Aspyr

Aspyr Media, Inc.
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo games
FoundedSeptember 27, 1996; 28 years ago (1996-09-27)
Founders
  • Michael Rogers
  • Ted Staloch
Headquarters
Austin, Texas
,
US
Key people
  • Michael Rogers (co-CEO)
  • Ted Staloch (co-CEO)
ProductsList of games ported by Aspyr
Parent
SubsidiariesBeamdog
Websiteaspyr.com

Aspyr Media, Inc. (pronounced "aspire") is an American video game developer and publisher founded by Michael Rogers and Ted Staloch in Austin, Texas. Originally founded to port gaming titles to macOS,[1] the company, since 2005, has become a publisher and developer of entertainment for multiple gaming platforms.[2]

Aspyr was acquired by Embracer Group in February 2021. Initially placed within Embracer's Saber Interactive division, Aspyr later became a direct subsidiary of Embracer after Saber was divested in March 2024.[3][4]

History

In 1996, Aspyr Media, Inc., was established by Michael Rogers and Ted Staloch[5] in Austin, Texas. Staloch, who had a background in sales and marketing and Rogers, who worked with TechWorks, noticed that there was a lack of gaming titles available to Mac owners and set out to change it.[1] According to Rogers, when naming the company, they “wanted something meaning ‘to aspire and be great’” and also “memorable and unique.” Aspyr made its name specializing in porting video games from Microsoft Windows to macOS.[6]

By 2003, they owned 60 percent of the Mac entertainment market.[7] In 2005, Aspyr partnered with Alex Seropian of Wideload Games and released their first originally-published AAA game, Stubbs The Zombie, to Mac OS, Windows and Xbox.[8] In 2014 they started porting titles to Linux,[9][10] releasing titles such as Civilization V and Civilization VI as well as Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel and Borderlands 2. They dropped support for the Linux version of Borderlands 2 in September 2020 and have not released subsequent Linux ports. They also published Layers of Fear, Observer and InnerSpace for that platform by other developers.

In 2015, Aspyr Media expanded their platform catalog again by releasing an iOS port of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic[11] and later, Bioware's classic-action RPG, Jade Empire - a title they extended to Android as well.[12] In 2015, Aspyr updated Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords[13] (native widescreen resolutions up to 5K, Steam Workshop, support for controllers, 57[14] achievements, etc.) and also ported it to macOS and Linux. In 2015, Aspyr developed and published Fahrenheit: Indigo Prophecy Remastered, a remaster of the 2005 game developed by Quantic Dream, to a worldwide audience with enhanced game features, updated visuals and controls, as well as content that was censored in the original North American release.[15]

Aspyr has published over 190 games and have added 90 plus members to their team since 1996.[2] In February 2021, Aspyr was acquired by Embracer Group. The company was added as a studio under the Saber Interactive label within Embracer.[16] In September 2021, it was announced that Aspyr was developing a remake of Knights of the Old Republic for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 5 as a timed exclusive.[17][18][19] In August 2022, Embracer announced that Aspyr is no longer working on the game and development has been moved to another studio.[20]

Aspyr published MythForce, the first game designed by Canadian studio Beamdog.[21] The day after they announced this, on April 13, 2022, Embracer Group acquired Beamdog and placed it as a subsidiary of Aspyr.[22]

In 2024, Aspyr developed and published—alongside sister company Crystal Dynamics—a remastered collection of the original three Tomb Raider games developed by Core Design, titled Tomb Raider I–III Remastered.[23] It was released on February 14, on Valentine's Day, to coincide with main protagonist Lara Croft's canonical birthday. The same year, Aspyr released ports of the first two original Star Wars: Battlefront games under Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection on March 14, 2024.[24]

In March 2024, Embracer sold Saber Interactive to Beacon Interactive, alongside several other studios. Aspyr was not included in the deal and remains under Embracer.[25]

Games

Main article: List of games ported by Aspyr

Currently, Aspyr's catalog includes popular games such as Sid Meier's Civilization VI, developed in 2018 on Mac, Linux, iOS and Nintendo Switch,[26] Torn,[27] the re-releases of several Lucasfilm Games (LucasArts) titles,[28][24] and Tomb Raider I–III Remastered.[23]

References

  1. ^ a b Savlov, Marc (November 19, 2004). "Controlling Their Own Destiny". www.austinchronicle.com. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Aspyr Media". Aspyr Media. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  3. ^ "Embracer Group acquires Aspyr Media for up to $450 million". VentureBeat. February 3, 2021. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  4. ^ "Saber Interactive to split from Embracer Group [Update]". Gematsu. March 14, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  5. ^ Potter, Aaron (August 2, 2022). "The studio answering the industry's port of call". Wireframe magazine. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  6. ^ Carr, Jon (August 29, 2013). "MacGameStore Feature: Aspyr Media Interview with Michael Rogers". www.macgamestore.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2021. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  7. ^ Bungie Founder Finds Publisher - IGN, August 31, 2004, retrieved October 12, 2019
  8. ^ "Aspyr ships Stubbs the Zombie for Mac". Macworld. November 23, 2005. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  9. ^ Pitcher, Jenna (September 4, 2014). "Borderlands 2 Heading To Linux". IGN. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  10. ^ Smith, Graham (June 11, 2014). "Science Victory: Civilization 5 Now On SteamOS And Linux". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  11. ^ "Use The Force - And A Controller - With KOTOR For iOS, Now On Sale". Cult of Mac. March 6, 2014. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  12. ^ "BioWare Action RPG Jade Empire Now Available On iOS". Kotaku. October 6, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  13. ^ "Steam :: STAR WARS™ Knights of the Old Republic™ II: The Sith Lords™ :: Introducing and updated KOTOR II for Mac, Linux, and Windows!". Steam. July 21, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  14. ^ "Steam Community :: STAR WARS™ Knights of the Old Republic™ II: The Sith Lords™ :: Achievements".
  15. ^ "Aspyr Announces Fahrenheit: Indigo Prophecy Remastered Available Now". www.businesswire.com. January 29, 2015. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  16. ^ Romano, Sal (February 2, 2021). "Embracer Group to acquire Aspyr Media". Gematsu. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  17. ^ "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Strikes Back with New Remake". StarWars.com. September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  18. ^ "Knights of the Old Republic returns with remake that is a timed exclusive to PS5". VentureBeat. September 9, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  19. ^ Gartenberg, Chaim (September 9, 2021). "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is getting a remake for the PS5". The Verge. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  20. ^ Kennedy, Victoria (August 18, 2022). "Embracer confirms AAA project has switched studios, following report of KOTOR trouble". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  21. ^ Romano, Sal (July 11, 2023). "MythForce launches September 12". Gematsu. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  22. ^ Ivan, Tom (April 13, 2022). "Knights of the Old Republic remake studio Aspyr has acquired Beamdog". Video Games Chronicle. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  23. ^ a b "Aspyr & Crystal Dynamics Reveal Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft, Coming to Pc & Consoles Feb. 14, 2024 – Crystal Dynamics". September 14, 2023. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  24. ^ a b "Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection Launch Is a Disaster – IGN". March 14, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  25. ^ Yin-Poole, Wesley (March 14, 2024). "Saber Interactive Splits From Embracer, Taking 38 Video Game Projects With It". IGN. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  26. ^ "Sid Meier's Civilization® VI Coming to Xbox One and PlayStation 4 on November 22, 2019". www.businesswire.com. September 24, 2019. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  27. ^ Hayden, Scott (August 31, 2018). "'Torn' Review: Masterful 'Black Mirror' Style Storytelling Tarnished by Repetitive Puzzles". Road to VR. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
  28. ^ "Aspyr spreads beyond Mac with classic Star Wars game for the Switch and PS4". VentureBeat. September 24, 2019. Retrieved October 12, 2019.