Slipgate Ironworks Explained

Slipgate Ironworks ApS
Type:Subsidiary
Industry:Video games
Founded: in Herning, Denmark
Founders:Frederik Schreiber
Hq Location City:Aalborg
Hq Location Country:Denmark
Key People:Frederik Schreiber
Num Employees:>200[1]
Num Employees Year:2022

Slipgate Ironworks ApS (formerly Interceptor Entertainment ApS and Slipgate Studios ApS) is a Danish video game developer based in Aalborg, founded in 2010 by Frederik Schreiber.

History

Interceptor Entertainment was founded in 2010 by managing director Frederik Schreiber, at the time based in Herning.[2] The company's first project was , a fan remake of Duke Nukem 3D announced in October 2010 but put on hold in September 2011.[3] In February 2014, Interceptor teased a new game titled Duke Nukem: Mass Destruction. In response, Gearbox Software, the owners of the Duke Nukem trademark, filed a lawsuit against the company. The game's name was changed to Bombshell by May.[4] In March 2014, Interceptor part-owner SDN Invest acquired 3D Realms.[5]

In September 2016, Interceptor and 3D Realms announced Rad Rodgers, a platform game running on Unreal Engine 4 and starring the title character and his console-come-to-life friend Dusty (voiced by Jon St. John). The studio started a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign with an aim of $50,000, raising a total of $81,861 within 30 days.[6] In March 2017, Interceptor announced that it was restructuring, expecting to assume a new name within the following months.[7] The studio rebranded as Slipgate Studios and sold the Rad Rodgers intellectual property off to THQ Nordic.[8] To avoid confusion with an eponymous company based in Las Vegas, Slipgate Studios changed its name to Slipgate Ironworks, the name of a defunct company formerly run by John Romero, in March 2019.[9]

In August 2021, Saber Interactive acquired the studio as part of Embracer Group.[10] In December 2023, "at least half" of Slipgate and 3D Realms was laid off as part of Embracer's restructuring.[11] Layoffs continued into January 2024.[12] In March 2024, Saber was sold to Beacon Interactive, a new company from Saber co-founder Matthew Karch. Many of Saber's studios, including Slipgate, were included in the sale.[13]

Games developed

YearTitlePlatform(s)Notes
2013Rise of the TriadWindows
2016Bombshell
2018Rad RodgersPlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One
2019Ancestors LegacyPlayStation 4, Xbox OnePort development
2020Port development
GhostrunnerNintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox OneCo-developed with One More Level
MetamorphosisNintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox OnePort development
Paradise LostPort development
2022Of Bird and CagePort development
2023WindowsRemaster of
2024GravenNintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Phantom FuryWindows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox OnePort development
Core DecayWindowsCo-developed with Ivar Hill
Tempest RisingCo-developed with 2B Games
TBAWarpawsNintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/SCo-developed with 2B Games

Cancelled

Notes and References

  1. Freschism . 1571057213384564737 . Frederik . Schreiber . September 17, 2022 . Q5: How is @SlipgateIron involved in so many games?: Actually, we're over 200 people by now, split into 6-7 teams/ (you can almost call them "Studios within Slipgate"). All under the Slipgate Ironworks banner. All working on their own independent games ..
  2. Web site: Rise of the Triad returns to PC this year, powered by Unreal Engine 3 . Richard . Mitchell . 2 August 2012 . Engadget.
  3. Web site: Duke Nukem 3D fan remake on hold . Alice . O'Connor . 28 September 2011 . Shacknews.
  4. Web site: Bombshell is 3D Realms and Interceptor Entertainment's action RPG for PC, PS4 . Jenna . Pitcher . 14 May 2014 . Polygon.
  5. Web site: Interceptor buys 3D Realms amid Gearbox lawsuit . Yin-Poole . Wesley . 3 March 2014 . Eurogamer.
  6. Web site: Rad Rogers is the modern version of Commander Keen you secretly wanted . Daniel . Perez . 6 September 2015 . Shacknews.
  7. Web site: The Future of Rad Rodgers + Boss Survey! . Interceptor Entertainment . 7 March 2017 . Kickstarter.
  8. Web site: THQ Nordic acquires Slipgate's Rad Rodgers IP . James . Batchelor . 31 March 2017 . GamesIndustry.biz.
  9. Web site: Slipgate Ironworks on Twitter: "We're now called Slipgate Ironworks!After some confusion between us and the "Other" Slipgate Studios - a VR focused company from Las Vegas - we've decided to take over @romero's name and trademark for Slipgate Ironworks.A name he established over a decade ago. It's an honor! . Slipgate Ironworks . 21 March 2019 . Twitter.
  10. Web site: Embracer Group acquires 3D Realms, CrazyLabs, Digixart, Easy Trigger, Force Field, Ghost Ship Games, Grimfrost, and Slipgate Ironworks. Gematsu . August 4, 2021.
  11. Web site: Rousseau . Jeffrey . 2023-12-18 . 3D Realms and Slipgate Ironworks reportedly see layoffs . 2024-03-06 . GamesIndustry.biz . en.
  12. Web site: Carter . Justin . January 3, 2024 . Report: 3D Realms and Slipgate may have been hit with more layoffs . 2024-03-06 . www.gamedeveloper.com . en.
  13. Web site: McEvoy . Sophie . 2024-03-14 . Embracer sells Saber Interactive for $247m . 2024-03-14 . GamesIndustry.biz . en.