, InnoGames launched the open beta of its empire-building browser game Forge of Empires.[23]

In February 2013, InnoGames announced the opening of a new location in São Paulo, to further expand its market position in South America.[24] In July, InnoGames announced that it was discontinuing work on the browser-based 3D seafarer simulation Kartuga and at the same time closing the development studio Ticking Bomb Games. As reasons, the company cited quality deficiencies and a lack of fit with its overall cross-platform play strategy.[25] In September, InnoGames published Grepolis for iOS, followed by an Android version in October.[26]

In March 2014, InnoGames moved to new offices with room for 500 staff in Hamburg Hammerbrook, where the company still resides today.[27] In May, the company published the iPad version of Forge of Empires, followed by the iPhone version in September 2014, and the Android version in March 2015.[28] [29] [30] Also in May 2014, the release of the strategy game Rising Generals for iOS, Android and browser was announced.[31] September saw the launch the open beta of Tribal Wars 2, the official sequel of InnoGames' debut game.[32] An Android version followed in November.[33]

In January 2015, the company opened a new mobile game development studio in Düsseldorf.[34] In May, InnoGames announced the browser version of its fantasy strategy game Elvenar.[35] In June, Tribal Wars 2 was published for iOS.[36]

In March 2016, the Düsseldorf studio was complemented by the three founders of Oberhausen-based developer Funatics and their team.[37] In October, Swedish media company Modern Times Group (MTG) acquired a total of 35% from InnoGames' founders and former investor Eight Roads Ventures (formerly FGPE), based on an enterprise value of €260 million.[38]

In February 2017, InnoGames announced the purchase of the turn-based strategy mobile game Warlords, which had been produced by the Berlin-based developer studio Wooga.[39] In May, MTG announced an increase in its stake to 51% of the shares through an investment of a further €82.6 million.[40] In September, Warlords was relaunched under the name Warlords of Aternum.[41] In November 2017, the mobile versions of Elvenar were released.[42]

In June 2018, InnoGames announced that it would close its Düsseldorf studio by the end of the year and shift production to Hamburg.[43]

In February 2019, InnoGames announced the release of its turn-based strategy game God Kings for iOS and Android devices.[44] By November, the company had surpassed one billion euros in total lifetime revenues.[45]

At the end of 2020, MTG increased its stake in InnoGames to 68%. The transaction also included the establishment of the gaming group MTG Gaming AB ("GamingCo"). The InnoGames founders held approximately 28% of the shares in GamingCo at that time.[46] In February, the company issued its most recent financial press release to date. In it, revenues for the year 2020 were put at 220 million euros.[47]

In January 2022, InnoGames announced the worldwide commercial release of the mobile-first city-building game game Rise of Cultures for iOS and Android. In contrast to the PvP focus of Forge of Empires, Rise of Cultures focuses on PvE.[48] The worldwide commercial launch of Sunrise Village, another mobile-first game, followed in February. With the exploration farming simulation, InnoGames added a new genre to its game portfolio.[49] In July, InnoGames became the first German games company to publish its salary bands. Among other things, the company cited the invalidation of existing prejudices against remuneration in the gaming industry and greater employer attractiveness for female employees as well as employees from outside the industry as the motivation for this step.[50] In October, the browser version of Rise of Cultures was released.[51]

On the occasion of the game's 20th anniversary, the company announced that Tribal Wars had generated total sales of more than €180 million by June 2023.[52] This was followed in August by the announcement that Forge of Empires had reached the €1 billion revenue mark.[53]

Live games

YearTitleCurrent Platform(s)
2003Tribal WarsAndroid, Browser, iOS
2008The WestBrowser
2009GrepolisAndroid, Browser, iOS
2012Forge of EmpiresAndroid, Browser, iOS
2014Tribal Wars 2Android, Browser, iOS
2015ElvenarAndroid, Browser, iOS
2021Lost SurvivorsAndroid, iOS
2022Rise of CulturesAndroid, iOS
2022Sunrise VillageAndroid, iOS

Discontinued games

!Year!Title!Platform(s)
2010WestWarsFacebook
2010Seven LandsBrowser
2010LagooniaBrowser
2011Bounty Hounds OnlinePC (Client)
2013KartugaBrowser
2015Rising GeneralsAndroid, Browser, iOS
2017Warlords of AternumAndroid, iOS
2019God KingsAndroid, iOS

Awards

Rise of Cultures:

Forge of Empires:

Grepolis:

Tribal Wars:

Seven Lands:

The West:

Notes and References

  1. Web site: InnoGames About Us . InnoGames . 12 May 2023.
  2. Web site: InnoGames secures future viability through strategic realignment . 13 April 2023 . InnoGames . 12 May 2023.
  3. Web site: Die größten Games-Studios in Deutschland 2024 . de . The largest game studios in Germany in 2024 . Petra . Fröhlich . 15 August 2024 . GamesWirtschaft . 15 August 2024 . 15 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240815103001/https://www.gameswirtschaft.de/wirtschaft/groesste-games-studios-deutschland-2024-150824/ . live.
  4. Web site: InnoGames = Free to play online games for mobile & browser . 2023-05-26 . InnoGames.
  5. Web site: InnoGames hits record-breaking revenue of EUR 220m in 2020 . 2023-05-26 . InnoGames.
  6. Web site: Our games - Play exciting strategy games, RPGs and online action titles . 2023-06-21 . InnoGames.
  7. Web site: From hobby development to 150 million players: CEO Hendrik Klindworth on 10 years of InnoGames . 2023-06-21 . pocketgamer.biz.
  8. Web site: 2019-06-05 . InnoGames - die Spieleschmiede aus Hamburg . InnoGames - the game forge from Hamburg . 2023-06-21 . Hamburger Abendblatt . de.
  9. Web site: 2009-08-18 . InnoGames auf der Überholspur . InnoGames in the fast lane . 2023-06-21 . deutsche startups . de.
  10. Web site: 2019-06-05 . InnoGames - die Spieleschmiede aus Hamburg . InnoGames - the game forge from Hamburg . 2023-06-21 . Hamburger Abendblatt . de.
  11. Web site: 2018-04-30 . Zehn Jahre Browser-Duelle: InnoGames feiert The West-Jubiläum . Ten years of browser duels: InnoGames celebrates The West anniversary . 2023-06-21 . Gamecity Hamburg . de.
  12. Web site: 2009-10-16 . InnoGames: Zusätzliche Arbeitsplätze an neuem Standort . InnoGames: Additional jobs at new location . 2023-06-21 . openPR . de.
  13. Web site: 2009-09-17 . Grepolis - Online-Strategiespiel in der griechischen Antike startet am 22. September . Grepolis - Online strategy game set in ancient Greece launches September 22nd . 2023-06-21 . openPR.
  14. Web site: 2010-04-06 . InnoGames gründet koreanisches Tochterunternehmen . InnoGames establishes Korean subsidiary . 2023-05-26 . openPR . de.
  15. Web site: Fidelity Growth Partners Europe investiert bei InnoGames . Fidelity Growth Partners Europe invests in InnoGames . 2023-05-26 . openPR . de.
  16. Web site: 2010-07-08 . WestWars steht in den Startlöchern . WestWars is in the starting blocks . 2023-06-21 . openPR . de.
  17. Web site: 2010-08-10 . 1000 Plätze für den ersten Blick auf Seven Lands . 1000 tickets for the first look at Seven Lands . 2023-06-21 . openPR . de.
  18. Web site: 2011-01-28 . InnoGames startet eigenes Spieleportal . InnoGames launches its own games portal . 2023-05-26 . openPR . de.
  19. Web site: 2011-02-02 . Dr. Gerhard Florin ist Chairman bei InnoGames . Dr. Gerhard Florin is Chairman at InnoGames . Gamesmarkt . de.
  20. Web site: 2009-12-16 . Gerhard Florin verlässt EA . Gerhard Florin leaves EA . 2023-06-21 . Gamers Global . de.
  21. Web site: 2011-08-02 . Bounty Hounds Online: Open Beta ist gestartet . Bounty Hounds Online: Open beta has started . 2023-06-21 . openPR . de.
  22. Web site: 2010-11-18 . InnoGames veröffentlicht Bounty Hounds Online in Europa . InnoGames publishes Bounty Hounds Online in Europe . 2023-06-21 . openPR.
  23. Web site: 2012-04-19 . Forge of Empires Startet Auf Deutsch! Strategiespiel von InnoGames geht in die Open Beta . Forge of Empires Starts In German! Strategy game from InnoGames enters open beta . 2023-05-30 . Presseportal . de.
  24. Web site: 2013-02-15 . InnoGames eröffnet Standort in Brasilien . InnoGames opens site in Brazil . 2023-06-21 . Hamburger Abendblatt . de.
  25. Web site: 2013-07-17 . Kartuga - 3D-Browserspiel wird noch vor Ende der Closed-Beta wieder eingestellt . Kartuga - 3D browser game will be discontinued before the end of closed beta . 2023-05-30 . Gamestar . de.
  26. Web site: 2013-09-03 . Grepolis: Gratis-App ab jetzt für Apples iPhone erhältlich . Grepolis: Free app now available for Apple's iPhone . 2023-06-21 . Computer BILD . de.
  27. Web site: 2013-05-25 . Harburg verliert die Erfolgsfirma InnoGames . Harburg loses the successful company InnoGames . 2023-05-30 . Hamburger Abendblatt . de.
  28. News: Shaul . Brandy . 5 June 2014 . InnoGames brings Forge of Empires to iPad . ADWEEK . 4 May 2017.
  29. Web site: 25 March 2015 . Forge of Empires Comes to Android . 4 May 2017 . Forge of Empires Blog.
  30. News: Marceau . Erica . 29 September 2014 . Forge of Empires now optimized for iPhone . Technology Tell . 4 May 2017 . 1 February 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150201201223/http://www.technologytell.com/apple/141070/forge-empires-now-available-iphone/ . dead .
  31. Web site: 2014-05-13 . InnoGames kündigt Rising Generals an . InnoGames announces Rising Generals . 2023-06-21 . Game Zine . de.
  32. Web site: 2014-09-02 . Tear Down the Walls – Tribal Wars 2 Enters Open Beta . 2023-05-30 . InnoGames.
  33. Web site: 2014-11-27 . Conquer the World on Android: Tribal Wars 2 launches New App . 2023-05-30 . InnoGames.
  34. Web site: 2014-09-30 . New Düsseldorf studio for InnoGames . 2023-05-30 . Gamesindustry.biz.
  35. Web site: 2015-05-28 . Enter an Enchanted World: Elvenar Officially Launches . 2023-05-30 . InnoGames.
  36. Web site: 2015-06-23 . InnoGames Unleashes PvP on iOS: Tribal Wars 2 Launches New App . 2023-05-30 . InnoGames.
  37. Web site: 2016-03-15 . InnoGames holt Funatics-Team an Bord . InnoGames brings Funatics-Team on board . 2023-05-30 . Gamesmarkt . de.
  38. Web site: 2016-10-13 . 90-Millionen-Deal – Schweden wollen InnoGames kaufen . 90 million deal - Swedes want to buy InnoGames . 2023-05-30 . Gründerszene . de.
  39. Web site: 2017-02-23 . Strategy specialist InnoGames snaps up Warlords IP from Wooga . 2023-06-21 . pocketgamer.biz.
  40. Web site: 2017-05-02 . MTG raises InnoGames stake . 2023-06-21 . Broadband TV News.
  41. Web site: 2017-08-08 . Warlords of Aternum – InnoGames Relaunches Mobile Strategy Game . 2023-06-21 . InnoGames.
  42. Web site: 2017-11-01 . Fantasy on the Go – InnoGames Releases Mobile Versions of Elvenar . 2023-05-30 . InnoGames.
  43. Web site: 2018-06-12 . InnoGames closes Düsseldorf studio and shifts production to Hamburg HQ . 2023-05-30 . Pocketgamer.biz.
  44. Web site: 2019-02-20 . Mighty guardians, uprising kingdoms: God Kings conquers Mobile . 2023-05-30 . InnoGames.
  45. Web site: 2019-11-18 . Forge of Empires dev InnoGames surpasses $1 billion revenue . 2023-05-30 . Game Developer.
  46. Web site: 2020-12-07 . MTG increases ownership in InnoGames and partners with company founders to form new holding company for gaming investments . 2023-06-21 . InnoGames.
  47. Web site: 2021-02-25 . InnoGames hits record-breaking revenue of EUR 220m in 2020 . 2023-06-11 . InnoGames.
  48. Web site: 2022-01-25 . Rise of Cultures: New City Builder Game from InnoGames now available worldwide . 2023-06-21 . InnoGames.
  49. Web site: 2022-02-24 . Sunrise Village: InnoGames launches a new exploration and simulation game for iOS and Android . 2023-06-21 . InnoGames.
  50. Web site: 2022-07-19 . InnoGames publishes salary bands for 80% of employees . 2023-06-21 . pocketgamer.biz.
  51. Web site: 2022-10-28 . Play Rise of Cultures in your internet browser now! . 2023-06-21 . YouTube.
  52. Web site: 2023-06-30 . InnoGames celebrates the 20th anniversary of its hit game, Tribal Wars . 2023-08-08 . GamingonPhone.
  53. Web site: 2023-08-07 . InnoGames' Forge of Empires surpasses $1 billion in lifetime revenue . 2023-08-08 . Pocketgamer.biz.
  54. Web site: 2023-03-20 . Deutscher Computerspielpreis 2023: Das sind die Nominierten . German Computer Games Awards: These are the nominees . 2023-08-08 . Deutscher Computerspielpreis . de.
  55. Web site: 2012-07-02 . Forge of Empires: Über eine Million Spieler in nur acht Wochen . Forge of Empires: Over one million players in just eight weeks . 2023-08-08 . Computer Bild . de.
  56. Web site: 2012-11-15 . Deutscher Entwicklerpreis 2012: Alle Nominierten . German Developer Award 2012: All nominees . 2023-08-08 . TopFree . de.
  57. Web site: 2013-04-13 . Deutscher Computerspielpreis 2013 - Die Gewinner stehen fest, Chaos auf Deponia ist bestes deutsches Spiel . German Computer Game Award 2013 - Winners announced, Chaos on Deponia is best German game . 2023-08-08 . GameStar . de.
  58. Web site: Forge of Empires . 2023-08-08 . MMO of the Year.
  59. Web site: 2019-11-08 . Forge of Empires . 2023-08-08 . Deutscher Entwicklerpreis.
  60. Web site: Deutscher Entwicklerpreis 2009: Die Nominierungen. 16 November 2009. GameZone.
  61. Web site: BÄM! Der COMPUTEC Games Award 2010: Nominierungen . BÄM! The Computec Games Award 2010: Nominations . 2023-08-08 . PC Games Hardware . de.
  62. Web site: The winners 2011 are: . 2023-08-08 . European Games Award.
  63. Web site: Grepolis . 2023-08-08 . MMO of the Year.
  64. Web site: 2007-02-09 . Browserspiel des Jahres: Die Gewinner . Browsergame of the Year: The winners . 2023-08-08 . MMO Facts . de.
  65. Web site: MMO of the Year . 2023-08-08 . MMO of the Year.
  66. Web site: SevenLands . 2023-08-08 . MMO of the Year.
  67. Web site: The West . 2023-08-08 . MMO of the Year.
  68. Web site: The West . 2023-08-08 . MMO of the Year.

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