Egosoft

Egosoft GmbH (formerly Ego Software) is a German video game developer based in Würselen, Germany. The company was founded by Bernd Lehahn in 1988.

Egosoft is best known for its X series of video games,^[2] a series of space simulator games noted for combining open-ended gameplay, dynamic market-driven economy and compelling storyline.^[3][4] The series began in 1999 with X: Beyond the Frontier. Since then, the series has expanded with three sequels and three standalone expansions; the latest being X4: Foundations, released 30 November 2018.^{[citation needed]}

History

Egosoft was founded in Würselen by Bernd Lehahn in 1988, making it the oldest active video game company in Germany.^[5] Its first game, Hotel Detective, was released for the Amiga in June 1988.^[6]

In 2000, Egosoft planned a multiplayer online game called Online Universe or X Online. This project was intended to be "the next step in the evolution of Egosoft's X universe."^[7] Egosoft has since released a number of games, yet has given little indication of the progress of this project. In 2003, Egosoft staff were working on a later version—codenamed X2OL—which Egosoft chief executive officer Bernd Lehahn described as their "long-term goal."^[8][9] There is still no official information on the Online Universe, though there has been speculation that X2 and X3's 2007 uplink feature may be a positive spin-off of the project.^[10]

In late 2009, Egosoft announced that Terran Conflict completed the story started in X: Beyond the Frontier, taken by some to mean the end of the franchise. However, in March 2011 they announced on their X-Universe forums that they would be attending FedCon XX in Düsseldorf on 28 April 2011, and would show preview footage of their current project,^[11] previously only referred to by the codename TNBT (The Next Big Thing). However, on 20 April 2011, they released a trailer officially announcing X Rebirth, initially slated for a Q4 2011 release. X Rebirth will take place in the X Universe after a major catastrophe (the shutdown of the series' network of jump gates, thus starting a new chapter in the X Universe separate from the original plot line. Rebirth missed its first two proposed release dates (Q4 2011 and 2012) and was eventually released 15 November 2013.^[12]

Games developed

References

1. ^ Fröhlich, Petra (10 September 2024). "25 Jahre X: Wachstums-Schub durch Games-Förderung" [25 years of X: Growth boost through games funding] (in German). GamesWirtschaft
2. ^ Josh Venning (25 January 2006). "X3 Reunion: New Rolling Demo Tested". AnandTech. AnandTech. Archived from the original on 26 March 2006. Retrieved 11 February 2008.
3. ^ Wrentmore, John (12 December 2003). "X2 - The Threat Review". GameZone. GameZone Online. Archived from the original on 19 February 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2008.
4. ^ Reed, Kristan (6 November 2005). "X3: Reunion". EuroGamer. Eurogamer Network Ltd. Retrieved 11 February 2008.
5. ^ "Die 30 ältesten Games-Studios in Deutschland - Update". 29 June 2017.
6. ^ Xenon_Slayer (5 June 2018). "30 Years of EGOSOFT games – June 2018 Celebration Month!". Egosoft. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
7. ^ "ONLINE-UNIVERSE". Online Universe (Official Page). Retrieved 11 February 2008.
8. ^ Stokky (10 May 2003). "Interview: X2 - The Threat". playfuls.com. Archived from the original on 6 October 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2008.
9. ^ Presley, Paul (19 April 2003). "PC Preview: X2: The Threat". PC Zone. Future Publishing Limited. Retrieved 11 February 2008.
10. ^ Caesar S. (3 January 2008). "Egosoft updates X3: Reunion, X2: The Threat". QJ.net. Content Holdings, LLC. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2008.
11. ^ "TNBT will soon be officially unveiled!!"
12. ^ BurnIt! "X Rebirth - The wait is almost over!". Egosoft.com forums. Egosoft GmbH. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
13. ^ O'Connor, Alice (1 October 2018). "X4: Foundations blasting off in November". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
14. ^ Vega, Sin (April 2020). "X4: Foundations gets a major update and expansion with Split Vendetta". Rock, Paper, Shotgun
15. ^ ""From April Fool's joke to May release: Unveiling X3: Farnham's Legacy" - Games Press". www.gamespress.com. Retrieved 2021-07-03.
16. ^ "X4: Foundations - New Expansion, Cradle of Humanity Announced - IGN"
17. ^ "X4: Foundations - New Expansion, Tides of Avarice Announced"
18. ^ "X4: Kingdom End and major 6.00 Update now available"
19. ^ "X4: Foundations 7.00 Update and X4: Timelines now available"
20. ^ "X4: Hyperion Pack & Flight Model Update - A New Era Begins!"

External links

• Official website