Runic Games
American developer of the Torchlight series, founded in 2008.
Runic Games was an American video game developer based in Seattle. It was formed by former Flagship Studios developers in August 2008. In 2009, the company released Torchlight, a single-player action role-playing game. It was acquired by Perfect World in May 2010. They released a sequel, Torchlight II, in 2012. It was at this time the developers revealed they were no longer pursuing plans to create an MMO in the Torchlight universe.
Quick Facts
- Former name
- Surprise Truck (2008)
- Industry
- Video games
- Fate
- Dissolved
- Founded
- 11 August 2008
- Founder
- Travis Baldree
- Max Schaefer
- Erich Schaefer
- Peter Hu
- Defunct
- 3 November 2017
- Headquarters
- Seattle, Washington
- Country
- U.S.
Lore & Background
Runic Games was founded on August 11, 2008, by Travis Baldree, Max Schaefer, Erich Schaefer, and Peter Hu. Originally, the company was incorporated with the placeholder name 'Surprise Truck'. Following the dissolution of Flagship Studios in 2008, all 14 members of the Seattle team that developed Mythos signed onto Runic Games. Full production on Torchlight started around November 2008, with a total development period of approximately 11 months.
At the 2009 Game Developers Conference, the title was revealed as Torchlight. Matt Uelmen, composer for Blizzard Entertainment's Diablo series, joined the staff. As of mid-2009, the company employed no fewer than 26 people. Gamasutra named Runic Games one of its 'Top 5 Developers' of 2009.
In 2010, Perfect World Entertainment bought an $8.4 million majority stake in Runic Games. In March 2014, co-founders Erich Schaefer and Travis Baldree left to form Double Damage Games. Max Schaefer left in early 2016 and founded Echtra Games. On November 3, 2017, Perfect World announced the closure of Runic Games, citing a focus on games as a service.
Reader's Guide
Runic Games' first product is Torchlight, a single-player action role-playing game published by Perfect World Entertainment and Encore, Inc, released for Windows on October 27, 2009. The game is set in the fictional town of Torchlight and nearby caverns and dungeons. Torchlight II, a sequel featuring multiplayer co-op, was released on September 20, 2012. Hob was announced on August 17, 2015, and released on September 26, 2017.
More in Development & Legacy
Elsewhere in Torchlight
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced