Editing Digital Extremes (section)

==History==
Founder James Schmalz created ''[[Epic Pinball]]'', published by then shareware publisher, [[Epic MegaGames]]. Bolstered from the success of ''Epic Pinball''<ref>{{cite web|author=RGB Classic Games |url=http://www.classicdosgames.com/game/Epic_Pinball.html |title=Epic Pinball |publisher=RGB Classic Games}}</ref> and the rising technology movement in the mid-'90s toward realistic 3D graphics, Schmalz founded Digital Extremes in 1993 and the company began co-development with Epic on what would become Epic's ''[[Unreal (video game series)|Unreal]]'' franchise.<ref>{{cite web|author=David Jenkins |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/digital-extremes-weighs-in-on-unreal-engine-3-for-ps3 |title=Digital Extremes Weighs In On Unreal Engine 3 for PS3 |publisher=Gamasutra.com |date=August 20, 2007 |access-date=February 8, 2012}}</ref>

''[[Unreal (1998 video game)|Unreal]]'' is a [[first-person shooter]], released in 1998, and was followed up with ''[[Unreal Tournament]]'' in 1999, which received numerous industry awards.<ref name="awards">{{cite news | title = GT Interactive and Epic Games Earn Coveted 'Game of the Year' Honors for 'Unreal Tournament' | pages = 1261 | publisher = [[Business Wire]] | date = February 17, 2000}}</ref> Subsequent sequels in the ''[[Unreal (video game series)|Unreal]]'' franchise include ''[[Unreal Championship]]'', ''[[Unreal Tournament 2003]]'', and ''[[Unreal Tournament 2004]]''. The ''Unreal'' series has sold more than 15 million units worldwide across a multitude of game platforms including [[PlayStation 2]], [[Dreamcast]], [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]], [[PlayStation 3]], [[Xbox 360]], Mac and PC.

According to [[Scott Miller (entrepreneur)|Scott Miller]], the cofounder of the video game company [[3D Realms]], Digital Extremes was willing to take over development of their much-delayed game ''[[Duke Nukem Forever]]'' in 2004, but the proposal was rejected by others at 3D Realms, which Miller described as a "fatal suicide shot" for the project.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |author1=Tyler Wilde |date=2022-05-11 |title=Former 3D Realms owners clash over Duke Nukem Forever blame |language=en |work=PC Gamer |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/former-3d-realms-owners-blame-each-other-for-losing-duke-nukem-forever/ |access-date=2022-05-12}}</ref>

After years of working in the same universe with ''Unreal'', Digital Extremes broadened its library and technology with development of its original [[intellectual property]], ''[[Dark Sector]]''. A [[third-person shooter]] released in 2008 for [[PlayStation 3]], [[Xbox 360]] and PC, ''Dark Sector'' used Digital Extremes' proprietary game engine, the Evolution Engine.

Digital Extremes worked with [[2K Games|2K]] to develop the comic-book franchise video game sequel, ''[[The Darkness II]]'', which met with positive reviews.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/the-darkness-2-review/|title=PC Gamer review|website=[[PC Gamer]] |date=February 7, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.giantbomb.com/reviews/the-darkness-ii-review/1900-461/|title=Giant Bomb review|date=February 7, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.egmnow.com/articles/reviews/egm-review-the-darkness-ii/|title=EGM Review|access-date=October 8, 2018|archive-date=July 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703040126/http://www.egmnow.com/articles/reviews/egm-review-the-darkness-ii/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.quartertothree.com/fp/2012/02/28/in-the-grip-of-the-darkness-ii/|title=Quarter to Three Review|date=February 28, 2012}}</ref> Digital Extremes developed the [[PlayStation 3]] version of ''[[BioShock]]'',<ref>{{cite web|author=Mike Bendel |url=http://exophase.com/6192/digital-extremes-to-assist-in-bioshock-ps3-development/ |title=Digital Extremes To Assist In BioShock PS3 Development|publisher=exophase.com |date=June 8, 2008 |access-date=February 8, 2012}}</ref> as well as developed the [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]] component of the sequel, ''[[BioShock 2]]'', while simultaneously developing the multiplayer portion of [[THQ]]'s [[first-person shooter]] ''[[Homefront (video game)|Homefront]]''.<ref>{{cite web|author=Jaz McDougall |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/homefront-pc-port-has-dedicated-servers/ |title=Homefront PC port has dedicated servers|publisher=pcgamer.com |date=August 18, 2010 |access-date=February 8, 2012}}</ref>

Digital Extremes developed the game for the 2013 ''[[Star Trek Into Darkness]]'' film, working with [[Bandai Namco]] and [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]] to develop ''[[Star Trek (2013 video game)|Star Trek]]'', which was poorly received.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.polygon.com/2013/9/13/4726170/star-trek-director-j-j-abrams-emotionally-hurt-by-star-trek-the-video|title = Star Trek director J.J. Abrams 'emotionally hurt' by Star Trek: The Video Game|website = [[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|date = September 13, 2013}}</ref>

In October 2014, Sumpo Food Holdings Ltd. acquired a majority share of Digital Extremes, with Perfect World Co. acquiring minority shares.<ref>{{cite web|author=Digital Extremes |url=https://warframe.com/news/partnership-announced |title=In-Depth: Partnership Announced|date=October 14, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/unreal-bioshock-dev-digital-extremes-sold-to-chine/1100-6422976/|title=Unreal, BioShock Dev Digital Extremes Sold to Chinese Companies|work=[[GameSpot]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|date=October 15, 2014|access-date=October 18, 2014|first=Eddie|last=Makuch}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/10/16/two-chinese-companies-acquire-majority-of-warframe-dev-digital-extremes.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017082655/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/10/16/two-chinese-companies-acquire-majority-of-warframe-dev-digital-extremes.aspx|url-status=live|archive-date=October 17, 2014|title=Digital Extremes: No Changes To Leadership Following Majority Acquisition By Chinese Firms|magazine=[[Game Informer]]|publisher=[[GameStop]]|date=October 16, 2014|access-date=October 18, 2014|first=Mike|last=Futter}}</ref> Sumpo was rebranded as [[Leyou]] in 2015, and by June 2016, had purchased the remaining shares in Digital Extremes.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/09/02/gamesbeat-boss-interview-chinas-leyou-moves-from-chicken-meat-to-triple-a-game-publishing/|title=GamesBeat Boss interview: China's Leyou moves from chicken meat to triple-A game publishing|date=2017-09-02|work=VentureBeat|access-date=2018-07-23|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.lexpert.ca/article/leyou-technologies-acquires-39-of-digital-extremes-for-us65-million/?p=14%7C119|title=Lexpert ® {{!}} Leyou Technologies acquires 39% of Digital Extremes for US$65 million|access-date=2018-07-23|language=en}}</ref>

In 2016, it was revealed that Digital Extremes' game ''[[Warframe]]'' had been hacked, exposing the email addresses of more than 700,000 players.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2016-07-23-digital-extremes-admits-warframe-hack|title=Digital Extremes admits Warframe hack|date=July 22, 2016}}</ref>

Digital Extremes opened a development studio in Toronto, Canada, and began operations in January 2018.<ref name="gamesindustry.biz"/>

In December 2020, Leyou was acquired by [[Tencent]], which included Digital Extremes. The developer stated that this would not change how they operate as they remained independent of Tencent, though through Tencent they would be able to provide better support for the Chinese version of the ''Warframe'' client.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.pcgamer.com/tencent-acquires-warframe-developer-digital-extremes-and-several-other-studios/ | title = Tencent acquires Warframe developer Digital Extremes and several other studios | first = Rich | last = Stanton | date = December 23, 2020 | access-date = December 23, 2020 | work = [[PC Gamer]]}}</ref>

In October 2023, James Schmalz stepped down as CEO, with former ''Warframe'' director Steve Sinclair promoted to CEO. Community manager Rebecca Ford became the game's new director.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=Jeffrey Rousseau Staff |date=2023-10-24 |title=James Schmalz steps down as CEO of Digital Extremes |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/james-schmalz-steps-down-as-ceo-of-digital-extremes |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}}</ref> In the following month, Digital Extremes reportedly laid off about 30 employees, mostly from their external projects division. While the layoffs were confirmed, the company would not state how many people were affected. They also terminated their partnership with [[Airship Syndicate]], returning ''[[Wayfinder (video game)|Wayfinder]]'' to their control.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=Sophie McEvoy Staff |date=2023-11-10 |title=Digital Extremes impacted by layoffs, closing publishing division |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/digital-extremes-impacted-by-layoffs-closing-publishing-division |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}}</ref>