Headup GmbH (also known as Headup Games) is a German video game publisher based in Düren. The company was founded in January 2009 by Dieter Schoeller, who serves as its managing director and owns the company under Microcuts Holding. The company is best known for publishing the Bridge Constructor series of games developed by ClockStone.[3]
 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | January 2009 |
| Founder | Dieter Schoeller |
| Headquarters | , Germany |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people |
|
Number of employees | 14[2] (2021) |
| Parent | Thunderful Group (2021-2024) Microcuts Holding (2024-present) |
| Website | headupgames |
History
editHeadup Games was founded in January 2009 by Dieter Schoeller, who became its managing director.[4][5] Operations were formally launched in Düren in April 2009, with Headup also employing executive producer Marcel Aldrup and executive PR & marketing manager Michael Zolna.[6] The first game published by Headup was Twin Sector, an action-adventure game developed by Bremen-based studio DNS Development and released in September 2009.[7] Subsequently, the company signed an agreement with NBG Multimedia that would allow NBG to distribute Headup's games in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.[8] In October, Headup joined G.A.M.E., a German association for the video game industry.[9] By January 2013, Headup employed six people,[5] of which Zolna left the company in early April, being succeeded by Skander Essadi.[10] By June 2014, Headup employed Schoeller, Aldrup and Aldrup's brother Mark as full-time employees, three trainees and two interns.[11]
Headup was acquired by the Thunderful Group in February 2021 for up to €11 million, with the acquisition completed in March 2021.[2]
On 28 March 2024, Thunderful Group agreed to sell Headup Games to Microcuts Holding (a holding company owned by Dieter Schoeller) for €500,000. The sale will include Headup's back catalogue of approximately 80 titles and a pipeline of five games currently in development. As part of the agreement, Thunderful will receive a revenue share of up to €300,000 from a future unannounced title. The finalization of the deal is subject to shareholder approval, rewriting of three IP-related contracts, and the transfer of Studio Fizbin to Thunderful. Studio Fizbin, another German developer, was acquired by Thunderful through Headup in 2023. The sale of Headup is part of Thunderful's restructuring program, which includes a 20% reduction in staff announced in January.[12]
On 21 August 2024, Headup spun off their in-house development team into a separate independent studio named Goon Squad; both remain subsidiaries of Microcuts Holding.[13]
Accolades
editDeutscher Entwicklerpreis – "Best Publisher" (2012, 2013, 2017)[14][15][16]
References
edit- ^ a b c "About Us". Headup Games. Archived from the original on 12 February 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
- ^ a b Batchelor, James (24 February 2021). "Thunderful acquires Bridge Constructor publisher Headup in €11m deal". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ Kidwell, Emma (6 December 2017). "Valve licenses Portal to Headup for new Bridge Constructor game". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on 8 December 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
- ^ "Headup Games feiert 10jähriges Jubiläum" [Headup Games celebrates 10-year anniversary]. GamesWirtschaft (in German). 7 January 2019. Archived from the original on 14 August 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
- ^ a b Giesen, Burkhard (3 January 2013). "Mit Spielen auf Erfolgskurs: Headup Games aus Düren" [With games on the road to success: Headup Games from Düren]. Aachener Nachrichten (in German). Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
- ^ Pototzki, Tim (27 April 2009). "Headup Games nimmt Arbeit auf" [Headup Games begins work]. Gamesmarkt (in German).
- ^ Pototzki, Tim (7 May 2009). "Headup stellt Debüttitel vor" [Headup presents debut title]. Gamesmarkt (in German).
- ^ Pototzki, Tim (12 May 2009). "Headup gibt Vertrieb an NBG" [Headup hands distribution to NBG]. Gamesmarkt (in German). Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
- ^ Pototzki, Tim (19 October 2009). "Headup tritt G.A.M.E. bei" [Headup joins G.A.M.E.]. Gamesmarkt (in German). Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
- ^ "Zolna verlässt Headup Games" [Zolna leaves Headup Games]. Gamesmarkt (in German). 4 April 2013. Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
- ^ Johnen, Stephan (3 June 2014). ""Headup Games": Daddeln bis zur Serienreife" ["Headup Games": Gaming to production stage]. Aachener Zeitung (in German). Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
- ^ McEvoy, Sophie (28 March 2024). "Thunderful selling Headup for €500k". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ^ Blake, Vikki (21 August 2024). "Publisher Headup establishes new independent studio Goon Squad". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
- ^ "Preisträger Chronologie: 2012" [Prize Winners Chronology: 2012]. Deutscher Entwicklerpreis (in German). Archived from the original on 3 January 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
- ^ "Preisträger Chronologie: 2013" [Prize Winners Chronology: 2013]. Deutscher Entwicklerpreis (in German). Archived from the original on 3 January 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
- ^ "Preisträger Chronologie: 2017" [Prize Winners Chronology: 2017]. Deutscher Entwicklerpreis (in German). Archived from the original on 3 January 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2018.