Editing Sports Interactive (section)

==History==
Founded by [[Collyer brothers (game designers)|Paul Collyer and Oliver Collyer]], the company is commonly abbreviated to SI amongst fans of their games.{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}} In 2003, Sports Interactive split with former publisher [[Eidos Interactive]] and signed a deal with [[Sega]] to continue their flagship sports franchise under the new name ''[[Football Manager]]''. After the split, both parties kept their [[intellectual property]]. Sports Interactive kept the base code, the game database and programming of the game, whilst Eidos kept the rights to the ''[[Championship Manager]]'' franchise.{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}}

On 28 June 2012, [[Miles Jacobson]] and [[Ian Livingstone]] revealed why they split from Eidos Interactive and joined Sega. In a chat with GameHorizon, Jacobson thought that [[Beautiful Game Studios]] was brought in to take over ''Championship Manager'', whilst Livingstone thought that Eidos Interactive brought Beautiful Game Studios to protect the firm in case Sports Interactive jumped ship. Jacobson commented, saying, "I'm sure there are two sides to this story, at the time we felt there was a lack of respect that we did for our work from Eidos. There seemed to be an attitude at the time in the industry that anyone could make games." He continued by saying, "Eidos wanted more control. We wanted more control. We were asking for high royalties. Eidos set up Beautiful Game Studios nine months before ''[[Championship Manager 4]]'' was due to come out. They told me that BGS were making a platform game. I thought our number was up."<ref name=":0">{{cite magazine |last=Hall |first=Lee |date=28 June 2012 |title=Sports Interactive details split from Eidos after nine years of silence |url=http://www.edge-online.com/news/miles-jacobson-comments-eidos-split |url-status=dead |website=Edge Magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628120626/http://www.edge-online.com/news/miles-jacobson-comments-eidos-split |archive-date=28 June 2012 |access-date=}}</ref> He then further elaborated by saying, "I went for a curry with the CEO of Sega in Japan and Europe, and he made me an offer on a napkin, I kept telling them we were not for sale. I told them they would have to double the offer for me to even discuss it with Paul and Oliver Collyer."<ref name=":0" /> On 4 April 2006, it was announced that Sega Holdings Europe Ltd, holding company for Sports Interactive's publisher's Sega, had acquired Sports Interactive. When Sega acquired the company, it had 34 employees.<ref name="gamesindustry_coo" />

In 2018, Sports Interactive relocated from Old Street in Islington to the Here East development in Stratford. Now occupying half of the first floor in the Press Centre, the studio has 285 permanent employees in addition to more than 1,400 researchers worldwide for its ''Football Manager'' games. The studio is closely linked with [[War Child (charity)|War Child]] and has donated a percentage of each game sale directly to the charity since 2006, an initiative that has raised a total of more than £1.5 million.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sports Interactive - Our network and partners - War Child |url=https://www.warchild.org.uk/who-we-are/our-network/gaming-partners/featured/sports-interactive |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=www.warchild.org.uk |language=en}}</ref> The studio has begun developing partnerships with leading football clubs and other organisations in recent years. These include [[Manchester City F.C.]], [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.]], [[Brentford F.C.]], [[Burnley F.C.]], [[Venezia FC]], and Stormzy's project Merky FC.<ref>{{Cite web |title=News {{!}} Sports Interactive |url=https://www.sigames.com/news |access-date=2024-03-26 |website=www.sigames.com |language=en}}</ref> On 29 May 2024, the studio launched a rebrand. Done in conjunction with design practice Monday Nights, the most significant element was the studio updating its logo for the first time since 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sports Interactive unveils new logo and brand identity - SI Games | url=https://www.sports-interactive.com/news/sports-interactive-unveils-new-logo-and-brand-identity |access-date=2024-08-04 | website=SIgames.com }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sports Interactive {{!}} Creators of Football Manager |url=https://www.sports-interactive.com/news/sports-interactive-unveils-new-logo-and-brand-identity |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=Sports-Interactive.com }}</ref>