People Can Fly Warsaw

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The studio was founded after Chmielarz left Metropolis Software in 2002. Painkiller's success led to a deal with THQ for Come Midnight, which was later cancelled, causing financial trouble. Epic Games acquired a majority share in August 2007, leading to collaborations on Bulletstorm (2011) and Gears of War: Judgment (2013). Epic bought the studio outright in August 2012; the founders left and formed The Astronauts. People Can Fly was rebranded Epic Games Poland in November 2013, then spun off under its former name in June 2015. As of December 2024, it employs about 500 people across eight locations. Its most recent game is Outriders (2021).

In Their Own Story

In February 2002, Adrian Chmielarz, fresh from leaving Metropolis Software after a personal conflict with his co-founder, contacted acquaintances Michał Kosieradzki and Andrzej Poznański. Together, they founded People Can Fly with the goal of bringing Polish game development to a worldwide audience. The studio's first game, *Painkiller*, released in 2004, was a critical success. That success led to a partnership with THQ for *Come Midnight*, which allowed the studio to expand to 70 people. But after a year and a half of development, THQ cancelled the project in 2006 and withheld a payment of approximately US$300,000, leaving the studio with only about one month of operating capital. Chmielarz contacted Epic Games, and vice-president Mark Rein arranged for the studio to create a PC port of *Gears of War*, saving the studio. Epic acquired a majority stake in August 2007. The two companies then collaborated on *Bulletstorm* (2011) and *Gears of War: Judgment* (2013). In August 2012, Epic bought the studio outright. Chmielarz, Kosieradzki, and Poznański left to found The Astronauts, taking some other developers with them. The studio was rebranded Epic Games Poland in November 2013, then spun off under its former name in June 2015. As of December 2024, the company employs roughly 500 people in eight locations. Its most recent game is *Outriders*, released on 1 April 2021.

Reader's Guide

People Can Fly developed Painkiller (2004), Bulletstorm (2011), Gears of War: Judgment (2013), and Outriders (2021). They also worked on Fortnite and Spyjinx after becoming independent. Cancelled projects include Come Midnight, Project Dagger, Project Gemini, and Project Bifrost.

Did You Know?

• People Can Fly was founded in February 2002 by Adrian Chmielarz, Michał Kosieradzki, and Andrzej Poznański.
• The studio's first game was Painkiller (2004), a PC title that brought critical success.
• Epic Games acquired a majority stake in People Can Fly in August 2007, and later bought the studio outright in August 2012.
• After the acquisition, the founders left and founded The Astronauts, which developed The Vanishing of Ethan Carter.
• People Can Fly was rebranded as Epic Games Poland in November 2013, then regained independence in June 2015.