Cloud Imperium (CI) or Cloud Imperium Group is the group of companies behind the development and publication of the video games Star Citizen and Squadron 42. For legal reasons, its corporate structure and ownership is complicated, with multiple versions of companies branded Cloud Imperium, Roberts Space Industries, and formerly Foundry 42 in different countries. It was co-founded by game developer Chris Roberts, Sandi Gardiner, and international media attorney Ortwin Freyermuth in April 2012,[1] with Erin Roberts joining the team in 2013.[2] As of late 2023 the employee count was at around 1300.[3]
Official description
"Cloud Imperium is a new kind of independent studio dedicated to delivering AAA games outside the established publisher system. Founded in 2012 by renowned visionary game developer Chris Roberts (Wing Commander series, Freelancer, Privateer), Sandi Gardiner, and international media lawyer and producer Ortwin Freyermuth (Carlito's Way, Shattered, Das Boot - Director's Cut), with industry veteran and studio director Erin Roberts (Lego videogame series, Starlancer, Privateer) joining the team in 2013. Cloud Imperium is creating Star Citizen, a record-shattering largely crowdfunded space sim, and Squadron 42, a Hollywood-caliber story-driven single-player game set in the same universe. Cloud Imperium operates in "open development" – sharing progress and updates with our backers in near real time. This paradigm-shifting development process (game development usually occurs behind closed doors) means players know the ins and outs of Star Citizen and Squadron 42's development, interact with and give feedback to our developers, and ensures that we are making the games they want to play.[1]"
Structure
Cloud Imperium has subsidiaries in both the United States and Europe.[4] Under the Cloud Imperium Group, companies under the name of Cloud Imperium Games act as the developer of Star Citizen, they are responsible for the development studio; companies under the name of Roberts Space Industries act as the publisher of Star Citizen, they are responsible for the sales and marketing of the game; companies under the name of Cloud Imperium Rights act as the legal agent for the group.[Annotation 1] On 2019-03-06, Foundry 42 Limited rebranded to Cloud Imperium Games Limited for brand unification.[5][6]
Board of Directors
Cloud Imperium's Board of Directors consists of five members. Chris Roberts retains full control of the Cloud Imperium Board and Group.[7]
Current members
- Chris Roberts (also known as Christopher Roberts)
- Erin Roberts (also known as Erin David Roberts)
- Eli Klein (also known as Ezer Klein)
- Sandi Gardiner (also known as Sandi Roberts)
- Marc Nitsche
Former members
- Dan Offner (also known as Daniel O'Connell)
- Ortwin Freyermuth (also known as Ortwin Sam Freyermuth)
Companies
United States
- Cloud Imperium US, LLC
- Registration: Registered in Delaware (and California), filing number 6607598 (DE), 201731210301 (CA)
- Address: 12322 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90064 USA
- Directors: Chris Roberts, Ortwin Freyermuth
- Incorporated: 2017-11-07
- Previously: Cloud Imperium LLC (2017-11-07 - 2018-11-08)
- Cloud Imperium Games, LLC
- Registration: Registered in California, filing number 201210110434
- Address: 12322 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90064 USA
- Directors: Ortwin Freyermuth, Christopher Roberts, Erin Roberts
- Incorporated: 2012-04-10
- Previously: Cloud Imperium Services, LLC (2012-04-09 - 2013-03-21)
- Cloud Imperium Games Texas, LLC
- Registration: Registered in Texas, filing number 801860496
- Address: 13420 Galleria Cir. Ste A-250 Bee Cave, TX 78738 USA
- Incorporated: 2012-10-02
- Roberts Space Industries LLC
- Registration: Registered in Delaware (and California in 2018-03-14), filing number 5231421 (DE), 201808710439 (CA), formerly registered in Texas, filing number 802983264
- Address: 12322 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90064 USA
- Directors: Christopher Roberts, Ortwin Freyermuth, Erin Roberts
- Incorporated: 2012-10-23
- Cloud Imperium Rights, LLC
- Registration: Registered in California, filing number 201723810140
- Address: 12322 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90064 USA
- Directors: Ortwin Freyermuth, Christopher Roberts, Erin Roberts
- Incorporated: 2017-08-22
- Cloud Imperium Games Corporation
- Registration: Registered in Delaware (and California), filing number 5143349 (DE), C3552809 (CA)
- Address: 12322 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90064 USA
- Directors: Chris Roberts, Ortwin Freyermuth, Simon Elms
- Incorporated: 2012-04-20
Europe
- Cloud Imperium UK Limited[8]
- Registration: Registered in England and Wales, Companies House registration 8815227
- Address: Freedom House, Church Street, Wilmslow, SK9 1AX United Kingdom
- Directors: Ortwin Freyermuth, Christopher Roberts, Erin Roberts, Ezer Klein, Marc Nitsche, Sandi Roberts
- Incorporated: 2013-12-13
- Previously: Cloud Imperium Games UK Limited (2013-12-13 - 2018-12-21)
- Cloud Imperium Games Limited[6]
- Registration: Registered in England and Wales, Companies House registration 8703814
- Address: Freedom House, Church Street, Wilmslow, SK9 1AX United Kingdom
- Directors: Ortwin Freyermuth, Christopher Roberts, Erin Roberts
- Incorporated: 2013-09-24
- Previously: Foundry 42 Limited (2013-09-24 - 2019-03-07)
- Roberts Space Industries Germany GmbH[9]
- Registration: Registered in District court of Frankfurt am Main, registration HRB 110627
- Address: Europa-Allee 52, D-60327 Frankfurt a. Main
- Directors: Ortwin Freyermuth, Christopher Roberts, Erin Roberts
- Incorporated: 2017
Defunct entities
- Roberts Space Industries Corp.
- Registration: Registered in Delaware (also California in 2013-04-16 and Texas in 2016-11-18), filing number 5231421 (DE), C3552808 (CA), 802586715 (TX)
- Address: 12322 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90064 USA
- Directors: Chris Roberts, Ortwin Freyermuth, Simon Elms
- Incorporated: 2012-10-23
- Defunct: 2018-03-14
- Cloud Imperium Games, LLC
- Registration: Registered in Texas, filing number 801701457
- Incorporated: 2012-12-17
- Defunct: 2016-05-10
- Gemini 42 Entertainment, LLC
- Registration: Registered in California, filing number 201336510097
- Address: 12322 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90064 USA
- Directors: Ortwin Freyermuth, Christopher Roberts, Erin Roberts
- Incorporated: 2013-12-26
- Defunct: 2019-01-09
- Gemini 42 Productions, LLC
- Registration: Registered in California, filing number 201406310360
- Address: 12322 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90064 USA
- Directors: Ortwin Freyermuth, Christopher Roberts, Erin Roberts
- Incorporated: 2014-02-28
- Defunct: 2019-01-09
Teams
The development studios under Cloud Imperium Games are divided into different disciplines and teams.[12][13]
- Animation
- Artificial Intelligence
- Character combat
- Ship AI
- Social AI
- Audio
- Dialogue
- Backend services
- Character
- Character Art
- Cinematics
- Concept art
- Design
- Economy
- FPS mining
- DevOps
- Build
- Publishing
- Engineering
- Actor feature
- Engine
- Physics
- Environment art
- Landing zone (locations)
- Modular
- Organics
- Space scaping
- FPS
- Gameplay feature
- Gameplay story
- Persistent Universe gameplay
- Graphics
- Mission feature
- Level design
- Social
- Spaceflight
- Dogfight
- Lighting
- Live design (Design)
- Narrative
- Player relations
- Props
- QA
- SQ42 test
- Ship art
- System design
- Tech animation
- Tech art
- Technical design
- Tools
- Usable
- User interface
- UI art
- UI tech
- Vehicle feature
- VFX
- Weapon art
Partnerships
Turbulent
On 2019-12-04, Cloud Imperium UK Limited (CI UK Ltd.) and Turbulent extended their partnership through mutual investment. CI UK Ltd. purchased 22,250 shares of Turbulent stock directly from Turbulent co-founders Marc Beaudet and Benoit Beausejour, making Cloud Imperium UK a 25% shareholder, and acquired two seats on the Turbulent board. Meanwhile, Marc Beaudet and Benoit Beauséjour each acquired 1,170 shares in CI UK Ltd..[14] Cloud Imperium Games acquired Turbulent in July 2023.[15][16] CIG merger with Turbulent brings the headcount to 1110 at the time[15].
Official Links
See also
Trivia
- Several items in the game Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues are named after Cloud Imperium due to a cross promotion.
- The first offices of CIG in Austin were in in the basement of a historic home which housed the archeology department of an environmental firm. CIG remained there for about a year until it became overcrowded with almost 40 people, with PCs having to be carried over one's head rather than in front due to the lack of space and stern looks when one would bump into someone's chair, with CIG moving to a new office in Austin in January 2014 where they remain as of 2024.[17]
- The first infrastucture were two tower servers in a Harry Potter style under the staircase closet that also served as office, with a black contractor tarp over the top of the servers to protect them from any leaks from the above sewer pipes.[17]
Annotation
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Information available in multiple legal documents from company registries. For companies in California, please refer to California Secretary of State Business Search. For companies in Delaware, please refer to Division of Corporations - State of Delaware. For companies in Texas, please refer to Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. For companies in UK, please refer to Companies House. For companies in Germany, please refer to Company register in Germany.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Core - Cloud Imperium
- ↑ Press - Cloud Imperium
- ↑ CitizenCon 2953 Jared Huckaby closing talk on day 1
- ↑ Legal - Cloud Imperium
- ↑ Foundry 42 Ltd Rebrands to Cloud Imperium Games Ltd
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Cloud Imperium Games Limited - Companies House UK
- ↑ Cloud Imperium Board of Director Updates
- ↑ Cloud Imperium UK Limited - Companies House UK
- ↑ Roberts Space Industries Germany GmbH - Company Register Germany
- ↑ Roberts Space Industries International Limited - Companies House UK
- ↑ Cloud Imperium Rights Limited - Companies House UK
- ↑ CitizenCon 2949 - microTechnicalities
- ↑
Star Citizen Monthly Report: October 2019. Transmission - Comm-Link
- ↑ Cloud Imperium & Turbulent Extend Their Long-Running Partnership Through Mutual Investment
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Turbulent Joins Cloud Imperium Games.. Transmission - Comm-Link. Retrieved 2023-07-13
- ↑ Turbulent rejoint Cloud Imperium Games, Benoit et Marc, Medium.com, 2023-07-13
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Star Citizen Live: Meet the Devs - Publishing and Corporate Technology, Star Citizen, YouTube, 9 February 2024