Reto-Moto
Reto-Moto ApS is a Danish video game developer based in Copenhagen. Founded in 1997, its staff formed IO Interactive as a joint venture in September 1998. Following a decade of inactivity, some founders reformed Reto-Moto in April 2008, and the company developed Heroes & Generals, which was released in September 2016.
Private | |
Industry | Video games |
Founded | 1997 |
Headquarters | , Denmark |
Key people | Jean-Marc Broyer (CEO) |
Products | Heroes & Generals |
Number of employees | 25 (2012) |
Website | reto.dk |
History
Prior to founding Reto-Moto, all founding members had been part of various United States–based demo groups, but decided to move back to Copenhagen in 1997, where they founded Reto-Moto later that year.[1] In September 1998, Reto-Moto, at the time consisting of Jesper Vorsholt Jørgensen, Rasmus Guldberg-Kjær, Martin Munk Pollas, Karsten Lemann Hvidberg, Jacob Andersen, Janos Flösser and David Guldbrandsen, and Danish film studio Nordisk Film launched IO Interactive, another developer, as a joint venture.[2] Nordisk Film held a 40.3% stake in the venture.[2] Due to IO Interactive's rapid success through Hitman: Codename 47 in 2000, Reto-Moto's operations were put on ice.[3] Eventually, all stakes in IO Interactive were sold to Eidos Interactive in March 2004.[4]
On 11 April 2008, four of IO Interactive's founders, namely Vorsholt Jørgensen, Pollas, Andersen and Guldbrandsen, announced that they had, together with former Eidos Interactive executive producer Neil Donnell, reformed Reto-Moto as an active developer.[5] Guldbrandsen and Donnell became chief technology officer and chief executive officer, respectively.[6] Six further former IO Interactive employees followed to Reto-Moto in December that year.[7] By April 2012, the company had 25 employees, of which the majority were transplants from IO Interactive.[8]
Reto-Moto's first game, Heroes & Generals, was announced on 7 October 2011.[9] A temporary publishing agreement for the game was reached with Square Enix in November 2012.[10] Heroes & Generals was officially released on 23 September 2016 and has since reached 10 million registered users as of January 2017.[11] On 16 August 2017, Reto-Moto hired Jean-Marc Broyer as new chief executive officer.[12] Nordisk Film announced on 6 December 2017 that they had acquired a minority stake in Reto-Moto in exchange for a US$5 million investment.[13]
Games developed
Year | Title | Platform(s) | Publisher(s) |
---|---|---|---|
2016 | Heroes & Generals | Microsoft Windows | Reto-Moto |
References
- Griffin, Mike. "From Hitman to Reto-Moto: Jesper Kyd follows his own sound". gamasutra.com. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
- "Hitman solgt til England". business.dk. 4 March 2004. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
- Sinclair, Brendan (11 April 2008). "Hitman devs go solo with Reto-Moto". gamespot.com. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
- "Eidos acquires Hitman developer as profits rise". eurogamer.net. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
- "Hitman Veterans Leave IO, Form Reto-Moto". Shacknews. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
- Kumar, Mathew. "IO Interactive Founders Reform Reto Moto". gamasutra.com. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
- "More IO Interactive employees join Reto-Moto". mcvuk.com. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
- Alexander, Leigh. "In-Depth: At Reto-Moto, AAA veterans speak out on fascinating culture shift". gamasutra.com. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
- "Heroes & Generals: Re-Announced, Trailered". rockpapershotgun.com. 10 October 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
- "Heroes & Generals to be published by Square Enix, new shots and video released - VG247". vg247.com. 7 November 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
- "MMOFPS Heroes & Generals hits 10 million players, promises more planes and vehicles". pcgamesn.com. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
- "Reto-Moto brings on Jean-Marc Broyer as CEO". gamesindustry.biz. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
- "Nordisk Film takes $5m ownership stake in Heroes & Generals studio". gamesindustry.biz. Retrieved 26 May 2018.