Classic Saber

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Saber Interactive was founded in 2001 by Andrey Iones, Matthew Karch, and Anton Krupkin. They created a 3D engine from scratch, gathered a team of artists from Saint Petersburg, Russia, and began working on its first game, Will Rock. After Will Rock, Saber developed its proprietary Saber3D engine, used in TimeShift (2007). In 2010, Saber was approached by Microsoft's 343 Industries to remake Halo: Combat Evolved for its tenth anniversary, using the original engine for gameplay and Saber3D for visuals; Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary was released on November 15, 2011. Saber later assisted on Halo: The Master Chief Collection in 2014. On August 1, 2016, Saber opened its first internal studio outside Russia in Madrid. It opened studios in Sundsvall, Sweden (by buying Binary Motion), and Minsk, Belarus. In 2018, Saber partnered with CD Projekt Red on the Nintendo Switch port of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Complete Edition, released October 15, 2019. On April 16, 2019, Saber launched World War Z, which sold over one million units in its first week. id Software studio director Tim Willits joined Saber as chief creative officer on August 1, 2019. In October 2019, Saber acquired Bigmoon Entertainment in Porto, Portugal, rebranding it as Saber Porto. Saber was acquired by Embracer Group in February 2020 for US$525 million, becoming its fifth direct subsidiary. Post-acquisition, Matthew Karch continued as CEO and Andrey Iones as COO. In August 2020, Saber acquired 4A Games and New World Interactive. In November 2020, it acquired 34BigThings, Mad Head Games, Nimble Giant Entertainment, Snapshot Games, and Zen Studios. Todd Hollenshead joined Saber as Head of Publishing on November 18, 2020. Saber and Boss Team Games announced Evil Dead: The Game during The Game Awards 2020. In February 2021, Embracer Group announced it acquired Aspyr as a subsidiary for Saber Interactive. In June 2021, Prime Matter announced Saber was developing a new Painkiller entry, and Warhorse Studios announced Saber would develop a Kingdom Come: Deliverance port for Nintendo Switch. In August 2021, Saber acquired 3D Realms, Slipgate Ironworks, SmartPhone Labs, Demiurge Studios, and Fractured Byte. In September 2021, it acquired Bytex. In December 2021, it acquired DIGIC Pictures and Shiver Entertainment. In March 2024, Embracer Group sold Saber Interactive to Beacon Interactive, owned by Karch. Sa

In Their Own Story

The void stretches endlessly before you, a canvas of darkness waiting for light. Suddenly, the beat drops, and blocks materialize from the ether, hurtling toward your position. You grip the hilt of the Classic Saber, feeling the familiar hum of energy as the blade ignites in neon blue. With a sharp flick of the wrist, you slice through an orange block, the satisfying *chop* echoing perfectly with the bassline. The saber is not just a tool; it is an extension of your rhythm, turning chaos into order one precise cut at a time.

Reader's Guide

The default configuration of the sabers in Beat Saber is that the left saber is red and the right saber is blue. The source does not specify the color of the blade when activated beyond this default.

Did You Know?

• Saber Interactive was founded in 2001 by Andrey Iones, Matthew Karch, and Anton Krupkin.
• Saber developed its proprietary Saber3D engine after its first game Will Rock.
• Saber remade Halo: Combat Evolved for its tenth anniversary in 2011.
• World War Z sold over one million units in its first week of release in April 2019.
• Saber was acquired by Embracer Group in February 2020 for US$525 million.

Founding and Early Engine Development

Saber Interactive Inc. emerged in 2001 as an American developer headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, established by co-founders Andrey Iones, Matthew Karch, and Anton Krupkin. The trio began their journey by constructing a proprietary 3D engine from the ground up while assembling a creative team of artists based in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Their inaugural project was Will Rock, which laid the groundwork for future technical achievements. Following this initial release, the company refined its technology into the Saber3D engine, a versatile tool that powered their second major title, TimeShift, upon its 2007 launch. This engine became a cornerstone of their production pipeline, undergoing continuous updates and evolution to support modern gaming standards. The early years were defined by this blend of technical innovation and international collaboration, setting the stage for Saber's transition from a small startup into a significant player in the video game industry capable of handling complex development tasks.

Major Franchise Collaborations

A pivotal moment in Saber's history arrived in 2010 when Microsoft's 343 Industries approached them to remake Halo: Combat Evolved for its tenth anniversary. Co-founder and COO Andrey Iones described this as an unmissable opportunity, marking the studio's first entry into a major franchise. To honor the original experience while modernizing visuals, Saber ingeniously utilized the game's original engine for gameplay mechanics while employing their proprietary Saber3D technology for graphical rendering. Released in November 2011, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary received positive critical reception and was followed by Saber's assistance on Halo: The Master Chief Collection in 2014. This reputation for high-quality porting and remastering led to further prestigious partnerships, including a collaboration with CD Projekt Red in 2018 to bring The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Complete Edition to the Nintendo Switch. Released in October 2019, this port was widely praised for its performance and playability, cementing Saber's status as a trusted partner for adapting beloved titles across new platforms.

Global Expansion and Acquisition Era

Following their success with major franchises, Saber embarked on an aggressive international expansion strategy starting in August 2016 with the opening of their first internal studio outside Russia in Madrid. This growth continued rapidly with studios established in Sundsvall, Sweden, through the acquisition of Binary Motion, and in Minsk, Belarus. The company's trajectory shifted dramatically in February 2020 when Embracer Group acquired Saber for US$525 million, making it a direct subsidiary while maintaining operational autonomy under CEO Matthew Karch and COO Andrey Iones. Post-acquisition, Saber became a hub for further consolidation, absorbing numerous studios including Bigmoon Entertainment (rebranded as Saber Porto), 4A Games, New World Interactive, and Aspyr. This period saw the integration of high-profile talent like id Software's Tim Willits and Todd Hollenshead, transforming Saber into a massive conglomerate with over 1,350 employees and a diverse portfolio ranging from original titles like World War Z to publishing labels such as Prime Matter.

Corporate Restructuring and Recent Controversies

In March 2024, amidst broader financial challenges within the Embracer Group, Saber Interactive was divested and sold back to Beacon Interactive, an investment company owned by co-founder Matthew Karch. The US$247 million deal allowed Saber to retain key studios like 3D Realms, Slipgate Ironworks, and Fractured Byte, while other entities such as Aspyr and Shiver Entertainment remained with Embracer or were sold separately. This return to founder control marked a new chapter for the company, though it was soon overshadowed by significant controversy in 2026. Matthew Karch admitted that artificial intelligence had been utilized to generate dialogue for upcoming projects following accusations from a former employee who claimed she was replaced by ChatGPT. Karch's subsequent personal insults toward the accuser amplified the negative publicity, resulting in poor reviews for titles like Rideshare "Stimulator" and sparking intense debate regarding AI integration within the studio's creative processes.

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