Editing Funcom (section)

==History==
{{missing information|Funcom Dublin Ltd., its Irish division that developed [[Speed Freaks]]|date=July 2017}}
Founded in 1993 by Erik Gloersen, Tyr Neilsen, Andre Backen, [[Gaute Godager]] and Olav Mørkrid, the company started as an independent game developer and publisher. It focuses mainly on PC games but have also released games on other platforms, including mobile phones and tablets. Funcom's console releases includes titles on [[Mega Drive|Sega Mega Drive/Genesis]], [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]], [[Sega Saturn]], [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]], [[Xbox One]] and [[PlayStation 4|PS4]].

In 1994 Funcom Dublin was set up to concentrate on console games. It originally had 20 employees. By July 2000 this had grown to 25. With the parent company choosing to focus on a massive multiplayer online title, Anarchy Online, the decision was made to close this subsidiary in August 2001.<ref name="Fun Anyone">{{cite web|url=https://gamedevelopers.ie/fun-anyone-2/|title=Fun Anyone?|website=GameDevelopers.ie.|date=16 December 2004 |access-date=2022-11-28}}</ref>

In late 2000s, Funcom opened a new office in North Carolina, increasing its staff to handle the final stages of releasing its sci-fi online RPG, [[Anarchy Online]]. The new location was also chosen so that it could offer effective customer service to North American players.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Funcom Opening US Office |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/funcom-opening-us-office/1100-2634321/ |access-date=2022-12-14 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}}</ref>

In December 2005, Funcom N.V. ({{ose|FUNCOM}}), the Dutch parent company of Funcom Oslo, was listed on the [[Oslo Stock Exchange]].

On March 14, 2007, the company abandoned traditional physical product distribution (e.g., on [[optical disc]]s) in favor of [[digital distribution]] completely. The main reason for this decision was claimed to be the financial losses due to [[software piracy]].<ref name="no_offl">{{cite web|url=http://www.adventuregamers.com/newsitem.php?id=1409|title=Funcom drops "offline" PC games|access-date=2007-03-15|first=Eivind|last=Hagerup|date=2007-03-14|publisher=[[Adventure Gamers]]}}</ref>

On August 21, 2008, Funcom laid off half of its customer service department located in [[Durham, North Carolina]]. On November 22, 2008, third parties reported that Funcom fired an additional 70% of the staff in their US workforce, possibly endangering future releases.<ref name="TTH_fire">{{cite web|url=http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/49839|title=Funcom Fires 70% of Their U.S. Staff This Morning|access-date=2008-11-28|date=2008-11-22|publisher=TenTonHammer.com}}</ref>

On September 17, 2008, Gaute Godager left Funcom, stating he was dissatisfied with certain elements of ''[[Age of Conan]]'', which he directed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/age-of-conan-director-leaves-funcom|title=''Age of Conan'' director leaves Funcom|publisher=[[Eurogamer]]|first=Rob|last=Purchese|date=2008-09-17|access-date=2009-03-01}}</ref> Craig Morrison took over the direction of ''Age of Conan''.

On February 23, 2009, Funcom reported financial losses of approximately $23 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. The unsuccessful launch of ''Age of Conan'' was cited as the reason for such a steep decline. The chief analyst of [[DNB ASA|DnB NOR]], Fredrik Thoresen, estimated that 100,000 subscribers played the game at the time of the report, far below the publisher's expectations, though these numbers were not confirmed by Funcom itself.<ref name="e24_Q42008">{{cite web|url=http://e24.no/boers-og-finans/article2942108.ece|title=4. KVARTAL: Blodrødt for Funcom|access-date=2009-02-23|author=Tor Øyvind Andersen, Sindre Heyerdahl|date=2009-02-23|publisher=[[E24 Næringsliv]]|language=no}}</ref>

On September 1, 2009, Funcom announced the establishment of a new development studio in [[Montreal|Montreal, Quebec]], [[Canada]]. The new studio has worked on Funcom's two MMORPG projects: ''[[The Secret World]]'' and the ''[[Age of Conan]]'' expansion pack ''[[Age of Conan: Rise of the Godslayer|Rise of the Godslayer]]''.<ref name="Montreal">{{cite web|url=http://www.funcom.com/wsp/funcom/frontend.cgi?func=publish.show&func_id=1361&table=CONTENT|title=Funcom establishes new development studio in Montréal|publisher=Funcom|date=2009-09-01|access-date=2009-09-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090905162425/http://www.funcom.com/wsp/funcom/frontend.cgi?func=publish.show&func_id=1361&table=CONTENT|archive-date=2009-09-05|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On September 29, 2009, Funcom announced a reduction of 20% of its staff, resulting in a "significant delay" for the release of ''The Secret World''.<ref name="VG247">{{cite web|url=http://www.vg247.com/2009/09/29/funcom-drops-20-of-staff/|title=Secret World gets significant delay as Funcom drops 20% of staff|access-date=2009-09-29|publisher=VG247|date=2009-09-29}}</ref>

All the perceived actions were reflected in the 2010 Annual Financial Report. The current number of employees is 282 (a 19% reduction to 2009). As the result of the new strategy, the operating results came close to a positive value — in 2010 it reached — US$593 thousand compared to — US$10 798 thousand in 2009.<ref name="FY2010_Report">{{cite web|url=http://l3cdn.funcom.com/funcomportal/pdf/investor/2010/Funcom_2010_Annual_Report.pdf/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614060554/http://l3cdn.funcom.com/funcomportal/pdf/investor/2010/Funcom_2010_Annual_Report.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 14, 2021|title=2010 Annual Financial Report|access-date=2011-04-30|publisher=Funcom|date=2011-04-30}}</ref>

On July 2, 2012, Funcom announced Ole Schreiner as the new CEO of Funcom and as a new member of the management board of Funcom. Ole Schreiner comes from the position of COO of the company, a role he has held for several years. Ole Schreiner is one of Funcom's longest-serving employees and he has been working directly with titles such as ''[[Anarchy Online]]'', ''Age of Conan'' and ''The Secret World'' in several capacities. Trond Arne Aas, long-term CEO of Funcom, took on a new role as Strategic Advisor to the Board and Chief Strategy Officer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.funcom.com/news/funcom_n.v._announces_ole_schreiner_as_new_ceo_for_the_company|title=Funcom N.V. announces Ole Schreiner as new CEO for the company|publisher=Funcom|access-date=2012-12-26|date=2012-07-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121224063301/http://www.funcom.com/news/funcom_n.v._announces_ole_schreiner_as_new_ceo_for_the_company|archive-date=2012-12-24|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On August 22, 2012, Funcom announced that it laid off half of the company as a cost-adjustment initiative due to the poor performance of their MMORPG ''The Secret World''. Some of the lay-offs were temporary. They blamed this poor performance on the [[Metacritic]] score of the game and the launch of competing titles like ''[[Diablo III]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2012/08/22/funcom-lays-off-half-of-the-company.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120824233927/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2012/08/22/funcom-lays-off-half-of-the-company.aspx|url-status=live|archive-date=August 24, 2012|title=Funcom Lays Off Half The Company|publisher=[[Game Informer]]|first=Jim|last=Reilly|date=2012-08-22|access-date=2012-09-03}}</ref>

On January 10, 2013, Funcom announced that they had initiated a process of restructuring the company around its core products and technology. The restructuring involved, among other things, that some of the company's offices would be closed or consolidated with others. Thus, Funcom hoped to create a stronger and more effective organization.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsweb.no/newsweb/search.do?messageId=318874|title=Funcom announces restructuring of the company|publisher=Newsweb|access-date=2013-01-14|date=2013-01-10}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamer.no/artikler/132478/nye-nedbemanninger-hos-funcom/|title=Nye nedbemanninger hos funcom|publisher=Gamer|first=Joachim|last=Froholt|date=2013-01-10|access-date=2013-01-14}}</ref>
The company announced on January 17, 2013, that it would lay off some of its staff of their [[Montreal]] branch as a part of the restructuring process.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://montrealgazette.com/business/technocite/Funcom+planning+significant+layoffs+Montreal/7839591/story.html|title=Funcom planning 'significant' layoffs in Montreal|publisher=Montreal Gazette|first=Jeff|last=Heinrich|date=2013-01-17|access-date=2013-01-20}}</ref>

On January 29, 2014, Norwegian economic crime unit [[Økokrim]] launched an investigation into suspected infringement of the provisions of the Securities Trading Act connected to the 2012 launch of ''The Secret World''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/funcom-under-investigation-for-trade-violations-1511459402|title=Investigators Raid Norwegian Game Studio|last=Fahey|first=Mike|date=29 January 2014|work=[[Kotaku]]|publisher=[[Gawker Media]]|access-date=29 January 2014}}</ref> In October 2015, the case against Funcom was closed after the company paid a fine.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.okokrim.no/artikler/bot-til-dataspillselskap-for-markedsmanipulasjon-|title=Bot for markedsmanipulasjon|date=23 October 2015|publisher=[[Økokrim]]|access-date=23 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009151124/http://www.okokrim.no/artikler/bot-til-dataspillselskap-for-markedsmanipulasjon-|archive-date=9 October 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

On April 24, 2014, the company reported securing NOK 9.7 million (US$1.6 million) additional equity.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.funcom.com/news/funcom_secures_additional_equity |title=Funcom.com &#124; News &#124; Funcom secures additional equity |access-date=2014-04-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429061739/http://www.funcom.com/news/funcom_secures_additional_equity |archive-date=2014-04-29 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The additional cash boost helped the company to fully prepare for the launch of the LEGO Minifigures MMO in summer 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/216335/Funcom_secures_16M_in_runup_to_LEGO_MMO_launch.php|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140428113516/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/216335/Funcom_secures_16M_in_runup_to_LEGO_MMO_launch.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 28, 2014|title = Funcom secures $1.6M in run-up to LEGO MMO launch|date = 28 April 2014}}</ref>

In May 2015, Rui Casais takes on the CEO role at Funcom, after a 7 years tenure as Chief Technology Officer. His career at Funcom started in 2004 when Casais joined as a Junior AI programmer and 10 years later became the CEO. During this time, he helped to develop and implement features and tools for all parts of game development, facilitated operational matters, developed partnerships and created long-term business strategies that contributed to the company’s success.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-08-22 |title=Funcom's Rui Casais: From junior programmer to CEO |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/from-junior-programmer-to-ceo-funcoms-rui-casais |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}}</ref>

In October 2015, the company launched ''The Park'',<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.funcom.com/news/funcoms_new_single_player_horror_game_the_park_now_available |title=Funcom.com &#124; News &#124; FUNCom's NEW SINGLE-PLAYER HORROR GAME 'THE PARK' NOW AVAILABLE |access-date=2016-03-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323054051/http://www.funcom.com/news/funcoms_new_single_player_horror_game_the_park_now_available |archive-date=2016-03-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref> a single-player horror experience based on ''The Secret World'' intellectual property.

In December 2015, the company announced that it had entered into a partnership agreement with Conan Properties International LLC,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.funcom.com/news/funcom_and_conan_properties_enter_new_partnership |title=Funcom.com &#124; News &#124; FUNCOM AND CONAN PROPERTIES ENTER NEW PARTNERSHIP |access-date=2016-03-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306055041/http://www.funcom.com/news/funcom_and_conan_properties_enter_new_partnership |archive-date=2016-03-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref> making it the preferred partner for PC and console games based on the Conan the Barbarian brand.

In January 2016, the company announced it was working on ''[[Conan Exiles]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.funcom.com/news/funcom_announces_new_open_world_survival_game_conan_exiles |title=Funcom.com &#124; News &#124; FUNCOM ANNOUNCES NEW OPEN-WORLD SURVIVAL GAME 'CONAN EXILES' |access-date=2016-03-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306060623/http://www.funcom.com/news/funcom_announces_new_open_world_survival_game_conan_exiles |archive-date=2016-03-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref> an open-world survival game based on the Conan the Barbarian brand. The game released on Steam PC Early Access on January 31, 2017, and launched on the Xbox One as part of the Game Preview program in August 2017.

In March 2017, the company announced it would relaunch ''The Secret World'' as ''Secret World Legends'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/03/29/secret-world-legends-free-to-play-relaunch/|title=The Secret World relaunching F2P as Secret World Legends|website=Rock, Paper, Shotgun|date=29 March 2017|last1=O'Connor|first1=Alice}}</ref> the free-to-play reboot of the original 2012 MMORPG. It launched June 2017, and was made available on Steam in July 2017. There have been no substantial updates to the game since October 2018.

In August 2017, the company revealed a new logo and branding alongside a positioning that openly acknowledges low points in the company's history.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-08-31-funcom-you-cant-survive-for-20-years-without-a-few-scars|title=Funcom: "You can't survive for 20 years without a few scars"|date=31 August 2017 }}</ref>

On 8 January 2019, it was announced that Funcom had acquired 50.1% of the Lisbon, Portugal-based company Zona Paradoxal, Lda ("ZPX") with whom it has had a working relationship since 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cdn.funcom.com/investor/2018/Funcom_4Q18_Report_663884.pdf|title=2018 Fourth Quarter Financial Report|publisher=Funcom|access-date=2022-11-28}}</ref>

On 26 February 2019, Funcom announced that it was entering into an exclusive partnership with [[Legendary Entertainment]] to develop games related to the upcoming ''Dune'' films.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Funcom N.V. enters into exclusive partnership with Legendary Entertainment for games in the ''Dune'' universe |date=February 26, 2019 |publisher=Funcom |url=https://investors.funcom.com/funcom-n-v-enters-into-exclusive-partnership-with-legendary-studios-for-games-in-the-dune-universe/ |access-date=March 3, 2019 |archive-date=March 6, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043051/https://investors.funcom.com/funcom-n-v-enters-into-exclusive-partnership-with-legendary-studios-for-games-in-the-dune-universe/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[Tencent Holdings]] acquired a 29% minority stake in Funcom in September 2019, making it the largest shareholder in the company.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-09-30-tencent-acquires-minority-stake-in-funcom | title=  Tencent acquires minority stake in Funcom | first = Haydn | last = Taylor | date = September 30, 2019 | access-date = September 30, 2019 | work = [[GamesIndustry.biz]] }}</ref> Tencent announced in January 2020 its intent to fully acquire Funcom through purchasing all outstanding shares of the company in February 2020 valued at {{USD|148 million}}.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-01-22-tencent-bids-to-acquire-100-percent-of-funcom | title = Tencent bids to acquire 100% of Funcom | first = Matthew | last=  Handrahan | date = January 22, 2020 | access-date= January 22, 2020 |  work = [[GamesIndustry.biz]] }}</ref>

In June 2021, Funcom acquired Swedish video game developer The Outsiders, while the company also announced plans to open a new studio in Romania.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Makuch |first1=Eddie |title=Funcom Buys Battlefield Dev's New Studio And Expands Into Romania |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/funcom-buys-battlefield-devs-new-studio-and-expands-into-romania/1100-6493409/ |website=[[GameSpot]] |date=June 30, 2021}}</ref> The company's newest office, Funcom Bucharest, opened in September and serves for the moment as the company’s headquarters for quality assurance, with plans in place to expand to other areas of game development over time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cristea |first=Mihai-Alexandru |date=2021-06-30 |title=Video game developer Funcom opens a studio in Bucharest |url=https://business-review.eu/tech/video-game-developer-funcom-opens-a-studio-in-bucharest-221523 |access-date=2023-01-16 |website=Business Review |language=ro}}</ref>

Funcom acquired [[Cabinet Entertainment|Cabinet Group]], which owns the intellectual property rights of ''Conan'', ''[[Mutant (role-playing game)|Mutant]]'', and [[Solomon Kane]] and other works based on the writings of [[Robert E. Howard]], in September 2021. Funcom stated that with this acquisition, that alongside a new game, they planned to merge these into a new studio {{anchor|Heroic Signatures}}'''Heroic Signatures'''<!--boldface per WP:R#PLA--> and release a new game based on these properties.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-09-14-funcom-buys-conan-ip | title = Funcom buys Conan IP | first = Wesley | last =Yin-Poole |date = September 14, 2021 | accessdate = September 14, 2021 | work = [[Eurogamer]] }}</ref> On December 2, 2021, it was announced that they signed an agreement with NUKKLEAR for assistance on Funcom's upcoming ''Dune'' survival video game.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-03|title=Development Studio NUKKLEAR Signs Deal with Funcom for Upcoming Dune Survival Game|url=https://gaminglyfe.com/development-studio-nukklear-signs-deal-with-funcom-for-upcoming-dune-survival-game/|access-date=2021-12-04|website=GamingLyfe.com - Gaming News, Esports News, Gaming Community|language=en-US}}</ref>