Piranha Bytes

Piranha Bytes GmbH is a German video game developer based in Essen. Founded in 1997, they are best known for their Gothic and Risen series of role-playing video games. As of May 2019, the studio has 32 employees and is a subsidiary of THQ Nordic.

Not to be confused with Piranha Games, a Canadian video game developer.

Piranha Bytes GmbH
Formerly
  • Piranha Bytes Software GmbH (1997–2002)
  • Pluto 13 GmbH (2002–2019)
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo games
Founded1997 (1997) in Bochum, Germany
Founders
  • Michael Hoge
  • Tom Putzki
  • Stefan Nyul
  • Alex Brüggemann
Headquarters
Essen
,
Germany
Key people
Michael Rüve (managing director)
Products
Number of employees
32[1] (2020)
Parent
Websitepiranha-bytes.com

History

Piranha Bytes was incorporated as Piranha Bytes Software GmbH in 1997 by Michael "Mike" Hoge, Tom Putzki, Stefan Nyul and Alex Brüggemann, then based in Bochum.[2][3] In 1999, the company became a wholly owned subsidiary of German publisher Phenomedia.[3] Following a financial scandal, Phenomedia filed for insolvency in May 2002.[3] By September 2002, Piranha Bytes' management had performed a management buyout and transferred Piranha Bytes' trademarks and intellectual property, including the rights to their Gothic series, from Phenomedia into a new entity, Pluto 13 GmbH, which assumed "Piranha Bytes" as its trading name.[2][3] One of the four original founders remained with the new incorporation.[2] In March 2004, Piranha Bytes was among the founders of G.A.M.E. Bundesverband.[4] On 22 May 2019, THQ Nordic announced to have acquired the studio to undisclosed terms.[5] At the time, the studio had 31 employees in its Essen-based offices.[5] Through the acquisition Piranha Bytes was reincorporated as Piranha Bytes GmbH.[2] By June, the company had 32 employees.[6]

Games developed
Year Title Platform(s)
2001 Gothic Microsoft Windows
2002 Gothic II Microsoft Windows
2003 Gothic II: Night of the Raven Microsoft Windows
2006 Gothic 3 Microsoft Windows
2009 Risen Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360
2012 Risen 2: Dark Waters Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
2014 Risen 3: Titan Lords Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360
2017 ELEX Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

References
  1. Fröhlich, Petra (10 January 2020). "Die größten Spiele-Entwickler in Deutschland 2020" [The largest game developers in Germany 2020]. GamesWirtschaft (in German).
  2. "Company". Piranha Bytes. Archived from the original on 2 July 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  3. Lück, Patrick (29 April 2012). "Piranha Bytes – Die Fantasten aus dem Pott" [Piranha Bytes – The Fantasts from the Pott]. GameStar (in German).
  4. Klinge, Heiko (8 March 2004). "G.A.M.E. – Bundesverband der Spiele-Entwickler gegründet" [G.A.M.E. – Federal Union of Game Developers Founded]. GameStar (in German).
  5. Handrahan, Matthew (22 May 2019). "THQ Nordic acquires Gothic developer Piranha Bytes". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 29 May 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  6. Wingefors, Lars (27 August 2019). "THQ Nordic Annual Report 2018/19" (PDF). Cision. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 September 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
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