Editing Introversion Software

{{Short description|British independent games developer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Primary sources|date=March 2013}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2012}}
{{Infobox company
| name          = Introversion Software Limited
| logo          = IntroversionLogo.png
| type          = [[Privately held company|Private]]
| foundation    = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2001}}
| location      = [[Walton-on-Thames]], [[England]]
| key_people    = {{Unbulleted list|Chris Delay|Mark Morris|John Knottenbelt|Thomas Arundel}}
| industry      = [[Video game industry|Video games]]
| num_employees = 12 | num_employees_year = 2017
| products      = {{Unbulleted list|''[[Uplink (video game)|Uplink]]''|''[[Darwinia (video game)|Darwinia]]''|''[[DEFCON (video game)|DEFCON]]''|''[[Multiwinia]]''|''[[Subversion (video game)|Subversion]]''|''[[Prison Architect]]''|''[[Scanner Sombre]]''}}
| revenue       = 
| homepage      = {{URL|introversion.co.uk}}
}}

'''Introversion Software Limited''' is a British [[video game developer]] based in [[Walton-on-Thames]], [[England]].

==History==
The company was founded in 2001 by three friends, Chris Delay, Mark Morris, and Thomas Arundel, who met as undergraduates at [[Imperial College London]].<ref name="Introversion Software . About Us">{{cite web |title=Introversion Software . About Us |url=http://www.introversion.co.uk/aboutus.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209065242/http://www.introversion.co.uk/aboutus.html |archive-date=9 February 2014 |access-date=3 February 2014 |publisher=Introversion.co.uk}}</ref> The company originally labelled itself "the last of the bedroom [[programmer]]s" due to the trio working out of their homes – they moved into an office when working on their fourth game, ''[[Multiwinia]]''. Their first released [[video game]], ''[[Uplink (video game)|Uplink]]'', was programmed and designed almost exclusively by Chris, while Mark and Tom handled marketing, materials and the other business elements. Their small initial investment enabled them to buy [[CD-R]]s and [[ink cartridge|printer cartridges]]. Early copies of the game were handmade. The company was able to fully make back their investment within a few hours of accepting orders. A large community formed, and the team, along with a new programmer Andy Bainbridge, started work on two new games.

''[[Darwinia (video game)|Darwinia]]'' was released to much critical acclaim and was eventually re-released via [[Steam (service)|Steam]] on 14 December 2005<ref>{{cite web |url=http://store.steampowered.com/app/1500/ |title=Darwinia on Steam |access-date=3 September 2016 |archive-date=7 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160907131808/http://store.steampowered.com/app/1500 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 29 September 2006, Introversion Software launched its third game, ''[[DEFCON (video game)|DEFCON]]''. Shortly after, Introversion had measured their bandwidth in terabytes for the first time. After the release of ''DEFCON'', Introversion began work on a game called ''Subversion''.<ref name="forums.introversion.co.uk">{{cite web |url=http://forums.introversion.co.uk/introversion/viewtopic.php?t=566 |title=Introversion • View topic – It's all in your head, Part 1 |publisher=Forums.introversion.co.uk |date=19 December 2006 |access-date=3 February 2014 |archive-date=18 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130818000819/http://forums.introversion.co.uk/introversion/viewtopic.php?t=566 |url-status=live }}</ref> Their next game, however, was ''Multiwinia'', a multiplayer follow-up to ''Darwinia'', and was released on 19 September 2008.

''Darwinia'' and ''Multiwinia'' were ported for the [[Xbox 360]]. This resulted in the eventual release of ''Darwinia+'', which included both games, to the [[Xbox Live Arcade]] on 10 February 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.introversion.co.uk/darwiniaplus/ |title=Darwinia+ |access-date=12 June 2017 |archive-date=20 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620043552/http://www.introversion.co.uk/darwiniaplus/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===''Subversion'' delay and ''Prison Architect''===
After the release of ''Multiwinia'' in 2008, Introversion announced the commencement of working on a game called ''Subversion'' in December of that year.<ref name="forums.introversion.co.uk"/> This was followed by a series of blog-posts about the development of the game and its [[Procedural generation|procedurally generated]] urban areas<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/02/20/subversion-unveiled/ |title=Subversion Unveiled |website=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]] |date=20 February 2010 |access-date=3 February 2014 |archive-date=21 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221192327/http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/02/20/subversion-unveiled/ |url-status=live |last1=Co-Founder |first1=Jim Rossignol |last2=Rossignol |first2=Jim }}</ref> and the game was shown at the World of Love event in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/11/30/see-subversion-at-world-of-love/ |title=See Subversion At World Of Love |website=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]] |date=30 November 2010 |access-date=3 February 2014 |archive-date=21 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221212114/http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/11/30/see-subversion-at-world-of-love/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In October 2011, after three years in development, ''Subversion'' was announced as delayed.<ref>{{cite web |last=Smith |first=Adam |date=17 October 2011 |title=New Introversion Project, Subversion Delayed |url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/10/17/new-introversion-project-subversion-delayed/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106054145/http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/10/17/new-introversion-project-subversion-delayed/ |archive-date=6 January 2014 |access-date=3 February 2014 |website=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]]}}</ref>

Their new game was announced as ''[[Prison Architect]]'' during the [[Humble Indie Bundle]] release of Introversion games and [[Technology demonstration|tech demos]] of ''Subversion'' material, along with a treasure hunt of information on the new game hidden within the tech demos.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/11/30/introversion-humbundle-and-hunt-updates/ |title=Introversion HumBundle And Hunt Updates |website=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]] |date=30 November 2011 |access-date=3 February 2014 |archive-date=21 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221203035/http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/11/30/introversion-humbundle-and-hunt-updates/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Financial history and independence==
{{Tone|section|date=November 2023}}

After a low-key launch, ''Uplink'' was a critical and commercial success for Introversion. A visit to [[E3]] 2002 saw the team "rinse £10k in a week on speedboats and fast cars", but regret soon set in as they watched their income steadily decline, since "in the games industry, you make 75% of your total revenue for the product in the first 6 months".<ref name="Becoming a proper company....,">[http://forums.introversion.co.uk/introversion/viewtopic.php?t=615 "Becoming a proper company....,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070317152632/http://forums.introversion.co.uk/introversion/viewtopic.php?t=615 |date=17 March 2007 }} Tom, Introversion staff.</ref> By December 2002, then-publisher [[Strategy First]] had stopped paying royalties for ''Uplink''; they would later file a [[Bankruptcy in Canada|Consumer Proposal]], but were acquired by Silverstar Holdings in early 2005. Even with the cash flow from direct sales, Introversion ran out of money in the middle of 2003.<ref name="Becoming a proper company....,"/> The company hovered on the edge of bankruptcy, with the team selling most of their worldly goods, as their second project and only hope for funds—''[[Darwinia (video game)|Darwinia]]''—"slipped relentlessly".<ref name="Becoming a proper company....,"/>

''Darwinia'' was eventually released in March 2005, but despite a strong opening weekend, sales soon slipped too low to sustain the company. Within six months, the developers were back on UK government benefits until November, when they contacted [[Valve Corporation|Valve]] "on a whim"<ref name="introversion-gibiz-interview">{{cite web |url=http://steamreview.org/posts/introversiongibiz/ |title=Introversion talk Steam |work=The Steam Review |date=15 July 2006 |access-date=12 April 2007 |archive-date=2 December 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061202142943/http://steamreview.org/posts/introversiongibiz/ |url-status=live }}</ref> to try to set up a [[digital distribution]] deal on their [[Steam (service)|Steam]] platform. Valve responded enthusiastically and, following a 14 December 2005 online launch, digital sales, which exposed the game to a new, global audience, kept the company going through to the release of their third game, ''DEFCON''.

On 15 September 2006, the day ''DEFCON'' pre-orders were made available, Introversion spent their last £1500. Fortuitously, the game "did much much better than [they] ever imagined" and funds for at least the forthcoming twelve months quickly rolled in to replace it. Seemingly financially secure, the company place their eventual success largely at Valve's feet: "Steam has made Introversion a commercial success", Tom Arundel is quoted saying.<ref name="steammadeusrich">{{cite magazine |last=Hyman |first=Paul |date=March 2007 |title=State of the Industry: Digital Distribution |magazine=[[Game Developer (magazine)|Game Developer]] |publisher=CMP Group |page=14}}</ref>

By early 2010 the company was back in financial trouble. After spending over a year porting ''[[Darwinia+]]'' to the [[Xbox 360]], the game was not successful at launch. "It just really bombed. We missed the entire audience, I think", director Mark Morris said.<ref name="gamesindustry.biz">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2014-07-21-that-which-does-not-kill-you |title=That which does not kill you... |date=21 July 2014 |access-date=22 July 2014 |archive-date=24 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140724034635/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2014-07-21-that-which-does-not-kill-you? |url-status=live }}</ref> The launch was in fact so poor, the company was able to tell in the first 10 minutes that it would not make enough money to save the company.<ref name="gamesindustry.biz"/> At this time the company was so deeply in debt that by continuing operation the Directors faced criminal prosecution under [[UK insolvency law]].<ref name="gamesindustry.biz"/> "Tom (Arundel) spent a lot of time in those final days genuinely convinced that we were trading insolvently, probably trading insolvently, which is a criminal offense. So he was arguing that we needed to stop immediately, completely down tools, or there was a very real possibility that we would face prosecution".<ref name="gamesindustry.biz"/>

Slowly Introversion's finances changed again. In Q3 2010 the company was able to add Steam achievements to ''DEFCON'' which resulted in the game being prominently featured in a sale.<ref name="gamesindustry.biz"/> Morris credits the $250,000 generated by the Steam promotion as saving the company.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/08/23/how-a-steam-promotion-saved-introversion/ |title=How A Steam Promotion Saved Introversion |first=Kieron |last=Gillen |work=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |date=23 August 2010 |access-date=22 July 2014 |archive-date=14 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514163129/http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/08/23/how-a-steam-promotion-saved-introversion/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Later, Introversion's games were featured in a [[Humble Indie Bundle]] that launched in November 2011. The "Humble Introversion Bundle" sold 190,261 bundles and generated $779,026.33. Introversion used the money for the ongoing development of their next game, entitled ''[[Prison Architect]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://forums.introversion.co.uk/introversion/viewtopic.php?t=3030 |title=Introversion • View topic – Number of players : Doubled |publisher=Forums.introversion.co.uk |access-date=3 February 2014 |archive-date=18 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618175037/http://forums.introversion.co.uk/introversion/viewtopic.php?t=3030 |url-status=live }}</ref>

As of 26 September 2015, ''Prison Architect'' had grossed over $19 million in sales, and over 1.25 million units of the game had been sold.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-09-30-prison-architect-earns-usd19m-from-1-25m-sales-but-whats-next |title=Prison Architect earns $19m from 1.25m sales – but what's next? |first=Robert |last=Purchese |work=[[Eurogamer]] |date=30 September 2015 |access-date=30 September 2015 |archive-date=6 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190206232203/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-09-30-prison-architect-earns-usd19m-from-1-25m-sales-but-whats-next |url-status=live }}</ref> By the end of August 2016 when the final version '2.0' of ''Prison Architect'' was released, the number of individual players was given as two million.

Their next title, ''Scanner Sombre,'' was released in April 2017,<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 April 2017 |title=Introversion's Scanner Sombre surfacing on Wednesday |language=en |website=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]] |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/scanner-sombre-release-date |access-date=9 February 2021 |archive-date=1 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201224837/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/scanner-sombre-release-date |url-status=live }}</ref> after a 9 month development stage. The game sold only 6000 copies upon its release. Chris Delay remarked that it had "bombed in a big way".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Purchese |first=Robert |date=26 June 2017 |title=Prison Architect dev Introversion reflects upon Scanner Sombre, which "bombed in a big way" |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-06-26-introversions-new-game-scanner-sombre-bombed-in-a-big-way |access-date=9 February 2021 |website=Eurogamer |language=en |archive-date=30 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130192953/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-06-26-introversions-new-game-scanner-sombre-bombed-in-a-big-way |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Virtual reality]] compatibility has been implemented into the game post-release, supporting both the [[HTC Vive]] and [[Oculus Rift]], and was released in late June 2017,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Livingston |first=Christopher |date=13 May 2017 |title=Scanner Sombre is coming to VR |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/introversion-softwares-adventure-game-scanner-sombre-is-coming-to-vr/ |access-date=9 February 2021 |website=PC Gamer |language=en-US |archive-date=18 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918000410/https://www.pcgamer.com/introversion-softwares-adventure-game-scanner-sombre-is-coming-to-vr/ |url-status=live }}</ref> marking the developer's first (and to date only) foray into VR.

In January 2019, Introversion and [[Paradox Interactive]] announced that the ''Prison Architect'' [[intellectual property]] was being sold on to Paradox for an undisclosed fee, so that Introversion could concentrate on new projects while Paradox continued to support and expand on the property.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2019/01/08/paradox-interactive-acquires-prison-architect-from-introversion-games/ |title=Paradox Interactive acquires Prison Architect from Introversion Games |date=8 January 2019 |website=VentureBeat |language=en-US |access-date=23 January 2019 |archive-date=3 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203224354/https://venturebeat.com/2019/01/08/paradox-interactive-acquires-prison-architect-from-introversion-games/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-01-08-paradox-acquires-prison-architect-from-introversion-software |title=Paradox acquires Prison Architect from Introversion Software |website=GamesIndustry.biz |date=8 January 2019 |language=en |access-date=24 March 2020 |archive-date=24 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324231928/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-01-08-paradox-acquires-prison-architect-from-introversion-software |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 28 May 2022 Introversion announced their new science fiction themed video game ''The Last Starship'', which is scheduled to be released in 2023.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2022-09-28 |title=EGX 2022 – Hands-On with The Last Starship! |url=https://moviesgamesandtech.com/2022/09/28/the-last-starship-initial-reaction/ |access-date=2022-11-07 |website=Movies Games and Tech |language=en-GB |archive-date=7 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221107134015/https://moviesgamesandtech.com/2022/09/28/the-last-starship-initial-reaction/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Last Starship on Steam |url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1857080/The_Last_Starship/ |access-date=6 June 2022 |website=store.steampowered.com |language=en |archive-date=7 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607173834/https://store.steampowered.com/app/1857080/The_Last_Starship/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Games==
*''[[Uplink (video game)|Uplink]]'' (2001)
*''[[Darwinia (video game)|Darwinia]]'' (2005)
*''[[DEFCON (video game)|DEFCON]]'' (2006)
*''[[Multiwinia]]'' (2008)<ref>"'Last of the Bedroom Programmers' Announce Multiwinia on PC" from Introversion's press release [http://forums.introversion.co.uk/introversion/viewtopic.php?t=647 Introversion Announces Multiwinia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128085107/http://forums.introversion.co.uk/introversion/viewtopic.php?t=647 |date=28 January 2013 }}, 27 February 2007, 2:57 p.m.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://forums.introversion.co.uk/introversion/viewtopic.php?t=1064 |title=Welcome to Paradise – Introversion |access-date=29 January 2008 |archive-date=28 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128081524/http://forums.introversion.co.uk/introversion/viewtopic.php?t=1064 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*''[[Darwinia+]]'' (2010)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.introversion.co.uk/darwiniaplus |title=Darwinia+ XBLA Xbox Live Arcade |access-date=5 July 2009 |archive-date=30 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530171013/http://introversion.co.uk/darwiniaplus/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 
*''[[Prison Architect]]'' (2015)
*''[[Scanner Sombre]]'' (2017)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://forums.introversion.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=60489 |title=Scanner Sombre – Introversion |access-date=26 April 2017 |archive-date=27 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427004429/http://forums.introversion.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=60489 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*''The Last Starship'' (2023)<ref name=":0" />

===Other projects===
*''[[Subversion (video game)|Subversion]]'' (cancelled)<ref>{{cite web |last=Welsh |first=Oli |title=Rezzed Sessions: Why Subversion sucked and Prison Architect won't |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-07-11-rezzed-sessions-why-subversion-sucked-and-prison-architect-wont |website=Eurogamer |date=11 July 2012 |access-date=17 July 2012 |archive-date=18 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718121741/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-07-11-rezzed-sessions-why-subversion-sucked-and-prison-architect-wont |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="forums.introversion.co.uk"/>
*''Chronometer'' (optioned but not developed)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://forums.introversion.co.uk/introversion/viewtopic.php?t=1592 |title=Chronometer – Introversion |access-date=9 July 2008 |archive-date=28 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128080949/http://forums.introversion.co.uk/introversion/viewtopic.php?t=1592 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*''Wrong Wire'' (cancelled)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/tag/wrong-wire/ |title=Wrong Wire – Rock, Paper, Shotgun – PC Game Reviews, Previews, Subjectivity |website=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]] |date=26 August 2016 |access-date=29 April 2017 |archive-date=21 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221194849/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/tag/wrong-wire/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Failed Prototypes" />
*''Order of Magnitude'' (cancelled)<ref>{{cite web |last=Cox |first=Matt |date=26 April 2018 |title=Order of Magnitude |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/04/26/order-of-magnitude-introversion-preview/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428011909/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/04/26/order-of-magnitude-introversion-preview/ |archive-date=28 April 2018 |access-date=27 April 2018 |website=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamesinsider.biz/news/68481/introversion-has-stepped-away-from-order-of-magnitude-but-the-games-dna-lives-on-in-next-project/ |title=Introversion has stepped away from Order of Magnitude, but the game's DNA lives on in next project |date=7 February 2019 |publisher=PC Games Insider |access-date=21 May 2019 |archive-date=25 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925021944/https://www.pcgamesinsider.biz/news/68481/introversion-has-stepped-away-from-order-of-magnitude-but-the-games-dna-lives-on-in-next-project/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
*''Spacebots'' (cancelled)<ref name="Failed Prototypes">{{cite web |url=https://www.introversion.co.uk/prototypes/ |title=Failed Prototypes |access-date=7 February 2021 |archive-date=24 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124115413/https://www.introversion.co.uk/prototypes/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
*''Megaprocessor'' (cancelled)<ref name="Failed Prototypes"/>
*''Voxel Factory'' (cancelled)<ref name="Failed Prototypes" />
*''Nanotech'' (cancelled)<ref name="Failed Prototypes" />
*''Deep Space Industrial'' (cancelled)<ref name="Failed Prototypes" />
*''Praxis'' (cancelled)<ref name="Failed Prototypes" />

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://www.introversion.co.uk/ Introversion Software's website]

{{Introversion Software}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Companies based in Surrey]]
[[Category:Video game companies established in 2001]]
[[Category:Video game companies of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Video game development companies]]