TopWare Interactive

TopWare Interactive – AC Enterprises e.K. is a German video game publisher based in Karlsruhe.[1] The company is best known for publishing the Two Worlds series developed by its Reality Pump Studios division.

TopWare Interactive – AC Enterprises e.K.
TypePrivate
IndustryVideo games
Founded1996 (1996)
Headquarters
Karlsruhe
,
Germany
ProductsEarth series
Two Worlds series
Raven's Cry
Parent
  • TopWare CD-Service AG (1996–2001)
  • Zuxxez Entertainment (2001–2016)
DivisionsReality Pump Studios
Websitetopware.com

History

TopWare Interactive was started in 1995 as a video game publishing subsidiary of TopWare CD Service AG based in Mannheim, Germany, which included two inhouse development studios (ToonTRAXX and TopWare Programy), which was later renamed to Reality Pump Studios based in Poland. In February 2001, TopWare CD Service AG filed for bankruptcy.[2] All rights, including both development studios, were acquired by Zuxxez Entertainment AG.

The company was resurrected by Zuxxez in 2005.[3] In 2011, Zuxxez officially changed its name back to TopWare Interactive, thus completely abandoning the Zuxxez brand. TopWare Interactive AG's American company, TopWare Interactive Inc., revealed that it was developing Battle vs. Chess to be published by SouthPeak Games. Interplay Entertainment sued and won an injunction to stop sales in the United States. In February 2012, Interplay won the case by default and a settlement was agreed on 15 November 2012. Terms of the settlement were $200,000 plus interest.[4]

TopWare Interactive / Zuxxez Entertainment filed for bankruptcy again on 1 February 2016.[5] While the company has not released any official comment on the subject yet, the insolvency has already been registered in the European Insolvency Register.[6] The filing for bankruptcy comes just a few days after the pulling of Vendetta: Curse of Raven's Cry (the last game published by TopWare Interactive, a re-release of Raven's Cry) from Steam. Nevertheless, TopWare quietly released the game again later.

However, on 26 March 2016, TopWare announced it has begun development of Two Worlds 3 which is set to be released in 2020.[7]

Reality Pump Studios

Reality Pump Studios was founded as an in-house developer for TopWare Interactive in Bielsko-Biała, Poland, in 1995. Their first successful title was Earth 2140. In 2001, they formed a partnership with Zuxxez Entertainment AG and officially took the name 'Reality Pump - Game Development Studios'. They moved their headquarters to Kraków.

In 2015 the company went bankrupt and was acquired by TopWare Interactive.[8]

Published titles

Premium

Value

Cancelled

References
  1. TopWare Interactive. "Company Profile". TopWare Interactive. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  2. Golem.de (5 February 2001). "TopWare stellt Insolvenzantrag" (in German). Klaß & Ihlenfeld Verlag GmbH. Archived from the original on 6 March 2009. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
  3. Golem.de (26 April 2005). "Topware Interactive startet neu - in den USA" (in German). Klaß & Ihlenfeld Verlag GmbH. Archived from the original on 23 February 2009. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
  4. Matt Pooled, "Interplay Wins in the Battle Chess Saga against Topware and SouthPeak" Archived 3 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Bright Side of News, 2 November 2013
  5. "TopWare Interactive - Deutscher Publisher meldet Insolvenz an". www.gamestar.de (in German). 2 February 2016. Archived from the original on 24 April 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  6. "Insolvency Registers". e-justice.europa.eu. Archived from the original on 24 April 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  7. Dransfield, Ian (28 March 2016). "Two Worlds 3 in development, Two Worlds 2 comes to Linux/SteamOS". PC Gamer. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  8. "Reality Pump, Studio Behind Two Worlds II, Goes Bankrupt and Shuts Down". Gamepressure.com. Archived from the original on 23 July 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  9. "Scivelation". TopWare Interactive AG. Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  10. "Torrent versions & cancelled keys. Why we did and said some things you might find shocking :: Transcripted General Discussions". steamcommunity.com. Archived from the original on 3 October 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  11. "Sacrilegium Resurfaces with a Trailer". TrueAchievements. Archived from the original on 24 April 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
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