Elixir Studios

Infobox Defunct company
company_name = Elixir Studios
company_
slogan =
company_type = Video game developer
fate = Closed
Predecessor =
successor =
foundation = 1998
defunct = 2005
location = London
industry = Computer and video game industry
products = Evil Genius
key_people = Demis Hassabis
num_employees =
parent =
subsid =

Elixir Studios was a British video game developer.

The company was founded in 1998 by Demis Hassabis, formerly a prominent figure at Lionhead Studios. At its height, it employed around sixty people, and was based in London. It aimed to be an independent developer, creating its own intellectual properties rather than licencing established ones. The company's first game, "", was released in 2003, and a second game, "Evil Genius", was released in 2004.

In 2005, however, the company announced that it would be closing its doors. This followed the cancellation of development on a major project due to its "perceived high-risk", which had been underway for two years. The company, citing "the current risk averse publishing climate", concluded that its goal of exploring new territory was not possible. In a press release, Hassabis said: "It seems that today's games industry no longer has room for small independent developers wanting to work on innovative and original ideas. ... [T] his was the sole purpose of setting up Elixir and something we could never compromise on." Elixir has stated that it has sufficient resources to pay redundancy packages to its staff and ensure that the company is wound down in an orderly manner. [cite web|url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/elixir-studios-to-close-following-cancellation-of-key-project|title=Elixir Studios to close following cancellation of key project|last=Fahey|first=Rob |date=April 28, 2005|publisher=Game Industry|language=English|accessdate=2008-09-25] [cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=5387|title=Elixir Studios To Close Doors|last=Jenkins|first=David |coauthors=Simon Carless|date=April 28, 2005|publisher=GamaSutra|language=English|accessdate=2008-09-25] [cite web|url=http://www.fragland.net/news/Elixir-Studios-is-no-more/10531/|title=Elixir Studios is no more|first=Ryuken|date=April 18, 2005|publisher=Fragland|language=English|accessdate=2008-09-25] [cite web|url=http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/36796|title=Elixir Studios Closes|last=Goldstein|first=Maarten |date=April 28, 2005|publisher=ShackNews|language=English|accessdate=2008-09-25]

On March 3, 2006 it has been confirmed that Rebellion Developments has bought Elixir's IPs, including Evil Genius. [cite web|url=http://www.n1nj4.com/viewtopic.php?p=185733#185733|title=Rebellion - Bought EG Rights!|first=Alex|date=March 02, 2006|language=English|accessdate=2008-09-25] [cite web|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=142966|title=Demis Hassabis, part two|last=Sefton|first=Jamie |date=July 14, 2006|publisher=Computer and Video Games|language=English|accessdate=2008-09-25]

Games

References