Fatshark

Fatshark AB is a Swedish video game development studio based in Stockholm.[3][4] The studio is located in Stockholm. Fatshark acted as a subcontractor for several AAA titles for PC and consoles, and the studio also develops its own games.[1][5] In January 2021, Tencent acquired majority control of the studio.

For the drone headset company, see Fat Shark.
Fatshark AB
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo games
Founded2008
Founder
  • Martin Wahlund
  • Rikard Blomberg
  • Joakim Wahlström
  • Johan Jonker[1]
HeadquartersStockholm, Sweden
Products
Number of employees
180[2]
ParentTencent
(2021–present)
Websitewww.fatshark.se

History

Fatshark originated from a company called Northplay,[6] which subcontracted for various Swedish companies between 2003 and 2008.[5] The company is best known for its involvement with the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360; developing for both, Bionic Commando Rearmed 2 and versions of their PC game Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West.[7]

In January 2019, Tencent acquired about a 36% stake in Fatshark in a deal worth approximately 500 million kr (around US$56 million).[8]

Later, in January 2021, it was reported that Tencent had acquired a majority stake in the company valued at around 2.2 billion sek (around US$260 million).[9]

Released and future games

As a recent and smaller developer, Fatshark has had some degree of success with its early releases. In 2010, Fatshark released Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West for PC. Described as "Team Fortress 2 meets Wild West",[5] the game received a 7.0 rating from GameSpot.[10]

A subsequent 2011 release, Hamilton's Great Adventure was received as a surprising change in the developer's choice of gameplay and genre as it focused more on single-player elements with a relatively low learning curve.[11] Several gaming news outlets covered the company's 2012 release-announcement and footage of Krater, a role-playing video game.[12][13][14]

Fatshark later released War of the Roses in 2012, and received a 7.5 rating from GameSpot,[15] 8.0 rating from Eurogamer,[16] and was listed in the Guardian as one of the best games to play in the autumn of 2012.[17] The critics promoted the game for its innovativeness and "freshness",[18] but also noted a rather steep learning curve.[19] War of the Vikings was later released in 2014 as the next installment in the War Franchise. The game added new features such as special attacks, a new Arena mode and the ability to throw weapons, and was set during the Viking Age rather than 15th century England. In November 2014, Fatshark released Escape Dead Island, an adventure survival horror game set in Deep Silver's Dead Island universe, and is met with mostly negative reviews from game critics. In 2015, the company released Warhammer: End Times – Vermintide, which sold more than 500,000 units.[20] This was followed by its sequel, Warhammer: Vermintide 2, released in 2018. Warhammer 40,000: Darktide was released in November 2022.[21][22][23]

Games
TitleYearPlatform(s)
Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West2010Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3
Bionic Commando Rearmed 22011PlayStation 3, Xbox Live Arcade
Hamilton's Great AdventureMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Android
Krater2012Microsoft Windows
War of the Roses
War of the Vikings2014
Escape Dead IslandMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Bloodsports.TV2015Microsoft Windows
Warhammer: End Times – VermintideMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Warhammer: Vermintide 22018 Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide2022Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X/S

References
  1. "Fatshark official about page". Fatshark. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  2. "About".
  3. "Fatshark AB profile page". Giant Bomb. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
  4. "Fatshark profile page". Mod DB. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
  5. "Exclusive Interview With Lead and Gold Developer Fatshark". THGTR. Archived from the original on 12 July 2010. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  6. Arnroth, Thomas (24 March 2011). "Flatshark reste sig ur ruinerna av Grin" [Fatshark rose from the ruin of Integrin] (in Swedish). IDG.se. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
  7. "Fatshark profile page". IGN. Archived from the original on 17 September 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
  8. Dring, Christopher (9 January 2019). "Tencent takes minority stake in Warhammer: Vermintide developer Fatshark". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  9. "Kinesiska Tencent tar kontroll över svensk spelsuccé i miljardaffär". digital.di.se/. 8 January 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  10. Watters, Chris. "Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 29 November 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  11. "'Hamilton's Great Adventure' (ALL) Developer Interview With Fatshark". Worthplaying.com. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  12. O'Conner, Alice (4 November 2011). "Fatshark announces post-apocalyptic action-RPG 'Krater'". Shack News. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  13. Grayson, Nathan (5 November 2011). "Fatshark announces post-apocalyptic RPG Krater, valiantly attempts to explain it". PC Gamer. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  14. Parrish, Peter (4 November 2011). "Fatshark is making a Krater". PCInvasion. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  15. Meunier, Nathan (5 October 2012). "War of the Roses Review". GameSpot. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  16. Dean, Paul (1 October 2012). "War of the Roses Review". EuroGamer. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  17. Stewart, Keith (4 September 2012). "The Guardian Review". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  18. "War of the Roses review". Eurogamer.net. October 2012.
  19. Yasenchak, Randy. "ElderGeek War of the Roses Review". ElderGeek. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  20. Jarvis, Matthew (1 April 2016). "Fatshark's Warhammer: End Times – Vermintide passes 500,000 sales". Develop. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  21. "Warhammer 40,000: Darktide—release date, trailer and everything we know". PC Gamer. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  22. Gurwin, Gabe (15 July 2021). "Warhammer 40,000: Darktide Gets Delayed To 2022". GameSpot.
  23. "Warhammer 40,000: Darktide on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
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