Mohawk Games Explained

Mohawk Games
Logo Alt:Mohawk Games Logo
Industry:Video games
Founded:[1]
Hq Location City:Washington DC
Hq Location Country:United States
Key People:[2]
Products:Video games

Mohawk Games is an American video game developer based in Baltimore, Maryland, known for releasing the strategy video games Offworld Trading Company and Old World.

History

Mohawk games was co-founded in 2013 by Firaxis veterans Soren Johnson and Dorian Newcomb.[3] [4] [5] The studio is based in Hunt Valley, Maryland, home to several video game studios that could trace their lineage back to Microprose from the 1980s,[6] a studio that itself had veterans who formed Firaxis.[7] The studio was founded as part of the Stardock strategic investment fund to promote strategy game development.[8] [9] According to later President Leyla Johnson, "the small studio once comprised solely white men" early in its foundation, as part of an industry trend in the early 2010s.[10]

The studio's first effort was an economic real-time strategy game called Offworld Trading Company, for the PC.[11] Johnson has said that he prefers developing for the PC because of the lack of gatekeepers.[12] The game was published by Stardock Entertainment.[13] [14] Offworld Trading Company featured music from Grammy-award-winning composer Christopher Tin, an old roommate of Soren Johnson who also provided the soundtrack for Civilization IV.[15] Offworld Trading Company entered Steam's Early Access program in 2015, and was eventually released in 2016.[16] After its launch, Brad Wardell, who has served as President stepped down and promoted Dorian Newcomb as President.[13]

In 2018, Mohawk announced a new strategy game published by Starbreeze called 10 Crowns,[17] a title which they later changed to Old World.[18] Mohawk used Old World as an opportunity to improve on Johnson's work on Civilization 3, focusing on AI and diplomacy that would feel more immersive and less like a game. In 2019, their Sweden-based publisher encountered financial issues, and sold the rights to Mohawk's upcoming game back to them.[19] [20] [21] [22] [23] Soren Johnson stepped down as CEO and was succeeded by Leyla Johnson, who prioritized greater gender equity at the studio and in the broader game industry.[24] By 2020, the studio had announced that it had successfully diversified their team and published a code of conduct.[10]

Games developed

YearTitlePlatform(s)
2016Offworld Trading CompanyPC
2021Old WorldPC

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Press - Mohawk Games. mohawkgames.com.
  2. Web site: International Women’s Day 2022: In conversation with Mohawk Games’ CEO Leyla Johnson on games and what it means to be a woman in the industryGames. www.pocketgamer.biz.
  3. Web site: Nunneley . Stephany . November 5, 2013 . Mohawk Games: Civ 4 developers announce formation of "core strategy games" firm . VG247.
  4. Web site: Civ IV designer Soren Johnson announces new studio, Mohawk Games — Next stop, Mars . 2022-07-12 . PCGamesN . en-GB.
  5. Web site: Tach . Dave . 2013-11-05 . Civ 4 lead designer Soren Johnson founds Mohawk Games . 2022-07-12 . Polygon . en-US.
  6. Web site: Video game companies gather in Hunt Valley . Baltimore Sun . Melissa . Whateley . January 26, 2017 .
  7. Web site: Designer starts new game firm . Craig S. . Ey . June 24, 1996 . . February 11, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20030415211610/http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/1996/06/24/story1.html . April 15, 2003 . live . mdy-all.
  8. Web site: Civilization 4 lead designer starts Mohawk Games . 2022-09-30 . Engadget . en-US.
  9. Web site: Civilization IV designer launches independent studio: Mohawk Games . 2022-09-30 . GameSpot . en-US.
  10. Web site: Martens . Todd . July 9, 2020 . Resignations and reckoning: Game industry’s existential quest for a more inclusive space . Los Angeles Times.
  11. Web site: Matulef . Jeffrey . April 8, 2016 . Civ 4 lead designer's RTS Offworld Trading Company launches this month .
  12. Web site: Benson . Julian . Why do developers love making games for PC? . September 9, 2014.
  13. Web site: Riser . Michael . 2016-05-16 . Interview with Soren Johnson of Mohawk Games . 2022-09-30 . Goomba Stomp Magazine . en-US.
  14. Web site: Valdes . Giancarlo . 2015-05-21 . Stardock CEO: In the future, publishers will be partners — and not owners . 2022-09-30 . VentureBeat . en-US.
  15. Web site: Daly . Stephen . April 27, 2016 . Civilization IV Composer Christopher Tin Talks The Music Of Offworld Trading Company . Gameranx.
  16. Web site: Offworld Trading Company for PC Reviews . 2021-10-02 . . CBS Interactive.
  17. Web site: Campbell . Colin . February 5, 2018 . Strategy legend Soren Johnson announces new game . Polygon.
  18. Web site: Wilde . Tyler . March 24, 2022 . Soren Johnson says Civ 3's bargaining table was a 'big mistake' . PC Gamer.
  19. Web site: Boudreau . Ian . May 11, 2019 . Facing financial shortfalls, Starbreeze may be forced to shut down this year . PCGamesN.
  20. Web site: Flavius . Lou . May 16, 2019 . Rockstar Buys Studio From Struggling Payday Devs Amid Financial Woes . The Gamer.
  21. Web site: McAloon . Alissa . 2019-04-26 . Starbreeze sells 10 Crowns publishing rights back to developer . 2022-07-12 . Game Developer . en.
  22. Web site: Starbreeze sells publishing rights for 10 Crowns back to Mohawk Games . 2022-07-12 . finance.yahoo.com . en-US.
  23. News: Horti . Samuel . 2019-04-27 . Starbreeze offloads more publishing rights, this time for Mohawk Games' 10 Crowns . en . PC Gamer . 2022-07-12.
  24. Web site: Martinez . Adriana . March 8, 2022 . IWD22: "Society often tells women that they need to take 'responsible' jobs" . Pocket Gamer.

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