UltraNitro Studios

UltraNitro Studios
Type	Public
Industry	Interactive entertainment Computer and video games
Founded	2013
Founders	Edward Fowly Sam Garcia Michael Wildshill
Headquarters	Santa Monica, California Honolulu, Hawaii
Employees	~2,800
Owner(s)	OK Labs
Parent	OK Labs
Divisions	True Gameworks

UltraNitro Studios is American game developer, based in Santa Monica. The studio also has offices in Montreal, and is known for it's rapid expansion of employees and their first game Geo's World Racing 3. They also are currently modifying a game engine GeoBob Engine with "Balls" Studios Riverside.

History

The studio was founded by Edward Fowly, Sam Garcia and Michael Wildshill in 2013, after the release of Geo's World Racing 2.

The studio hired most of it's employees from many studios, such as Ubisoft Montreal, Bizzare Creations, Columbia TriStar Interactive, Midway Games, Black Rock Studio, Gearbox Software, Respawn Entertainment, Epic Games, voidALPHA and from many middleware developers and technology companies like Liquid Development, Gl33k, Autodesk, RAD Game Tools, OC3 Entertainment, NaturalMotion, Audiokinetic, Firelight Technologies, Havok and much more. The 78% of said employees remained in the UltraNitro studios, until they were moved under True Gameworks in April 2015.

Ubisoft contacted UltraNitro Studios after the founding of the studio. UltraNitro made a deal with Disney and Ubisoft, that Geo's World Racing series and any Geo's World-related games developed by UltraNitro Games won't be distributed by Disney after the release. The deal was approved, since Disney still distributes other Geo's World games.The game was announced in January 2014 and the trailer was released in March 2014.

UltraNitro Studios was "hit with a huge lay-off for over the half of the engine/computer group", closed many studios and the employees were transformed to Equinoxe Digital Entertainment eventually. In June 2014, The Tokyo, Shanghai, Seoul and Austin offices were bought from Equinoxe Digital Entertainment and merged to the offices located at the same cities.

On June 11, 2014, Balls Corporation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. At the public auction on June 21, 2014, Balls Corporation’s game development business in:

• Seoul (South Korea)
• West Los Angeles (Salt Lake, USA)
• Istanbul (Turkey)
• London (England, UK)
• Bangalore (India)
• Beijing (China)
• McKinney (USA, remaining half of split of Zynga With Friends after acquisition by both UltraNitro Studios and "Balls")
• Boston (USA)
• Mountain View (USA)
• Stockholm (Sweden)
• Hamburg (Germany, remaining half of split of Fishlabs after acquisition by both UltraNitro Studios and "Balls")
• Annecy (France)
• Sydeny (Australia)

and few intellectual properties and unfinished projects were acquired by and merged to UltraNitro Studios, once again. Soon, the Abu Dhabi, Saigon, Nagoya, Makati and Jakarta studios were bought by Starway Games. Balls Corporation is no longer filed for bankruptcy.

In August 1st, 2014, UltraNitro Studios announced the restructing and closed studios at McKinney, Mountain View, Ventura, Beijing, Lyon, Taipei, Manila, Shanghai, Brighton, Baltimore and Salt Lake, which concluded on lay-offs. It cut 1,900 people in total. The half of the staff of the studios were transfered to "Balls" Studios Montreal while some (76%) were hired by Team Chu.

All of the Japanese and South Korean studios' employees were also "bought" by Team Chu, for their next projects. UltraNitro Studios also announced to delay DoBI: The Game and Operation Bigworld until late 2015. Redwood City, Chertsey and Seattle studios were announced to open in September 2014. It was also confirmed that Annecy, Boston and Istanbul studios will be sold to Team Chu. In 2015, UltraNitro Studios hired video game development veterans, who previously worked at Gas Powered Games, Day 1 Studios, Looking Glass Studios, Ensemble Studios, Kojima Productions/Konami Los Angeles, Carbine Studios, Riot Games, Zynga "and more", into it's new Seattle and Redwood studios.

The logo of True Gameworks.

They formed True Gameworks in April 2015, with Jill & Eijah Miller, Clark Gonzalez and Jason Harris, to develop serious games and simulation games, and moved most of it's first 200+ employees to True Gameworks. A week later, True Gameworks and Lionsgate Entertainment announced a partnership deal to create and publish games based on Lionsgate's selected intellectual properties. UltraNitro Studios announced to close the Leeds and Honolulu studios, and spin off it's Stunlock and Arkane studios after 2nd of July, 2015.

On May 29, 2015, OK Labs acquired UltraNitro Studios.

On May 24, 2015, OK Labs announced, that OK will move it's middleware development under UltraNitro Studios and Team Chu, but OK Labs will still oversee the development.

Studios

• UltraNitro Studios Santa Monica, founded in June 2013.
• UltraNitro Studios Montreal, formed in August 2013. Currently employing 45 staff members.
• UltraNitro Studios London, located in Silverton Way/Liverpool Street, London, England, formed in May 2014, after the release of Geo's World Racing 3, currently responsible of Ohm game engine, Geo's World Racing 4 and GeoBob Engine.
• UltraNitro Studios Redwood, announced in December 2014 and formed in March 2015.
• UltraNitro Studios Seattle, announced in December 2014 and formed in March 2015.
• UltraNitro Studios Chertsey, announced in December 2014 and formed in March 2015.
• True Gameworks, formed in April 2015 at London, UK. Additional development offices at Bucharest and Stockholm with support and game translation offices at Moscow, Russia, Tokyo, Japan and Berlin, Germany.

Acquired

• UltraNitro Studios Australia, formed in June 2014 after the acquisition of "Balls" Studios Sydney while Balls Corporation was filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
  • Depth Analysis, responsible for the development of MotionScan, the award-winning 3D motion capture technology.
• Iron Galaxy Studios, acquired in June 2014, currently responsible for Killer Instinct, DLCs of the upcoming UltraNitro Studios games and Ohm game engine. Second studio not to be named after the parent company.
• UltraNitro Studios Austin, formed in February 2014, after the acquisition of Zynga ATX, and merged Triptych Games to the studio in November 2014, currently responsible for Ohm game engine, the development of Geo's World Racing 4 and marketing of Geo's World Racing 3.

Former

• UltraNitro Studios Japan, located at Tokyo, Japan, formed in June 2014, after the "huge chaos" at UltraNitro Studios. Closed in August 2014, after being bought by Team Chu.
• UltraNitro Studios South Korea, located in Seoul, South Korea, formed in May 2014, after the release of Geo's World Racing 3, formerly responsible for Ohm game engine and GeoBob Engine. Closed in August 2014, after being bought by Team Chu.
• UltraNitro Studios Bellevue, formed in May 2014, after the release of Geo's World Racing 3 and the acquisition of Bellevue offices of Nuclear Monkey Software, responsible of Ohm game engine, Geo's World Racing 4 and GeoBob Engine. Merged and splited to Salt Lake, Honolulu and Emeryville studios.
• UltraNitro Studios Vancouver, responsible for Ohm game engine and made one update with Vancouver and Barcelona studios and was formed in September 2013. Merged with Pirahna Games in November 2013. Closed in June 2014, during the "huge chaos" at UltraNitro Studios.
• UltraNitro Studios Luxembourg, formed in May 2014, after the release of Geo's World Racing 3 and acquisition of Luxembourg office of Nuclear Monkey Software, previously responsible of Ohm game engine and made one update with Vancouver and Barcelona studios. Closed in June 2014, during the "huge chaos" at UltraNitro Studios.
• UltraNitro Studios Barcelona, formed in May 2014, after the release of Geo's World Racing 3 and the acquisition of Spain offices of Nuclear Monkey Software, formerly responsible of Ohm game engine (made only one update), Geo's World Racing 4 (programmed 2% of the code, rendered graphics and did textures) and GeoBob Engine. Closed in June 2014, during the "huge chaos" at UltraNitro Studios.
• UltraNitro Studios Emeryville, formed in May 2014, after the release of Geo's World Racing 3, was responsible of Ohm game engine (only did one update) and Geo's World Racing 4 (rendered few characters, programmed 5% of the code and did few of the graphics). Closed in June 2014, during the "huge chaos" at UltraNitro Studios.
• UltraNitro Studios New York, formed in May 2014, after the release of Geo's World Racing 3, was responsible of Ohm game engine (only did one update) and Geo's World Racing 4 (rendered few characters, programmed 10% of the AI of the game and did few of the graphics). Closed in June 2014, during the "huge chaos" at UltraNitro Studios.
• UltraNitro Studios Wellington, formed in May 2014, after the release of Geo's World Racing 3 and the acquisition of New Zealand offices of Nuclear Monkey Software, currently responsible of Ohm game engine (did two updates), Geo's World Racing 4 (rendered few cars and made 5% of the levels) and GeoBob Engine .Closed in June 2014, during the "huge chaos" at UltraNitro Studios.
• UltraNitro Studios Milan, formed in May 2014, after the release of Geo's World Racing 3 and the acquisition of Italy offices of Nuclear Monkey Software, currently responsible of Ohm game engine, Geo's World Racing 4 and GeoBob Engine. Closed in June 2014, during the "huge chaos" at UltraNitro Studios.
• UltraNitro Studios Salt Lake, located in West Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, formed in May 2014, after the release of Geo's World Racing 3, currently responsible for Ohm game engine and GeoBob Engine. Closed in August 2014, after lay-offs and resturcting happened.
• UltraNitro Studios Taipei, formed in March 2014, located at Taipei, Taiwan. Currently responsuble for Ohm game engine and Geo's World Racing 4. Closed in August 2014, after lay-offs and resturcting happened.
• UltraNitro Studios Shanghai, formed in May 2014, after the release of Geo's World Racing 3 and the acquisition of Yingpei Games. Closed in August 2014, after lay-offs and resturcting happened.
• UltraNitro Studios Brighton, formed in June 2014, after the release of Geo's World Racing 3 and the acquisition of NaturalMotion Games. Closed in August 2014, after lay-offs and resturcting happened.
• UltraNitro Studios Manila, located at Manila City, Philippines, formed in June 2014. Currently developing Geo's World Racing 4. Closed in August 2014, after lay-offs and resturcting happened.
• UltraNitro Studios Lyon, re-formed in June 2014 from Arkane Studios France, currently responsible for Geo's World Racing 4, Geo's Universe: The Game, Ohm game engine, Furryous Kart 2 and DLCs. Closed in August 2014, after lay-offs and resturcting happened.
• UltraNitro Studios Beijing, formed in June 2014 after the "huge chaos" at UltraNitro Studios. Currently responsible of Geo's World Racing 4 and Ohm game engine. Closed in August 2014, after lay-offs and resturcting happened.
• UltraNitro Studios Baltimore, formed in May 2014, before the release of Geo's World Racing 3. Closed in August 2014, after lay-offs and resturcting happened.
• UltraNitro Studios Mountain View, formed in June 2014, after the "huge chaos" at UltraNitro Studios and the acquisition of Wild Needle (bought from Zynga). Currently responsible of Geo's World Racing 4 and Ohm game engine. Closed in August 2014, after lay-offs and resturcting happened.
• UltraNitro Studios Bangalore, formed in June 2014 after the "huge chaos" at UltraNitro Studios. Closed in August 2014, after lay-offs and resturcting happened.
• UltraNitro Studios Ventura, formed in February 2014, after the acquisition of Left Field Productions. Currently responsible for Geo's World Racing 4 and Ohm game engine. Closed in August 2014, after lay-offs and resturcting happened.
• UltraNitro Studios McKinney, formed in June 2014, after the acquisition of Zynga With Friends. Currently responsible of Geo's World Racing 4 (replaces the Barcelona, Austin, Emeryville, Bellevue and New York studios). Closed in August 2014, after lay-offs and resturcting happened.
• UltraNitro Fishlabs, also trading as UltraNitro Studios Germany, formed in June 2014, after the "huge chaos" at UltraNitro Studios and the acquisition of Fishlabs Entertainment, was responsible of GeoBob Engine, Geo's World Racing 4 and Ohm game engine. It soon spun-off from UltraNitro Studios.
• UltraNitro Studios Honolulu, second headquarters of the company, formed in August 2013, currently responsible for Ohm game engine and GeoBob Engine. Closed in July 3rd, 2014.
• Stunlock Studios, also trading as UltraNitro Studios Sweden and it's legal name: UltraNitro Stunlock, formed in February 2014, after the acquisition of Stunlock Studios. Currently responsible for Ohm game engine, GeoBob Engine, Geo's World Racing 4 and Geo's Universe: The Game. Spun off in July 3rd, 2014.
• Arkane Studios, acquired in June 2014, located at Dallas, Texas. Currently responsible of Ohm game engine and DLCs of the upcoming games by UltraNitro Studios. First studio to not being named after UltraNitro Studios. Spun-off in July 3rd, 2014.
• UltraNitro Studios Leeds, formed in June 2014, after the "huge chaos" at UltraNitro Studios. Currently responsible of Geo's World Racing 4 and Ohm game engine. Closed in July 3rd, 2014.

Sold

• UltraNitro Studios Fareham, founded in October 2003 as Living Pixel Games, acquired by "Balls" in 2004, renamed to "Balls" Studios Fareham, sold to Vivendi Universal Games in 2005, renamed Travelship Studios, sold to THQ in 2007, then to Crytek and renamed Crytek Fareham in 2011, finally acquired by UltraNitro Studios in 2013, acquired by Starbreeze Studios after the release of Geo's World Racing 3, currently known as Starbreeze UK.
• UltraNitro Studios Istanbul, formed in March 2014, formerly responsible for Geo's World Racing 4 and Geo's Universe: The Game. Sold to and absorbed into Team Chu in September 2014.
• UltraNitro Studios Boston, formed in June 2014, after the "huge chaos" at UltraNitro Studios and the acquisition of Floodgate Entertainment. Formerly responsible of Geo's World Racing 4 and Ohm game engine. Sold to and absorbed into Team Chu in September 2014.
• UltraNitro Studios Annecy, formed in June 2014, after the acquisition of French development team (Microsoft Studios Annecy) from Microsoft and the "huge chaos" at UltraNitro Studios. Sold to and absorbed into Team Chu in September 2014.

Games

The games marked with ¹ use the OHM game engine developed by UltraNitro Studios.

• Geo's World Racing 3 (2014)
• Dream Island the Movie Video Game (2015)
• Operation Bigworld: The Video Game (2015)
• Geoshea U (2014)
• Geo Adventure 2015 (2015)
• Geo's World Grand Prix (2015, first game to use Ohm game engine) ¹
• Smash Fight 5 (2016)
• Geo's World Karting Fusion (Geo's World Racing 5) (TBA; developing as Zeroforce Games) ¹
• Geo's World Racing 6 (TBA) ¹
• Geo's Universe: The Video Game (TBA)

Cancelled

• Furryous Kart 2 (TBA)
• MeleeKart (TBA)