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Microïds

Moby ID: 923

AKA +
  • MC2 (from 2007 to 2007)
  • MC2-Microïds (from 2003 to 2007)
  • Microïds (from 1985 to 2003)

Overview edit · view history

Microïds was a game development studio founded in 1985 by Elliot Grassiano. In 1995 in addition to development it expanded into publishing and distribution.

Some of the best sellers in the company's large games library were primarily in the adventure genre: Amerzone, Syberia I and II, Still Life and Obscure.

The company employed over 200 people, 105 of which were based in their Montreal, Canada, development division.

Divisions active in April 2003 were:

  • Microïds France (Vélizy, France near Paris): publishing, sales, distribution, marketing
  • Microïds Canada Inc. (Montreal, Quebec, Canada): development
  • Microïds Ltd. UK (Milton Keynes, United Kingdom): publishing, sales, distribution, marketing
  • Microïds Italia (Milan, Italy): publishing, sales, distribution (now Blue Label Entertainment Srl)

In 2003, Microïds merged with MC2 and changed its name to MC2-Microïds. In September 2003, the company acquired Wanadoo Edition including its complete catalog. The merging resulted in the forming of MC2 France. Founder Elliot Grassiano left the company and Emmanuel Olivier became CEO.

Within the next year, the Italian branch broke away from the company and changed its name to Blue Label Entertainment Srl.

In March 2005, Ubi Soft acquired Microïds Canada, the company's Canadian development operations. Ubisoft Canada Inc, Ubisoft's Montreal Branch, got 50 of the employees who were integrated into Ubisoft's Montreal development teams. Only the Canadian division was effected. All other MC2-Microïds branches were not involved, and MC2-Microïds retained all assets and rights to their previous releases as well as projects in development.

In November 2007, the company announced the relaunch of the Microïds publishing label lead by Emmanuel Olivier and other original founders of Index+.

The company briefly changed its name from MC2-Microïds to MC2 and then back again to just Microïds.

On 9 December 2008, the company was dissolved. The assets were bought by Anuman Interactive who went on to establish Microïds as an internal development division as well as the continuation of the Microïds publishing labels.

Credited on 94 Games from 1986 to 2008

Displaying most recent · View all

Dracula 3: The Path of the Dragon (2008 on Windows, Macintosh, OnLive)
ObsCure / Still Life (2006 on Windows)
Sniper Elite (2005 on Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox...)
Echo: Secrets of the Lost Cavern (2005 on Windows, Windows Mobile, Macintosh...)
Still Life (2005 on Windows, Xbox, Macintosh)
Syberia: Collectors Edition I & II (2004 on Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3...)
ObsCure (2004 on Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox)
The Saga of Ryzom (2004 on Linux, Windows, Macintosh)
Syberia II (2004 on Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox...)
Jack the Ripper (2004 on Windows)
Adventure Pack (2004 on Windows)
World War Zero: Iron Storm (2004 on Windows, PlayStation 2)
Prezzemolo in una Giornata da Incubo (2003 on Windows)
Chicago 1930 (2003 on Windows, Macintosh, Windows Apps)
Hegemonia: The Solon Heritage (2003 on Windows)
Curse: The Eye of Isis (2003 on Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox)
Off-Road Arena (2003 on Windows)
Ben Hur: Blood of Braves (2003 on PlayStation 2)
War and Peace: 1796 - 1815 (2002 on Windows)
Post Mortem (2002 on Windows)

[ view all ]

History +

October 20, 2008

The company acquires the intellectual rights to all of the former Cryo Interactive video games catalogue as well as all of the Cryo brands.

November 28, 2007

The relaunch of the Microïds label is announced.

March 2, 2005

Games publisher and developer Ubisoft acquires Microïds' Canadian development operations and merges them into the Ubisoft Montréal branch.

September 30, 2003

Microids acquires the games subsidiary of Wanadoo, making Wanadoo a 12% shareholder of Microids. Microïds now owns Wanadoo's complete catalog.

2003

Microïds merges with MC2, becoming MC2-Microïds

[ view all ]

Trivia +

Microïds, the developers and publishers of Syberia, has acquired the games subsidiary of Wanadoo. With this operation, Wanadoo becomes a shareholder to a total value of 12% of Microïds. Wanadoo's core business consists of internet media services and broadband internet access in France, the UK, Spain and the Netherlands.

This deal was signed on September 30, 2003, and is part of Microïds' moving out of a bankruptcy protection by the French government. The acquisition would seem to indicate a healthy continuation and expansion of the company. Previously, Microïds has said it wants to "impose itself as a leader in the adventure game segment". Syberia II is their next adventure game and is scheduled for release in quarter 1 2004.

Microïds now owns Wanadoo's complete catalog. This includes Frogwares' Sherlock Holmes game The Mystery of the Mummy.

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