Egosoft

Egosoft GmbH (formerly Ego Software) is a German video game developer based in Würselen, Germany. The company was founded by Bernd Lehahn in 1988.

Egosoft GmbH
FormerlyEgo Software (1988–2006)
TypePrivate
IndustryVideo games
Founded1988 (1988)
FounderBernd Lehahn
Headquarters
Würselen
,
Germany
Key people
Bernd Lehahn (CEO)
ProductsX series
Number of employees
20[1] (2020)
Websiteegosoft.com

Egosoft is best known for its X series of video games,[2] a series of space simulator games noted for combining open-ended gameplay, dynamic market-driven economy and compelling storyline.[3][4] The series began in 1999 with X: Beyond the Frontier. Since then, the series has expanded with three sequels and three standalone expansions; the latest being X4: Foundations, released 30 November 2018.

History

Egosoft was founded in Würselen by Bernd Lehahn in 1988, making it the oldest active video game company in Germany.[5] Its first game, Hotel Detective, was released for the Amiga in June 1988.[6]

In 2000, Egosoft planned a multiplayer online game called Online Universe or X Online. This project was intended to be "the next step in the evolution of Egosoft's X universe."[7] Egosoft has since released a number of games, yet has given little indication of the progress of this project. In 2003, Egosoft staff were working on a later version—codenamed X2OL—which Egosoft chief executive officer Bernd Lehahn described as their "long-term goal."[8][9] There is still no official information on the Online Universe, though there has been speculation that X2 and X3's 2007 uplink feature may be a positive spin-off of the project.[10]

In late 2009, Egosoft announced that Terran Conflict completed the story started in X: Beyond the Frontier, taken by some to mean the end of the franchise. However, in March 2011 they announced on their X-Universe forums that they would be attending FedCon XX in Düsseldorf on 28 April 2011, and would show preview footage of their current project,[11] previously only referred to by the codename TNBT (The Next Big Thing). However, on 20 April 2011, they released a trailer officially announcing X Rebirth, initially slated for a Q4 2011 release. X Rebirth will take place in the X Universe after a major catastrophe (the shutdown of the series' network of jump gates, thus starting a new chapter in the X Universe separate from the original plot line. Rebirth missed its first two proposed release dates (Q4 2011 and 2012) and was eventually released 15 November 2013.[12]

Games developed
Year Title Platform(s) Publisher(s) Notes
1988 Hotel Detective Amiga Euroline
1990 Fatal Heritage Delta Konzept
R1 R2 Promotional game for Reemtsma
1991 Aquarius Game Promotional game for Aquarius
Pepsi: All Over the World Promotional game for Pepsi
1992 Light American Spacegame Promotional game for Philip Morris International
Come Together (Around the World) Promotional game for Peter Stuyvesant
Ugh! Play Byte
1993 Elefanten! Promotion Software Promotional game for World Wide Fund for Nature
Ketchup Connection Amiga, MS-DOS Promotional game for Kraft Ketchup
Flies: Attack on Earth Rainbow Arts
1994 Balduin: Run for Fun MS-DOS Delta Konzept Promotional game for the Techniker Krankenkasse
Abenteuer Europa Tevox Promotional game for the Social Democratic Party of Germany
1995 Heiermanns Return Promotional game for the Sparkasse of Gelsenkirchen
1996 Imperium Romanum Rainbow Arts
No Future? Microsoft Windows Delta Konzept Promotional game for the Umweltbundesamt
1999 Power Pool Data Becker
X: Beyond the Frontier THQ, Egosoft Entry in the X video game series
2000 X-Tension
2003 X2: The Threat Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows Deep Silver, Egosoft
2005 X3: Reunion
2008 X3: Terran Conflict
2011 X3: Albion Prelude
2013 X Rebirth Egosoft
2014 X Rebirth: The Teladi Outpost DLC for X Rebirth
2016 X Rebirth: Home of Light
2017 X Rebirth: VR Edition Microsoft Windows
2018 X4: Foundations[13] Linux, Microsoft Windows Entry in the X video game series
2020 X4: Split Vendetta[14] DLC for X4: Foundations
2021 X3: Farnham's Legacy[15] Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows Entry in the X video game series
2021 X4: Cradle of Humanity[16] Linux, Microsoft Windows DLC for X4: Foundations
2022 X4: Tides of Avarice[17] Linux, Microsoft Windows
2023 X4: Kingdom End Linux, Microsoft Windows

References
  1. Fröhlich, Petra (10 January 2020). "Die größten Spiele-Entwickler in Deutschland 2020" [The largest game developers in Germany 2020]. GamesWirtschaft (in German).
  2. Josh Venning (25 January 2006). "X3 Reunion: New Rolling Demo Tested". AnandTech. AnandTech. Retrieved 11 February 2008.
  3. Wrentmore, John (12 December 2003). "X2 - The Threat Review". GameZone. GameZone Online. Archived from the original on 19 February 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2008.
  4. Reed, Kristan (6 November 2005). "X3: Reunion". EuroGamer. Eurogamer Network Ltd. Retrieved 11 February 2008.
  5. "Die 30 ältesten Games-Studios in Deutschland - Update". 29 June 2017.
  6. Xenon_Slayer (5 June 2018). "30 Years of EGOSOFT games – June 2018 Celebration Month!". Egosoft. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  7. "ONLINE-UNIVERSE". Online Universe (Official Page). Retrieved 11 February 2008.
  8. Stokky (10 May 2003). "Interview: X2 - The Threat". playfuls.com. Archived from the original on 6 October 2008. Retrieved 11 February 2008.
  9. Presley, Paul (19 April 2003). "PC Preview: X2: The Threat". PC Zone. Future Publishing Limited. Retrieved 11 February 2008.
  10. Caesar S. (3 January 2008). "Egosoft updates X3: Reunion, X2: The Threat". QJ.net. Content Holdings, LLC. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 11 February 2008.
  11. "TNBT will soon be officially unveiled!!".
  12. BurnIt!. "X Rebirth - The wait is almost over!". Egosoft.com forums. Egosoft GmbH. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  13. O'Connor, Alice (1 October 2018). "X4: Foundations blasting off in November". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  14. Vega, Sin (April 2020). "X4: Foundations gets a major update and expansion with Split Vendetta". Rock, Paper, Shotgun.
  15. ""From April Fool's joke to May release: Unveiling X3: Farnham's Legacy" - Games Press". www.gamespress.com. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  16. "X4: Foundations - New Expansion, Cradle of Humanity Announced - IGN".
  17. "X4: Foundations - New Expansion, Tides of Avarice Announced".
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