Insomniac Games, Inc. is an American
video game developer
A video game developer is a broad term for a software developer specializing in video game development – the process and related disciplines of creating video games. A game developer can range from one person who undertakes all tasks to a large ...
based in
Burbank, California
Burbank is a city in the southeastern end of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Located northwest of downtown Los Angeles, Burbank has a population of 107,337. The city was named after David Burbank, w ...
and a studio of
PlayStation Studios
PlayStation Studios (formerly SCE Worldwide Studios and SIE Worldwide Studios) is a Division (business), division of Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) that oversees the video game development at the studios owned by SIE. The division was est ...
. It was founded in 1994 by Ted Price as Xtreme Software, and was renamed Insomniac Games a year later. The company is most known for developing several early
PlayStation
is a video gaming brand that consists of five home video game consoles, two handhelds, a media center, and a smartphone, as well as an online service and multiple magazines. The brand is produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment, a divisi ...
mascots,
Spyro the Dragon
''Spyro the Dragon'' is a platform game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation on September 9, 1998. The first game in the ''Spyro'' series, it stars the title character, a young purple dr ...
,
Ratchet
Ratchet may refer to:
Devices
* Ratchet (device), a mechanical device that allows movement in only one direction
* Ratchet, metonomic name for a socket wrench incorporating a ratcheting device
* Ratchet (instrument), a music instrument and a ...
and
Clank, as well as the ''
Resistance'' franchise, 2014's ''
Sunset Overdrive
''Sunset Overdrive'' is an action-adventure shooter video game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Microsoft Studios. The game is set in 2027, in a fictional metropolis called Sunset City. The player controls an employee of FizzCo, who ...
'' and the ''
Marvel's Spider-Man'' series with
Marvel Games
Marvel Games is the publishing brand for video games based on Marvel properties, and is also the video game division of Marvel Entertainment. Before the incorporation of Marvel Games, video games based on Marvel properties released between 1982 an ...
. In 2019, the studio was acquired by
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), formerly known as Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE), is a multinational video game industry, video game and digital entertainment company wholly owned by multinational conglomerate Sony. The SIE Group is ma ...
, becoming a part of
SIE Worldwide Studios
PlayStation Studios (formerly SCE Worldwide Studios and SIE Worldwide Studios) is a division of Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) that oversees the video game development at the studios owned by SIE. The division was established as SCE Worl ...
(now known as PlayStation Studios).
The company's first project was ''
Disruptor'', for
PlayStation
is a video gaming brand that consists of five home video game consoles, two handhelds, a media center, and a smartphone, as well as an online service and multiple magazines. The brand is produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment, a divisi ...
, whose poor sales almost led to the company's bankruptcy. Insomniac's next project was ''
Spyro the Dragon
''Spyro the Dragon'' is a platform game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation on September 9, 1998. The first game in the ''Spyro'' series, it stars the title character, a young purple dr ...
'', a successful video game that spawned two sequels within two years. Insomniac closely collaborated with
Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), formerly known as Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE), is a multinational video game and digital entertainment company wholly owned by multinational conglomerate Sony. The SIE Group is made up of two legal co ...
(later renamed Sony Interactive Entertainment) and created two game franchises, ''
Ratchet & Clank
''Ratchet & Clank'' is a series of action platformer and third-person shooter video games. The franchise was created and developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for PlayStation consoles, such as PlayStation 2 ...
'', and ''Resistance''. The two franchises proved to be both a critical and financial success for the company. The company began work on its first multiplatform game ''
Fuse
Fuse or FUSE may refer to:
Devices
* Fuse (electrical), a device used in electrical systems to protect against excessive current
** Fuse (automotive), a class of fuses for vehicles
* Fuse (hydraulic), a device used in hydraulic systems to protect ...
'' in 2013 (with
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) is an American video game company headquartered in Redwood City, California. Founded in May 1982 by Apple employee Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer game industry and promoted the d ...
as its publisher), but the game turned out to become one of Insomniac's worst-reviewed games.
Since 2014, Insomniac has actively expanded its portfolio of games. The company worked with
Microsoft Studios
Xbox Game Studios (previously known as Microsoft Studios, Microsoft Game Studios, and Microsoft Games) is an American video game publisher and part of the Microsoft Gaming division based in Redmond, Washington. It was established in March 2000, ...
on 2014's ''
Sunset Overdrive
''Sunset Overdrive'' is an action-adventure shooter video game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Microsoft Studios. The game is set in 2027, in a fictional metropolis called Sunset City. The player controls an employee of FizzCo, who ...
'', partnered with
GameTrust
GameStop Corp. is an American video game, consumer electronics, and gaming merchandise retailer. The company is headquartered in Grapevine, Texas (a suburb of Dallas), and is the largest video game retailer worldwide. , the company operates 4, ...
to release the underwater
Metroidvania
Metroidvania is a sub-genre of platform video games focused on guided non-linearity and utility-gated exploration and progression. The term is a portmanteau of the names of the video game series '' Metroid'' and ''Castlevania'', with games in th ...
game ''
Song of the Deep
''Song of the Deep'' is an action-adventure video game developed by Insomniac Games and published by GameTrust Games. In the game, the player controls Merryn, a young girl who crafts a makeshift submarine to search for her father who went miss ...
'', and released several mobile games and
virtual reality
Virtual reality (VR) is a simulated experience that employs pose tracking and 3D near-eye displays to give the user an immersive feel of a virtual world. Applications of virtual reality include entertainment (particularly video games), educ ...
projects. In 2016, Insomniac released a
re-imagining
A remake is a film, television series, video game, song or similar form of entertainment that is based upon and retells the story of an earlier production in the same medium—e.g., a "new version of an existing film". A remake tells the sam ...
of the first ''
Ratchet & Clank
''Ratchet & Clank'' is a series of action platformer and third-person shooter video games. The franchise was created and developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for PlayStation consoles, such as PlayStation 2 ...
'', and in 2018 released its first licensed title, ''
Marvel's Spider-Man'' for the
PlayStation 4
The PlayStation 4 (PS4) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 3 in February 2013, it was launched on November 15, 2013, in North America, November 29, 2013 in ...
; an additional game, ''
Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales'', was released for the PlayStation 4 and
PlayStation 5
The PlayStation 5 (PS5) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 4 in April 2019, it was launched on November 12, 2020, in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, North Ame ...
in 2020. The studio's most recent project is ''
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart'' which released exclusively for the PlayStation 5 in June 2021. It is currently developing ''
Marvel's Spider-Man 2
''Marvel's Spider-Man'' is a 2018 action-adventure game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man, it tells an original narrative that is inspired by the long-ru ...
'' (2023) and ''
Marvel's Wolverine'' for the PlayStation 5.
Before 2019, Insomniac remained as an independent studio working for Sony and other publishers such as Microsoft, EA, and Oculus. In August 2019, Sony announced it had agreed to acquire Insomniac as the 14th internal studio within
SIE Worldwide Studios
PlayStation Studios (formerly SCE Worldwide Studios and SIE Worldwide Studios) is a division of Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) that oversees the video game development at the studios owned by SIE. The division was established as SCE Worl ...
. Over the years, Insomniac Games has received considerable recognition from critics as an acclaimed video game developer. It was named the twentieth-best video game developer by ''
IGN
''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...
'', and one of the best places to work in America by the
Society for Human Resource Management
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is a professional human resources membership association headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. SHRM promotes the role of HR as a profession and provides education, certification, and networking to ...
.
History
Founding and ''Disruptor'' (1994–1996)
![Ted Price, 2013](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b1/Ted_Price%2C_2013.jpg)
Insomniac Games was founded by Ted Price, who was determined to work in the video game industry since the release of
Atari 2600
The Atari 2600, initially branded as the Atari Video Computer System (Atari VCS) from its release until November 1982, is a home video game console developed and produced by Atari, Inc. Released in September 1977, it popularized microprocessor- ...
in 1977, when he was nine years old.
The company was incorporated on February 28, 1994.
Price was joined by Alex Hastings, his fellow graduate and an expert in computer programming, in June 1994.
Hastings' brother Brian Hastings joined Insomniac shortly afterwards. The studio was named "Xtreme Software" for a year but in 1995 it was forced to rename itself by another company with the same name. The studio shortlisted "The Resistance Incorporated", "Ragnarok", "Black Sun Software", "Ice Nine" and "Moon Turtle" before choosing the name "Insomniac Games". According to Price, the company chose this name because "it suddenly makes sense", even though it was not their first choice.
Shortly after the company's establishment, it began developing its first project. The team took inspirations from the popular ''
Doom
Doom is another name for damnation.
Doom may also refer to:
People
* Doom (professional wrestling), the tag team of Ron Simmons and Butch Reed
* Daniel Doom (born 1934), Belgian cyclist
* Debbie Doom (born 1963), American softball pitcher
* ...
'', and hoped to capitalize upon the industry's excitement for a
first-person shooter
First-person shooter (FPS) is a sub-genre of shooter video games centered on gun and other weapon-based combat in a first-person perspective, with the player experiencing the action through the eyes of the protagonist and controlling the pl ...
. The team lacked experience and considered developing a "
''Doom'' clone". The game was developed for the
Panasonic 3DO
The 3DO Interactive Multiplayer, also referred to as simply 3DO, is a home video game console developed by The 3DO Company. Conceived by entrepreneur and Electronic Arts founder Trip Hawkins, the 3DO was not a console manufactured by the company ...
because its developer kit was inexpensive, and the team had high hopes for the console.
Using a time frame of one month, the team developed a functional gameplay demo for the game. It was pitched to various publishers and was later shown to
Mark Cerny
Mark Evan Cerny (born August 24, 1964) is an American video game designer, programmer, producer and media proprietor.
Raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Cerny attended UC Berkeley before dropping out to pursue a career in video games. In hi ...
, an executive producer from
Universal Interactive Studios
Universal Interactive (formerly Universal Interactive Studios) was an American video game publisher. The company was established on January 4, 1994, and led by Skip Paul and Robert Biniaz of MCA. It was best known for producing the '' Crash Ban ...
, who was impressed by the team's efforts. Universal published the game and helped with funding and marketing.
Universal helped the game's development and cutscenes, and hired actors to film real-time sequences.
Catherine Hardwicke was hired to lead production design, and inspirations were taken from ''
Warhawk''.
Cerny gave input and feedback on the game's level-design. However, the 3DO did not perform as they had expected, and Universal suggested that the team should switch to
Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), formerly known as Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE), is a multinational video game and digital entertainment company wholly owned by multinational conglomerate Sony. The SIE Group is made up of two legal co ...
's
PlayStation
is a video gaming brand that consists of five home video game consoles, two handhelds, a media center, and a smartphone, as well as an online service and multiple magazines. The brand is produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment, a divisi ...
to increase sales of the game. The game originally ran on a custom engine developed by Alex Hastings, and was upgraded and converted for the PlayStation within a month. The debut title was called ''
Disruptor'', and was released worldwide in November 1996.
''Disruptor'' was released to positive critical reception, and was named "Dark Horse of the Year" by various gaming publications.
John Romero
John is a common English name and surname:
* John (given name)
* John (surname)
John may also refer to:
New Testament
Works
* Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John
* First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John
* Second ...
, founder of ''Doom'' developer
id Software
id Software LLC () is an American video game developer based in Richardson, Texas. It was founded on February 1, 1991, by four members of the computer company Softdisk: programmers John Carmack and John Romero, game designer Tom Hall, and ar ...
praised the game.
Insomniac considered ''Disruptor'' a lesson about video game development. According to Price, it was "the best game that nobody ever heard of".
With little marketing and advertisement, the game was a commercial failure for Insomniac. Despite the game's poor performance, Universal continued to partner with Insomniac for its next game. The team's morale was low; they decided to develop something new instead of a sequel to ''Disruptor''.
''Spyro the Dragon'' (1996–2000)
At that time, the demographic for the PlayStation shifted, as more children and teenagers started to use the console.
As a result, the team decided not to make another violent game like ''Disruptor'' and instead develop a family-friendly game that would be suitable for every member of a family, regardless of their age.
The family game market was dominated by Sony's competitor
Nintendo
is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational video game company headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. It develops video games and video game consoles.
Nintendo was founded in 1889 as by craftsman Fusajiro Yamauchi and originally produce ...
with games like ''
Super Mario 64
is a platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It was released in Japan and North America in 1996 and PAL regions in 1997. It is the first ''Super Mario'' game to feature 3D gameplay, combining traditional ''Su ...
'', while the PlayStation had no similar exclusives. Cerny pushed Insomniac Games to develop a game with a mascot and mass appeal.
Craig Stitt, an environment artist of ''Disruptor'', proposed that the game's theme and story should revolve around an anthropomorphic dragon. At the same time, Alex Hastings began developing an engine that specialized in games with
panoramic view
A panorama (formed from Greek πᾶν "all" + ὅραμα "view") is any wide-angle view or representation of a physical space, whether in painting, drawing, photography, film, seismic images, or 3D modeling. The word was originally coined in ...
, which is suitable for
open world games. The engine allowed more gameplay features including the ability for the dragon to glide through air. ''
Spyro the Dragon
''Spyro the Dragon'' is a platform game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation on September 9, 1998. The first game in the ''Spyro'' series, it stars the title character, a young purple dr ...
'' was released in late 1998.
The game received critical acclaim upon launch and received awards from publications. Sales of the game were relatively low initially, but climbed after Christmas that year, and overall sales of the game exceeded two million. The team was expanded to 13 staff members. Because of ''Spyro the Dragon''s success, the studio was requested to develop a sequel for it. The development of ''
Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage!'' began shortly after the launch of ''Spyro the Dragon''. The team considered developing the sequel a challenge for them; they had to develop new ideas to "revolutionize" the franchise within a short time. The team brainstormed ideas but later chose to expand a mini-game from the original ''Spyro the Dragon'', which they thought had offered a different experience from ''Spyro''. The team designed a mature story and advanced cinematics for the game. It met its target release window, and was released in late 1999. Hastings was worried about the release because the game's development cycle was rushed and truncated.
The studio was asked to develop the third installment in the ''Spyro the Dragon'' series upon the release of ''Ripto's Rage!''. To make the game more varied than its predecessors, the team introduced more special moves for
Spyro the Dragon
''Spyro the Dragon'' is a platform game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation on September 9, 1998. The first game in the ''Spyro'' series, it stars the title character, a young purple dr ...
and more playable characters. The dragon's personality was made more approachable for players. The company struggled to create new ideas for the sequel. During the game's development, the team expanded to about 20 to 25 people.
Brian Allgeier, who would later become Insomniac's games' director, joined the studio at that time.
''
Spyro: Year of the Dragon'' was released worldwide in late 2000. After releasing three games in three years, the team decided to move on for a new project that had new original characters.
''Year of the Dragon'' is the last Insomniac Games-developed ''Spyro'' game.
Universal retains the
intellectual property
Intellectual property (IP) is a category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect. There are many types of intellectual property, and some countries recognize more than others. The best-known types are patents, cop ...
rights to the ''Spyro'' series. This was the end of Insomniac Games' partnership with Universal as the team at Insomniac started to work directly to develop games for the PlayStation consoles.
''Ratchet & Clank'' (2000–2005)
In 2000, Sony released its successor to the PlayStation, the
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October 2000, in Europe on 24 November 2000, and in Australia on 3 ...
. Insomniac's ideas for its first PlayStation 2 project included ''Monster Knight'', a concept that was designed in 1999 but the game did not get beyond its planning stage. The canceled project was revealed 13 years after the game's conception. The second title was ''Girl with a Stick'', which took inspirations from ''
The Legend of Zelda
''The Legend of Zelda'' is an action-adventure game franchise created by the Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo, although some portable installments and re-rele ...
'' and ''
Tomb Raider
''Tomb Raider'', also known as ''Lara Croft: Tomb Raider'' from 2001 to 2008, is a media franchise that originated with an action-adventure video game series created by British gaming company Core Design. Formerly owned by Eidos Interactive, th ...
''. It was intended as a serious game, and to prove Insomniac's ability to create games other than platformers. Insomniac spent six months on the project, developing several prototypes and a functional demo. However, most staff members, beside Price, were not passionate about the project, and thought it was "one-dimensional". Sony thought the game would not find a market, and recommended Insomniac to "play to
heir
Inheritance is the practice of receiving private property, titles, debts, entitlements, privileges, rights, and obligations upon the death of an individual. The rules of inheritance differ among societies and have changed over time. Officiall ...
strengths".
As a result, ''Girl with a Stick'' was scrapped. According to Price, ''Girl with a Stick'' is a lesson for Insomniac and its first failure.
A few weeks after the cancellation of ''Girl with a Stick'', Brian Hastings proposed that the company should work on a space adventure game with a science fiction theme. The game originally revolved around a reptilian alien with weapons traveling across planets. The reptile character evolved into a caveman, and eventually became a fictional creature called a "Lombax". They named the creature
Ratchet
Ratchet may refer to:
Devices
* Ratchet (device), a mechanical device that allows movement in only one direction
* Ratchet, metonomic name for a socket wrench incorporating a ratcheting device
* Ratchet (instrument), a music instrument and a ...
and designed a robot companion called
Clank for Ratchet. Inspirations for the game were drawn from manga, ''
Conker's Bad Fur Day
''Conker's Bad Fur Day'' is a 2001 platform game developed and published by Rare for the Nintendo 64. The game follows Conker, a greedy, hard-drinking red squirrel who must return home to his girlfriend. Most of the game requires the player ...
'' and from ''Spyro the Dragon''. To differentiate the project from Insomniac's previous projects, they made the game more complex and included
shooting
Shooting is the act or process of discharging a projectile from a ranged weapon (such as a gun, bow, crossbow, slingshot, or blowpipe). Even the acts of launching flame, artillery, darts, harpoons, grenades, rockets, and guided missiles can ...
and
role-playing
Role-playing or roleplaying is the changing of one's behaviour to assume a role, either unconsciously to fill a social role, or consciously to act out an adopted role. While the ''Oxford English Dictionary'' offers a definition of role-playing a ...
gameplay elements. The team was excited about this project; however, the company was unable to develop a demo for the game because it did not have a suitable engine. As a result, they developed "Art Nuevo de Flash Gordon", a Metropolis diorama, for Sony, which decided to help the game's funding and publishing.
Jason Rubin
Jason Rubin (born 1970) is an American video game director, writer, and comic book creator. He is best known for the ''Crash Bandicoot'' and ''Jak and Daxter'' series of games which were produced by Naughty Dog, the game development studio he c ...
, on behalf of
Naughty Dog
Naughty Dog, LLC (formerly JAM Software, Inc.) is an American first-party video game developer based in Santa Monica, California. Founded by Andy Gavin and Jason Rubin in 1984, the studio was acquired by Sony Computer Entertainment in 2001. Gav ...
, lent Insomniac the engine used in ''
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy''. The game's title was ''
Ratchet & Clank
''Ratchet & Clank'' is a series of action platformer and third-person shooter video games. The franchise was created and developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for PlayStation consoles, such as PlayStation 2 ...
''; it was originally to be a
launch title
This list includes terms used in video games and the video game industry, as well as slang used by players.
0–9
A
...
for the PlayStation 2 but it was delayed by two years and was released in November 2002. It was a critical success.
Five months before the launch of ''Ratchet & Clank'', Sony approved the development of its sequel. Insomniac hoped to bring new elements to the franchise; it received feedback from players and improved some features of ''Ratchet & Clank''. About a year later, ''
Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando'' was released to critical acclaim, at which time Insomniac had finished the prototype of their next game, ''
Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal'', which introduced a multiplayer mode and expanded upon ''Going Commando''s arenas. Alex Hastings continued to optimize the engine and increase its processing power to fine-tune the game. The sales of ''Up Your Arsenal'' were considerably higher than those of its predecessors; it was the highest-rated game in the franchise's history.
Insomniac released three ''Ratchet & Clank'' games within three years. As of 2005, Insomniac intended to change the direction of the franchise after ''Up Your Arsenal''. Hastings hoped the company's next game would have a darker tone than its predecessors. As a result, the plot switched its focus to Ratchet. The developers were inspired by ''
The Running Man'' and ''
Battle Royale''; they developed an action game with no platform elements. While the gameplay of the fourth game in the series is similar to that of its predecessors, Clank's role was significantly diminished and the character's name was removed from the game's title. ''
Ratchet: Deadlocked'' was released in 2005.
PlayStation 3 era (2006–2012)
![Mark Cerny, GDCA 2014 (cropped)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a4/Mark_Cerny%2C_GDCA_2014_%28cropped%29.jpg)
While Insomniac was handling the development of the ''Ratchet & Clank'' franchise, the team wanted to work on something else. With the launch of the
PlayStation 3
The PlayStation 3 (PS3) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. The successor to the PlayStation 2, it is part of the PlayStation brand of consoles. It was first released on Novemb ...
, the team thought users of the new console would be more mature than those of its predecessors and wanted to develop a game to cater for them. They thought the studio should not specialize in one genre. This new project was part of Insomniac's expansion; the company wanted to have multiple projects in parallel development. This project began development after the completion of ''Deadlocked''. The team agreed to develop something different for a different platform.
Inspired by ''
Starship Troopers'', ''
Resistance: Fall of Man'' was Insomniac's first first-person shooter after ''Disruptor''. To make the game stand-out, they experimented with turning it into a squad-based shooter and introducing giant lizard enemies which were later scrapped. Sony recommended Insomniac to change its lizard antagonist because they were not fun to play with. Furthermore, the team disagreed about the game's setting.
Cerny wanted to set the game—proposed as a "space opera" game—during
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, but this was later changed to
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
because the developers wanted to introduce extreme weaponry to the game. It was shifted to the 1950s because the team considered the market for World War II shooters was over-saturated at that time. ''Resistance: Fall of Man'' was a launch title for the PlayStation 3; the team said developing a new game for the console was a challenge because they had to work quickly to meet its target release window.
The game was a financial and critical success, despite causing
controversy over the use of Manchester Cathedral.
The development of the sequel soon began; the team wanted to drastically change the game, leading to internal debate between staff members. The sequel, ''
Resistance 2
''Resistance 2'' is a 2008 science fiction
Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, ...
'', was released in 2008.
Meanwhile, development of the ''Ratchet & Clank'' franchise continued. The team decided to rewrite the characters when the franchise shifted to the PlayStation 3. They introduced the ''Future'' series, which includes ''
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction'' (2007), ''
Quest for Booty'' (2008) and ''
A Crack in Time'' (2009). In 2008, the company established a new studio of 25 to 30 developers, led by Chad Dezern and Shaun McCabe, in North Carolina. The new studio was responsible for some of Insomniac's ''Ratchet & Clank'' games.
Both the ''Resistance'' franchise and the ''Ratchet & Clank'' franchise continued into the 2010s. The team in North Carolina developed ''
Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One'', which received mixed reviews. The North Carolina team continued to develop the next game in the series, ''
Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault'', which expanded upon levels from previous games in the series and has a structure similar to that of a
tower defense game
Tower defense (TD) is a subgenre of strategy games where the goal is to defend a player's territories or possessions by obstructing the enemy attackers or by stopping enemies from reaching the exits, usually achieved by placing defensive struc ...
.
Meanwhile, the company developed ''
Resistance 3
''Resistance 3'' is a 2011 science fiction post-apocalyptic first-person shooter developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3. ''Resistance 3'' is the final installment in the ''Resistance'' tril ...
''—the sequel to ''Resistance 2''—which was designed to be similar to ''Fall of Man''. The team at Insomniac reviewed players' feedback regarding the negative aspects of ''Resistance 2'', re-introduced some mechanics from ''Fall of Man'', and focused on narrative. They considered such an approach can differentiate a franchise from other first-person shooters. ''Resistance 3'' was regarded by the team as the best game in the series, but it sold poorly and was a financial failure. According to Price, the team was disappointed but were still proud of the project. In early 2012, Price announced that the company would not be involved in any future ''Resistance'' projects. Sony retains the intellectual property rights to the franchise.
Diversifying portfolio (2012–2019)
Insomniac had exclusively developed games for the PlayStation console until in 2010 when Insomniac announced its partnership with
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) is an American video game company headquartered in Redwood City, California. Founded in May 1982 by Apple employee Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer game industry and promoted the d ...
via
EA Partners
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) is an American video game company headquartered in Redwood City, California. Founded in May 1982 by Apple employee Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer game industry and promoted the d ...
to develop a multi-platform game for the PlayStation 3 and
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology corporation producing computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services headquartered at the Microsoft Redmond campus located in Redmond, Washing ...
's
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. As the successor to the original Xbox, it is the second console in the Xbox series. It competed with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation ...
console.
The company hoped to reach a wider audience, while keeping the rights to its IP and retain full control of its franchises.
The company revealed nothing about the game. The company established a new subsidiary called Insomniac Click, which focused on casual games and games for
Facebook
Facebook is an online social media and social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. Founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with fellow Harvard College students and roommates Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin M ...
. Its first game was not set in any of Insomniac's existing franchises. Insomniac again partnered with Electronic Arts, which owned the casual game developer
Playfish
Playfish was a developer of free-to-play social network games. Playfish was founded in 2007 by Kristian Segerstråle, Sebastien de Halleux, Sami Lababidi, and Shukri Shammas. It closed in 2013. Playfish in the past had attracted up to 55 million ...
, to help the game to reach a broad audience.
''
Outernauts'' was announced shortly after; it was released in July 2012 for browsers and mobile platforms. Click was later re-incorporated into Insomniac, and the browser version of ''Outernauts'' was canceled.
The EA Partners game was revealed at
Electronic Entertainment Expo 2011
The Electronic Entertainment Expo 2011 (E3 2011) was the 17th E3 held. The event took place at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California. It began on June 7, 2011, and ended on June 9, 2011, with 46,800 total attendees. E3 201 ...
as ''Overstrike''. This game was pitched by ''Ratchet & Clank'' director Brian Allgeier and it has a direction similar to that of the ''Ratchet & Clank'' series. The team thought ''Overstrike'' would appeal to teenagers. After several play-testing sessions, they realized their game was too simple for their target group. The company developed many weapons for the game, none of which related to the game's story. The developers retooled the game and changed it to attract older players and make weapons an important part of the game. The game focuses on a co-operative campaign, which the company thought was a popular trend at that time.
It was renamed ''
Fuse
Fuse or FUSE may refer to:
Devices
* Fuse (electrical), a device used in electrical systems to protect against excessive current
** Fuse (automotive), a class of fuses for vehicles
* Fuse (hydraulic), a device used in hydraulic systems to protect ...
'' and was released worldwide in May 2013. ''Fuse'' was one of the lowest-rated games developed by Insomniac, and was another commercial failure, debuting in 37th place in the UK in its first week of release. ''Fuse'' was considered a learning lesson for Insomniac to understand the type of game they are good at making. The reception to ''Fuse'' showed the company it should develop "colorful, playful experiences that's loaded with unusual, sometimes silly weapons". Also in 2013, the ''Ratchet & Clank Future'' game, ''
Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus'', was released.
Running parallel development with ''Fuse'', and beginning soon after the completion of ''Resistance 3'', Insomniac Games began development on ''
Sunset Overdrive
''Sunset Overdrive'' is an action-adventure shooter video game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Microsoft Studios. The game is set in 2027, in a fictional metropolis called Sunset City. The player controls an employee of FizzCo, who ...
''. The game was inspired by ''Hyena Men of Kenya'', ''
Tank Girl
''Tank Girl'' is a British comic book character created by Alan Martin and Jamie Hewlett, and first appeared in print in 1988 in the British comics magazine ''Deadline''. After a period of intense popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s, ...
'', ''
I Am Legend'', ''
The Young Ones'', Halloween masks from the 1960s, and
Lego
Lego ( , ; stylized as LEGO) is a line of plastic construction toys that are manufactured by The Lego Group, a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company's flagship product, Lego, consists of variously colored interlocking ...
. ''Sunset Overdrive'' was created by Marcus Smith and Drew Murray; their first pitch to Insomniac's head was rejected as being too confusing. They were given one week to re-pitch the title, and they persuaded studio heads to begin the game's development. The game was later pitched to various publishers, which rejected them because Insomniac demanded to retain ownership of the intellectual property. The project was later pitched to Microsoft Studios, which was eager to work with Insomniac. Microsoft allowed Insomniac to own the rights to the game. ''Sunset Overdrive'' was made for Microsoft's
Xbox One
The Xbox One is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. Announced in May 2013, it is the successor to Xbox 360 and the third base console in the Xbox series of video game consoles. It was first released in North America, parts of ...
console; it was released on the 20th anniversary of Insomniac, in 2014.
Insomniac announced ''Slow Down, Bull'', a part-commercial and part-charity project for release on
Microsoft Windows
Windows is a group of several proprietary graphical operating system families developed and marketed by Microsoft. Each family caters to a certain sector of the computing industry. For example, Windows NT for consumers, Windows Server for serv ...
; it is the company's first game for Windows. Insomniac released a remake of ''
Ratchet & Clank
''Ratchet & Clank'' is a series of action platformer and third-person shooter video games. The franchise was created and developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for PlayStation consoles, such as PlayStation 2 ...
'' for the
PlayStation 4
The PlayStation 4 (PS4) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 3 in February 2013, it was launched on November 15, 2013, in North America, November 29, 2013 in ...
in 2016.
In January 2016, Insomniac announced their next game, ''
Song of the Deep
''Song of the Deep'' is an action-adventure video game developed by Insomniac Games and published by GameTrust Games. In the game, the player controls Merryn, a young girl who crafts a makeshift submarine to search for her father who went miss ...
'', a water-based video game inspired by ''
Metroid
is an action-adventure game franchise created by Nintendo. The player controls the bounty hunter Samus Aran, who protects the galaxy from Space Pirate (Metroid), Space Pirates and other malevolent forces and their attempts to harness the powe ...
'' and ''
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night''. The game was published by retailer GameStop.
During E3 2015, the company announced ''Edge of Nowhere'', a third-person action-adventure game for the
virtual reality
Virtual reality (VR) is a simulated experience that employs pose tracking and 3D near-eye displays to give the user an immersive feel of a virtual world. Applications of virtual reality include entertainment (particularly video games), educ ...
hardware Oculus Rift. In April 2016, the company announced two new virtual reality titles: ''Feral Rites'', a hack and slash game, and ''The Unspoken'', a fantasy multiplayer game, for the Oculus Rift. According to Price, the company began focusing on virtual reality projects as the team is enthusiastic about the technology, and that it allows the company to develop an expertise in creating VR games. The studio signed an exclusive deal with Oculus VR as Insomniac believed that both companies shared the same passion to "[bring] games to life", and that they allowed Insomniac to retain the rights of their intellectual properties. Price compared the agreement to their previous first-party deals, and added that having the opportunity to develop games for the first generation of VR platforms is something the team could not reject. Despite the new direction, Price added that they will not give up on making console AAA video games. At E3 2016, Insomniac announced their next AAA title, ''Spider-Man (2018 video game), Marvel's Spider-Man'',
developed for the
PlayStation 4
The PlayStation 4 (PS4) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 3 in February 2013, it was launched on November 15, 2013, in North America, November 29, 2013 in ...
in conjunction with Marvel Entertainment. Bryan Intihar, producer of ''
Sunset Overdrive
''Sunset Overdrive'' is an action-adventure shooter video game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Microsoft Studios. The game is set in 2027, in a fictional metropolis called Sunset City. The player controls an employee of FizzCo, who ...
'', was the game's creative director.
In September 2017, Insomniac Games revealed its new brand logo, which replaced the moon image standing in for the "O" with a more stylized iconograph. The company said that part of their rebranding was to "think beyond the moon". Insomniac chief brand officer Ryan Schneider said part of the rebranding was to prevent the studio being pigeonholed; while the moon-based logo had well-represented the company for its ''Spyro'' and ''Ratchet & Clank'' cartoon-like games, it did not reflect well on the expanded directions they had moved in recent years, such as the ''Spider-Man'' game.
Schneider said that along with the brand change, the company plans to be engaging with players, offering live-streaming of their work, and re-establishing a new identity, without completely eschewing their past. Schneider said they effectively "blew up the moon" to establish this new direction.
Sony acquisition (2019–present)
In August 2019, Sony announced a definitive agreement to acquire Insomniac as one of its first-party developers. This would make Insomniac the 14th internal studio with Sony's
SIE Worldwide Studios
PlayStation Studios (formerly SCE Worldwide Studios and SIE Worldwide Studios) is a division of Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) that oversees the video game development at the studios owned by SIE. The division was established as SCE Worl ...
division. Sony's Shawn Layden stated they had been evaluating the option of acquiring Insomniac for some time, and the success of their ''Spider-Man'' game contributed significantly towards this end, demonstrating that Insomniac was an "impact maker" and a "style-setter".
Layden believed that Insomniac's working relationship with Sony would not change significantly in the acquisition, leaving the studio in its own creative control, but would allow Insomniac to have closer access to other innovative technologies throughout SIE Worldwide Studios.
The acquisition, for which Sony paid (equivalent to ), was completed on November 15, 2019.
At the
PlayStation 5
The PlayStation 5 (PS5) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 4 in April 2019, it was launched on November 12, 2020, in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, North Ame ...
reveal event on June 11, 2020, Insomniac announced two new games: ''Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales'', a spin-off to ''Marvel's Spider-Man'', and ''
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart''. The former was a launch title for the PS5, releasing alongside a remaster of the original ''Marvel's Spider-Man'' for the console.
The latter released on June 11, 2021, exclusively for the PS5.
On September 9, 2021, at the PlayStation showcase event, a sequel to ''Marvel's Spider Man'' entitled ''Spider-Man 2 (2023 video game), Marvel's Spider-Man 2'' was announced due to be released in 2023 for the PlayStation 5. In addition, a standalone game, ''Wolverine (upcoming video game), Marvel's Wolverine'', was announced for the PlayStation 5.
Games developed
''Spyro'' (1998–2000)
Insomniac is the creator of the ''Spyro'' series and developed the first three games, ''
Spyro the Dragon
''Spyro the Dragon'' is a platform game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation on September 9, 1998. The first game in the ''Spyro'' series, it stars the title character, a young purple dr ...
'' (1998), ''Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage!, Ripto's Rage!'' (1999) and ''Spyro: Year of the Dragon, Year of the Dragon'' (2000) for the first
PlayStation
is a video gaming brand that consists of five home video game consoles, two handhelds, a media center, and a smartphone, as well as an online service and multiple magazines. The brand is produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment, a divisi ...
console. It is a series of platform games that follow Spyro the Dragon as he progresses through a medieval-styled world. The dragon can glide, charge and exhale fire. The original trilogy has collectively sold 8,000,000 copies.
The series continued after Insomniac ceased developing further ''Spyro'' games. Universal Studios outsourced the game development via Universal Interactive; two subseries, ''The Legend of Spyro'' and ''Skylanders'', were then developed. Activision Blizzard is now the owner of the franchise.
''Ratchet & Clank'' (2002–present)
''Ratchet & Clank'' is a series of action-adventure games with platform elements. Players mostly take control of Ratchet as he progresses through various planets in order to save the galaxy. Clank is playable in several segments of these games. The series is divided into two parts; the original series for the
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October 2000, in Europe on 24 November 2000, and in Australia on 3 ...
(''
Ratchet & Clank
''Ratchet & Clank'' is a series of action platformer and third-person shooter video games. The franchise was created and developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for PlayStation consoles, such as PlayStation 2 ...
'' (2002), ''Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando, Going Commando'' (2003), ''Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal, Up Your Arsenal'' (2004) and ''
Ratchet: Deadlocked'' (2005) and the ''Future'' series for the
PlayStation 3
The PlayStation 3 (PS3) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. The successor to the PlayStation 2, it is part of the PlayStation brand of consoles. It was first released on Novemb ...
(''Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, Tools of Destruction'' (2007), ''
Quest for Booty'' (2008), ''
A Crack in Time'' (2009) and ''Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus, Into the Nexus'' (2013).
The first three titles in the series were remastered and packaged in the ''Ratchet & Clank Collection'' for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita, with ''
Ratchet & Clank
''Ratchet & Clank'' is a series of action platformer and third-person shooter video games. The franchise was created and developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for PlayStation consoles, such as PlayStation 2 ...
'' (2016) being the latest release on the
PlayStation 4
The PlayStation 4 (PS4) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 3 in February 2013, it was launched on November 15, 2013, in North America, November 29, 2013 in ...
.
A Ratchet & Clank (film), ''Ratchet & Clank'' animated film, with screenplay and additional marketing by Insomniac, was released in 2016 as well, to coincide with the release of the video game remake. After the announcement that Sony acquired Insomniac Games,
SIE Worldwide Studios
PlayStation Studios (formerly SCE Worldwide Studios and SIE Worldwide Studios) is a division of Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) that oversees the video game development at the studios owned by SIE. The division was established as SCE Worl ...
boss Shawn Layden stated that the ''Ratchet & Clank'' series will be a vital series for them in the future. The next game in development, ''
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart'', was first revealed at the PS5 Future of Gaming event on June 11, 2020 as a
PlayStation 5
The PlayStation 5 (PS5) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 4 in April 2019, it was launched on November 12, 2020, in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, North Ame ...
exclusive, and the game was released on June 11, 2021.
''Resistance'' (2006–2011)
''Resistance'' is a series of first-person shooter games set circa 1950 in an alternate history. An alien race called the Chimera have invaded and conquered Earth, and has turned humans into monstrous supersoldiers. Players play as Nathan Hale in ''
Resistance: Fall of Man'' (2006) and ''
Resistance 2
''Resistance 2'' is a 2008 science fiction
Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, ...
'' (2008), and as Joseph Capelli in ''
Resistance 3
''Resistance 3'' is a 2011 science fiction post-apocalyptic first-person shooter developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3. ''Resistance 3'' is the final installment in the ''Resistance'' tril ...
'' (2011). All three games were released for the PlayStation 3 system. The series includes the handheld games ''Resistance: Retribution'', developed by Bend Studio for the PlayStation Portable, and ''Resistance: Burning Skies'', developed by nStigate Games, Nihilistic Software for the PlayStation Vita.
''Marvel's Spider-Man'' game series (2018–present)
''Marvel's Spider-Man'' is a series of action-adventure games based on the comic book superhero Spider-Man. Players play as Peter Parker (Insomniac Games character), Peter Parker in ''Marvel's Spider-Man'' (2018), and as Miles Morales in ''Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales'' (2020). The studio released ''Spider-Man (2018 video game), Marvel's Spider-Man'' for the PlayStation 4 on September 7, 2018. The game received widespread positive acclaim from various critics. Since its release, the game has sold over 9 million physical and digital units worldwide by November 2018, increasing to 13.2 million copies by August 2019, making it one of the best-selling PlayStation 4 games. The game was remastered for the Ultimate Edition of ''Spider-Man: Miles Morales'' as ''Spider-Man (2018 video game)#Spider-Man Remastered, Spider-Man Remastered'' for the PlayStation 5 in November 2020.
The remaster was also released as a standalone title for
Microsoft Windows
Windows is a group of several proprietary graphical operating system families developed and marketed by Microsoft. Each family caters to a certain sector of the computing industry. For example, Windows NT for consumers, Windows Server for serv ...
on August 12, 2022.
A standalone Spin-off (media), spin-off title in the series, ''Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales'' was first revealed at the 2020 PS5 Future of Gaming event on June 11, 2020. The title released for PlayStation 4 and
PlayStation 5
The PlayStation 5 (PS5) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 4 in April 2019, it was launched on November 12, 2020, in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, North Ame ...
. It was released starting November 12, 2020 alongside the release of the PlayStation 5. It was released for
Microsoft Windows
Windows is a group of several proprietary graphical operating system families developed and marketed by Microsoft. Each family caters to a certain sector of the computing industry. For example, Windows NT for consumers, Windows Server for serv ...
in fall 2022.
In September 2021, Insomniac announced a full sequel to ''Marvel's Spider-Man'' titled ''Spider-Man 2 (2023 video game), Marvel's Spider-Man 2'' (2023), and ''Wolverine (upcoming video game), Marvel's Wolverine'', a standalone game set in the same universe and based on the Marvel Comics Wolverine (character), character of the same name, both for PlayStation 5.
Other games
Other notable games developed by Insomniac include ''
Disruptor'' (1996), ''
Outernauts'' (2012), ''
Fuse
Fuse or FUSE may refer to:
Devices
* Fuse (electrical), a device used in electrical systems to protect against excessive current
** Fuse (automotive), a class of fuses for vehicles
* Fuse (hydraulic), a device used in hydraulic systems to protect ...
'' (2013) and ''
Sunset Overdrive
''Sunset Overdrive'' is an action-adventure shooter video game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Microsoft Studios. The game is set in 2027, in a fictional metropolis called Sunset City. The player controls an employee of FizzCo, who ...
'' (2014). The company has canceled several games, including ''Monster Knight'', ''Girl with a Stick'' for the PlayStation 2, and ''1080 Pinball'' — a pinball simulation downloadable game — which began development in 2007. Insomniac developed a game for Oculus Rift, named ''Edge of Nowhere'', which was released on June 6, 2016.
Related companies
The company has a close relationship with video game developer
Naughty Dog
Naughty Dog, LLC (formerly JAM Software, Inc.) is an American first-party video game developer based in Santa Monica, California. Founded by Andy Gavin and Jason Rubin in 1984, the studio was acquired by Sony Computer Entertainment in 2001. Gav ...
and they often share technology with each other.
Some employees left Insomniac Games to form High Impact Games, which later collaborated with Insomniac on ''Ratchet & Clank'' projects and ''Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier''. Nathan Fouts, an ex-Insomniac employee, founded his own studio and developed ''Weapon of Choice (video game), Weapon of Choice''. ''HuniePop'' was designed by Ryan Koons, who used to be an employee of Insomniac.
Accolades
''
IGN
''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...
'' named Insomniac Games the 20th best video game developer of all time. The
Society for Human Resource Management
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is a professional human resources membership association headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. SHRM promotes the role of HR as a profession and provides education, certification, and networking to ...
called it one of the best places to work in America.
It was listed in 2016 by ''Fortune (magazine), Fortune'' as the 69th best place to work for Millennials.
References
External links
*
{{authority control
Insomniac Games,
American companies established in 1994
Video game companies of the United States
Video game companies based in California
Video game development companies
Companies based in Burbank, California
Video game companies established in 1994
1994 establishments in North Carolina
2019 mergers and acquisitions
First-party video game developers
PlayStation Studios