Line #11 Creator/GearboxSoftware


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gearboxlogo_1644.png]]
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3	Gearbox Software is a Frisco, Texas-based video game developer, founded in 1999 by former Creator/ThreeDRealms employees Randy Pitchford, Brian Martel, Stephen Bahl, Landon Montgomery and Rob Heironimus.
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5	They got their start making {{Expansion Pack}}s and [[MediaNotes/SoftwarePorting ports]] for the ''VideoGame/HalfLife1'' series, which were generally regarded somewhere between SoOkayItsAverage and pretty good. They came into their own when they released ''VideoGame/BrothersInArms'' for the PC and Xbox, an original IP that managed to sell very well despite its lack of pedigree and very [[FacklerScaleOfFPSRealism realistic approach to the FPS genre]].
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7	After making a few sequels, they announced another IP they were working on - ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands}}''. After a lengthy preview in Game Informer, a last-minute art style shift, and good buzz all around, the game became an unexpected SleeperHit, managing to sell incredibly well despite being an unproven IP.
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9	Also, after 3D Realms went bankrupt, they purchased the ''VideoGame/DukeNukem'' franchise, and released ''VideoGame/DukeNukemForever'' to [[SoOkayItsAverage lukewarm critical response]] and [[SavedFromDevelopmentHell the sound of flying pigs]].
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11	[[http://www.gearboxsoftware.com/community/articles/1029/homeworld-acquisition-and-plans/ In late April 2013, they acquired the]] ''VideoGame/{{Homeworld}}'' franchise from shuttered video game publisher Creator/{{THQ}}. In a twist of irony, in 2021 Gearbox themselves were acquired by Embracer Group, who owned the rest of THQ's [=IPs=], then Embracer also bought Perfect World Entertainment which led to Creator/CrypticStudios' three {{MMORPG}}s becoming Gearbox co-productions (though a restructuring later moved them over to DECA Games). In November 2022, Gearbox acquired the rights to the ''VideoGame/RiskOfRain'' franchise from Hopoo Games.
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13	However, Gearbox's parent company, Embracer, ended up in $2 billion in debt after a deal fell through in 2023, leading to massive restructuring throughout the company and eventually being forced to sell Gearbox Entertainment to another company in order to pay it off. On March 28th, 2024, Creator/TakeTwoInteractive announced its intentions to buy Gearbox from Embracer for $460 million and would become a part of its 2K division as a result of the deal. The acquisition is expected to be finalized by June 2024 with Embracer retaining rights to several Gearbox studios and titles.
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15	Compare Creator/ZombieStudios, a similar American game developer that, like Gearbox Software, was an independent company that developed games for a multitude of major companies and used the Unreal Engine extensively.
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17	!!Games developed:
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19	* ''VideoGame/HalfLife1'' expansions
20	** ''[[VideoGame/HalfLifeOpposingForce Opposing Force]]''
21	** ''[[VideoGame/HalfLifeBlueShift Blue Shift]]''
22	** ''[[VideoGame/HalfLifeDecay Decay]]''
23	* ''VideoGame/HaloCombatEvolved'' (PC port)
24	** ''Halo Custom Edition''
25	* ''VideoGame/BrothersInArms'' series
26	** VideoGame/Furious4 (since split off into its own IP)
27	* ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands}}''
28	** ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands 2}}''
29	** ''Borderlands Legends'' (iOS game)
30	** ''Videogame/TalesFromTheBorderlands'' (with Creator/TelltaleGames)
31	** ''VideoGame/BorderlandsThePreSequel'' (Mainly developed by 2K Australia, with some assistance from Gearbox)
32	** ''VideoGame/Borderlands3''
33	** ''VideoGame/TinyTinasWonderlands''
34	** ''VideoGame/NewTalesFromTheBorderlands'' (with Creator/TelltaleGames)
35	* ''VideoGame/DukeNukemForever'' [[note]]Gearbox polished up and completed the singleplayer campaign, while other aspects such as multiplayer were developed by contracted studios[[/note]]
36	* ''VideoGame/AliensColonialMarines'' (''Timegate Studios'' was the principal single-player developer until Gearbox took over with the multiplayer being made by another studio.)
37	* ''VideoGame/{{Battleborn}}''
38	* ''Risk of Rain 2: Survivors of the Void''
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40	!!Games published:
41	* ''VideoGame/HomeworldDesertsOfKharak''
42	* ''VideoGame/WeHappyFew''
43	* ''VideoGame/RiskOfRain2''
44	* ''VideoGame/{{Godfall}}''
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46	!!Tropes that apply to the company:
47	* EverythingIsBigInTexas: Oddly averted - despite being headquartered in Texas, and being the minds behind the ''Borderlands'' series (which is, put lightly, GunPorn: The Game), with the second installment being the highest-selling game released by 2K Games, no one seems to mention the two facts together.
48	* ShoutOut: Common; ''ShoutOut/{{Borderlands}}'' and ''ShoutOut/{{Borderlands 2}}'' even have their own pages just for shout outs.
49	** Also note how Randy Pitchford acts in every interview (when asked which game he was most looking forward to playing, he immediately and unabashedly said ''VideoGame/NiNoKuni'')

Context Creator / GearboxSoftware