InnoGames

InnoGames GmbH is a German video game developer and publisher based in Hamburg. Founded in 2007, it focuses on the development of free-to-play online browser and mobile games.[4] The company reached a turnover of €220 million in 2020 and currently has ten live games.[5][6]

InnoGames GmbH
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo game industry
Founded2007 (2007) in Stade, Germany
Founder
  • Hendrik Klindworth (CEO)
  • Michael Zillmer (COO)
  • Eike Klindworth
Headquarters
Hamburg
,
Germany
Key people
Michael Lenz (CAO), Felix Janzen (CMO), Christian Reshöft (CPO)[1]
Revenue€220 million[2] (2020)
Number of employees
350+[3] (2023)
ParentModern Times Group
Websiteinnogames.com

History

In 2003, founders Eike and Hendrik Klindworth and Michael Zillmer created and released the browser-based massively multiplayer online game Tribal Wars as a hobby project. By 2005, the real-time strategy game had tens of thousands of players.[7] Due to the success, the three founders decided to work full-time on the development and publishing of browser games. In early 2006, they rented an office in their hometown Stade, wrote a business plan, and soon after hired their first full-time employees. The goal: to market Tribal Wars internationally.[8]

In early 2007, InnoGames GmbH was founded to handle the operation, continued development and marketing of Tribal Wars.[9] In the same year, InnoGames moved into new offices in Harburg, Hamburg with a total of 17 employees. At that time, the company's second browser game, The West, was already in development.[10] In April 2008, the role-playing game set in the Wild West was released.[11]

In the fall of 2009, InnoGames moved within Harburg to be able to grow beyond 50 employees.[12] In September 2009, the company's new empire-building browser game Grepolis started into an open beta with a limited number of users.[13]

In April 2010, InnoGames founded InnoGames Korea, a subsidiary specifically for the Asian market.[14] In May 2010, the entry of investor Fidelity Growth Partners Europe (FGPE) was announced.[15] In July, the company announced the launch of the open beta test of the Facebook game WestWars, based on The West.[16] This was followed in August by the open beta of the fantasy role-playing game Seven Lands.[17]

In February 2011, InnoGames launched innogames.com, a central gaming portal for its approximately 60 million registered users at that time.[18] In addition, the company announced the following day that it would in future be advised by Gerhard Florin as Chairman.[19] He had most recently worked at Electronic Arts as Executive Vice President of Publishing.[20] August saw the launch of the open beta test of Bounty Hounds Online, a client–basedscience fiction PC game, for which InnoGames had acquired exclusive marketing rights for Europe.[21][22]

In April 2012, InnoGames launched the open beta of its empire-building browser game Forge of Empires.[23]

In February 2013, InnoGames announced the opening of a new location in São Paulo, to further expand its market position in South America.[24] In July, InnoGames announced that it was discontinuing work on the browser-based 3D seafarer simulation Kartuga and at the same time closing the development studio Ticking Bomb Games. As reasons, the company cited quality deficiencies and a lack of fit with its overall cross-platform play strategy.[25] In September, InnoGames published Grepolis for iOS, followed by an Android version in October.[26]

In March 2014, InnoGames moved to new offices with room for 500 staff in Hamburg Hammerbrook, where the company still resides today.[27] In May, the company published the iPad version of Forge of Empires, followed by the iPhone version in September 2014, and the Android version in March 2015.[28][29][30] Also in May 2014, the release of the strategy game Rising Generals for iOS, Android and browser was announced.[31] September saw the launch the open beta of Tribal Wars 2, the official sequel of InnoGames' debut game.[32] An Android version followed in November.[33]

In January 2015, the company opened a new mobile game development studio in Düsseldorf.[34] In May, InnoGames announced the browser version of its fantasy strategy game Elvenar.[35] In June, Tribal Wars 2 was published for iOS.[36]

In March 2016, the Düsseldorf studio was complemented by the three founders of Oberhausen-based developer Funatics and their team.[37] In October, Swedish media company Modern Times Group (MTG) acquired a total of 35% from InnoGames' founders and former investor Eight Roads Ventures (formerly FGPE), based on an enterprise value of €260 million.[38]

In February 2017, InnoGames announced the purchase of the turn-based strategy mobile game Warlords, which had been produced by the Berlin-based developer studio Wooga.[39] In May, MTG announced an increase in its stake to 51% of the shares through an investment of a further €82.6 million.[40] In September, Warlords was relaunched under the name Warlords of Aternum.[41] In November 2017, the mobile versions of Elvenar were released.[42]

In June 2018, InnoGames announced that it would close its Düsseldorf studio by the end of the year and shift production to Hamburg.[43]

In February 2019, InnoGames announced the release of its turn-based strategy game God Kings for iOS and Android devices.[44] By November, the company had surpassed one billion euros in total lifetime revenues.[45]

At the end of 2020, MTG increased its stake in InnoGames to 68%. The transaction also included the establishment of the gaming group MTG Gaming AB ("GamingCo"). The InnoGames founders held approximately 28% of the shares in GamingCo at that time.[46] In February, the company issued its most recent financial press release to date. In it, revenues for the year 2020 were put at 220 million euros.[47]

In January 2022, InnoGames announced the worldwide commercial release of the mobile-first city-building game game Rise of Cultures for iOS and Android. In contrast to the PvP focus of Forge of Empires, Rise of Cultures focuses on PvE.[48] The worldwide commercial launch of Sunrise Village, another mobile-first game, followed in February. With the exploration farming simulation, InnoGames added a new genre to its game portfolio.[49] In July, InnoGames became the first German games company to publish its salary bands. Among other things, the company cited the invalidation of existing prejudices against remuneration in the gaming industry and greater employer attractiveness for female employees as well as employees from outside the industry as the motivation for this step.[50] In October, the browser version of Rise of Cultures was released.[51]

On the occasion of the game's 20th anniversary, the company announced that Tribal Wars had generated total sales of more than €180 million by June 2023.[52] This was followed in August by the announcement that Forge of Empires had reached the €1 billion revenue mark.[53]

Live Games
Year Title Current Platform(s)
2003 Tribal Wars Android, Browser, iOS
2008 The West Browser
2009 Grepolis Android, Browser, iOS
2012 Forge of Empires Android, Browser, iOS
2014 Tribal Wars 2 Android, Browser, iOS
2015 Elvenar Android, Browser, iOS
2017 Warlords of Aternum Android, iOS
2021 Lost Survivors Android, iOS
2022 Rise of Cultures Android, iOS
2022 Sunrise Village Android, iOS

Discontinued Games
Year Title Platform(s)
2010 WestWars Facebook
2010 Seven Lands Browser
2010 Lagoonia Browser
2011 Bounty Hounds Online PC (Client)
2013 Kartuga Browser
2015 Rising Generals Android, Browser, iOS
2019 God Kings Android, iOS

Awards

Rise of Cultures:

Forge of Empires:

  • 2012 – Nomination for the European Games Award in the category "Best European Browser Game"[55]
  • 2012 – Nominations for the Deutscher Entwicklerpreis (Deutscher Entwicklerpreis) in the categories "Best Game Design" and "Best Browser Game"[56]
  • 2013 – Winner at the Deutscher Computerspielpreis awards in the category "Best Browser Game"[57]
  • 2013 – Winner at the MMO of the Year-Award in the category "Best Strategy Browser MMO" (Jury Award)[58]
  • 2019 – Nomination at the Deutscher Entwicklerpreis (Deutscher Entwicklerpreis) in the category "Evergreen"[59]

Grepolis:

  • 2009 – Nominations for the Deutscher Entwicklerpreis (Deutscher Entwicklerpreis) in the categories "Best Strategy Game" and "Best German Browser Game"[60]
  • 2010 – Nomination for the Bäm! Computec Games Award in the category "Online- or Browser Game"[61]
  • 2011 – Nomination for the European Games Award in the category "Best European Browser Game"[62]
  • 2012 – Winner of the MMO of the Year Award in the category "Best Classic Browser MMO" (Jury Award)[63]

Tribal Wars:

  • 2006 – Winner of the GalaxyNews Browser Game of the Year Award in the category "Gaming Fun" (Audience Award)[64]
  • 2006 – Winner of the MMO of the Year Award in the category "Best Gameplay" (Audience Award)[65]

Seven Lands:

  • 2010/11 – Winner of the MMO of the Year Award in the category "Best Role-playing" (Jury Award)[66]

The West:

  • 2008 – Winner of the MMO of the Year Award in the categories "Browser Game of the Year" (Jury Award), "Best Game Design" (Jury Award), "Best Gameplay" (Jury Award) und "Best Role-playing" (Jury award)[67]
  • 2010/11 – Winner of the MMO of the Year Award in the category "Best Game Expansion" (Audience Award)[68]

References
  1. "InnoGames About Us". InnoGames. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  2. "InnoGames secures future viability through strategic realignment". InnoGames. 13 April 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  3. Fröhlich, Petra (16 January 2023). "Die größten Games-Studios in Deutschland 2023 (Update)" [The largest game studios in Germany in 2023 (update)]. GamesWirtschaft (in German). Archived from the original on 21 January 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
  4. "InnoGames = Free to play online games for mobile & browser". InnoGames. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  5. "InnoGames hits record-breaking revenue of EUR 220m in 2020". InnoGames. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  6. "Our games - Play exciting strategy games, RPGs and online action titles". InnoGames. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  7. "From hobby development to 150 million players: CEO Hendrik Klindworth on 10 years of InnoGames". pocketgamer.biz. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  8. "InnoGames - die Spieleschmiede aus Hamburg" [InnoGames - the game forge from Hamburg]. Hamburger Abendblatt (in German). 5 June 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  9. "InnoGames auf der Überholspur" [InnoGames in the fast lane]. deutsche startups (in German). 18 August 2009. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  10. "InnoGames - die Spieleschmiede aus Hamburg" [InnoGames - the game forge from Hamburg]. Hamburger Abendblatt (in German). 5 June 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  11. "Zehn Jahre Browser-Duelle: InnoGames feiert The West-Jubiläum" [Ten years of browser duels: InnoGames celebrates The West anniversary]. Gamecity Hamburg (in German). 30 April 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  12. "InnoGames: Zusätzliche Arbeitsplätze an neuem Standort" [InnoGames: Additional jobs at new location]. openPR (in German). 16 October 2009. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  13. "Grepolis - Online-Strategiespiel in der griechischen Antike startet am 22. September" [Grepolis - Online strategy game set in ancient Greece launches September 22nd]. openPR. 17 September 2009. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  14. "InnoGames gründet koreanisches Tochterunternehmen" [InnoGames establishes Korean subsidiary]. openPR (in German). 6 April 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  15. "Fidelity Growth Partners Europe investiert bei InnoGames" [Fidelity Growth Partners Europe invests in InnoGames]. openPR (in German). Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  16. "WestWars steht in den Startlöchern" [WestWars is in the starting blocks]. openPR (in German). 8 July 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  17. "1000 Plätze für den ersten Blick auf Seven Lands" [1000 tickets for the first look at Seven Lands]. openPR (in German). 10 August 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  18. "InnoGames startet eigenes Spieleportal" [InnoGames launches its own games portal]. openPR (in German). 28 January 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  19. "Dr. Gerhard Florin ist Chairman bei InnoGames" [Dr. Gerhard Florin is Chairman at InnoGames]. Gamesmarkt (in German). 2 February 2011.
  20. "Gerhard Florin verlässt EA" [Gerhard Florin leaves EA]. Gamers Global (in German). 16 December 2009. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  21. "Bounty Hounds Online: Open Beta ist gestartet" [Bounty Hounds Online: Open beta has started]. openPR (in German). 2 August 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  22. "InnoGames veröffentlicht Bounty Hounds Online in Europa" [InnoGames publishes Bounty Hounds Online in Europe]. openPR. 18 November 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  23. "Forge of Empires Startet Auf Deutsch! Strategiespiel von InnoGames geht in die Open Beta" [Forge of Empires Starts In German! Strategy game from InnoGames enters open beta]. Presseportal (in German). 19 April 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  24. "InnoGames eröffnet Standort in Brasilien" [InnoGames opens site in Brazil]. Hamburger Abendblatt (in German). 15 February 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  25. "Kartuga - 3D-Browserspiel wird noch vor Ende der Closed-Beta wieder eingestellt" [Kartuga - 3D browser game will be discontinued before the end of closed beta]. Gamestar (in German). 17 July 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  26. "Grepolis: Gratis-App ab jetzt für Apples iPhone erhältlich" [Grepolis: Free app now available for Apple's iPhone]. Computer BILD (in German). 3 September 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  27. "Harburg verliert die Erfolgsfirma InnoGames" [Harburg loses the successful company InnoGames]. Hamburger Abendblatt (in German). 25 May 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  28. Shaul, Brandy (5 June 2014). "InnoGames brings Forge of Empires to iPad". ADWEEK. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  29. "Forge of Empires Comes to Android". Forge of Empires Blog. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  30. Marceau, Erica (29 September 2014). "Forge of Empires now optimized for iPhone". Technology Tell. Archived from the original on 1 February 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  31. "InnoGames kündigt Rising Generals an" [InnoGames announces Rising Generals]. Game Zine (in German). 13 May 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  32. "Tear Down the Walls – Tribal Wars 2 Enters Open Beta". InnoGames. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  33. "Conquer the World on Android: Tribal Wars 2 launches New App". InnoGames. 27 November 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
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  35. "Enter an Enchanted World: Elvenar Officially Launches". InnoGames. 28 May 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  36. "InnoGames Unleashes PvP on iOS: Tribal Wars 2 Launches New App". InnoGames. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  37. "InnoGames holt Funatics-Team an Bord" [InnoGames brings Funatics-Team on board]. Gamesmarkt (in German). 15 March 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  38. "90-Millionen-Deal – Schweden wollen InnoGames kaufen" [90 million deal - Swedes want to buy InnoGames]. Gründerszene (in German). 13 October 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
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  42. "Fantasy on the Go – InnoGames Releases Mobile Versions of Elvenar". InnoGames. 1 November 2017. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
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  44. "Mighty guardians, uprising kingdoms: God Kings conquers Mobile". InnoGames. 20 February 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
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  47. "InnoGames hits record-breaking revenue of EUR 220m in 2020". InnoGames. 25 February 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  48. "Rise of Cultures: New City Builder Game from InnoGames now available worldwide". InnoGames. 25 January 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  49. "Sunrise Village: InnoGames launches a new exploration and simulation game for iOS and Android". InnoGames. 24 February 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  50. "InnoGames publishes salary bands for 80% of employees". pocketgamer.biz. 19 July 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  51. "Play Rise of Cultures in your internet browser now!". YouTube. 28 October 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
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  62. "The winners 2011 are:". European Games Award. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  63. "Grepolis". MMO of the Year. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
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  68. "The West". MMO of the Year. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
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