View source for Cloud Imperium Games Ltd.

'''Cloud Imperium Games''' is a subsidiary of [[Cloud Imperium]] with offices in Manchester, England (UK); Montreal, Canada; Austin, Texas (US); and Frankfurt, Germany. It is responsible for developing the single-player game [[Squadron 42|''Squadron 42'']] set in the [[Star Citizen|''Star Citizen'']] universe as well as expanding and improving the [[Star Engine|game engine]], [[Facial Pipeline|facial pipeline]] and the cinematic experience in Squadron 42 amongst other things.

Cloud Imperium Games Ltd. was originally founded on 2013-09-24 as '<nowiki/>'''Foundry 42 Ltd.'''' and opened its first office in Wilmslow, Cheshire, UK around January 2014. Additional studios were opened in Frankfurt, Germany in July 2015 and Derby, UK in March 2017<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-mifFQpeiw&t=562s Around the Verse: Episode 2.05]. YouTube, 29 Oct 2015</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yisaDxvBH9s&t=12s Inside CIG: Foundry 42 Germany], YouTube, 10 Apr 2015</ref><ref>[https://youtu.be/50-6vwYUNLY?t=1105 ATV Interview: Brian Chambers], YouTube, 3 May 2016</ref>.

Foundry 42 later rebranded to 'Cloud Imperium Games Ltd.' on 2019-03-06 for better brand unification<ref name=":0">[https://cloudimperiumgames.com/blog/corporate/foundry-42-ltd-rebrands-to-cloud-imperium-games-ltd Foundry 42 Ltd Rebrands to Cloud Imperium Games Ltd]</ref><ref name="CIG-LTD">[https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/08703814 Cloud Imperium Games Limited - Companies House UK]</ref>

In 2022 Cloud Imperium Games opened a new lead studio in Manchester, moving from the offices in Wilmslow. The new office will accommodate up to 1000 employees.<ref>[https://cloudimperiumgames.com/blog/latest-announcements/cloud-imperium-games-to-open-new-videogame-development-studio-in-manchester]. CIG, 2024-01-01 </ref> In early 2024, a relocation of staff to the Manchester studio takes place.<ref>[https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/some-star-citizen-devs-reportedly-laid-off-as-cloud-imperium-restructures/ Some Star Citizen devs reportedly laid off as Cloud Imperium restructures], videogameschronicle.com, 28th Feb 2024</ref>

Following the staff relocation, the closure of the Los Angeles studio was announced in March 2025.<ref>"[https://mailchi.mp/cloudimperiumgames/chairmans-club-special-gift-3212025?e=69cac5426b <nowiki>[...]That also means we’re saying a bittersweet goodbye to our Los Angeles studio.[...],</nowiki>]" Chairman's Club email, 21st March 2025</ref>

== Studios==

Cloud Imperium Games have the following offices (a rough list of specialist teams is provided where possible)

[[File:CIG_Manchester_Offices.png|alt=|thumb|The CIG Manchester Studio]]

===UK ===

*'''Manchester''':<ref>[https://youtu.be/5aKLh18TPpE?t=888 Hub Crawl Hero - Fireside Chat with Carl Jones - Cloud Imperium Games]: "Why Manchester?", YouTube, 23 May 2023</ref> Graphics (low-level), UI, Audio, Ships (especially those needed for Squadron 42), Environment (Level Design), Props, Marketing, Support

*'''Derby''': [[Facial Pipeline]]

===DE ===

* '''Frankfurt'''<ref>[https://youtu.be/g3rPBbVBrcI STAR CITIZEN: Around the Verse - Episode 100 Celebration, Part IV], YouTube, 21 Jul 2016</ref>: Engine ([[Star Engine]]), Tools, AI ([[Subsumption]]), Cinematics, FPS weapons, Environment ([[Prodecural Planets]] and [[Space Station]]s), Lighting<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/live/cYyGW9ePnNk?feature=share Happy Hour Interview w/ Brian Chambers], YouTube, 5 May 2017</ref>

==Trivia ==

[[File:Foundry 42 logo no borders.jpg|right|thumb|The Foundry 42 Logo]]

*CIG was initially named Foundry 42 due to focusing on the development of Squadron 42 and because Cloud Imperium Games UK already existed at the time.<ref>[https://youtu.be/y2OVeUxfjuM?t=1791 Around the Verse: Episode 2.24]</ref>

*CIG has won the Massively OP’s Best of 2015 Awards: MMO Studio of the Year.<ref>[https://massivelyop.com/2015/12/10/massively-ops-best-of-2015-awards-studio-of-the-year/ Massively OP’s Best of 2015 Awards: MMO Studio of the Year], massivelyop.com, December 10, 2015 </ref>

==References==

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[[Category:Development]]