View source for InXile Entertainment

{{Short description|American video game developer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2025}}
{{Lowercase title}}
{{Infobox company
| name = inXile Entertainment, Inc.
| logo = InXile Entertainment Logo.png
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| industry = [[Video game industry|Video games]]
| founded = {{Start date and age|2002|10|26}} in [[Newport Beach, California]], US
| founder = [[Brian Fargo]]
| hq_location_city = [[Tustin, California]]
| hq_location_country = US
| num_locations = 2 
| num_locations_year = 2024
| key_people = Brian Fargo {{nowrap|([[studio head]])}}
| products = ''[[Clockwork Revolution]]''
| parent = [[Xbox Game Studios]] (2018–present)
| num_employees = 70<ref name="eg ms acq">{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-11-19-inxile-acquired-by-microsoft-the-interview |title=InXile acquired by Microsoft: the interview |first=Robert |last=Purchese |date=November 19, 2018 |website=[[Eurogamer]]}}</ref>
| num_employees_year = 2018
| website = {{URL|https://www.inxile-entertainment.com/|inxile-entertainment.com}}
}}

'''inXile Entertainment, Inc.''' is an American [[video game developer]] and a studio of [[Xbox Game Studios]] based in [[Tustin, California]]. Specializing in [[role-playing video game]]s, inXile was founded in 2002 by [[Interplay Entertainment|Interplay]] co-founder [[Brian Fargo]]. The studio produced the [[fantasy]] games ''[[The Bard's Tale (2004 video game)|The Bard's Tale]]'' and ''[[Hunted: The Demon's Forge]]'', along with various games for [[Adobe Flash|Flash]] and [[iOS]] such as ''[[Fantastic Contraption (2008 video game)|Fantastic Contraption]]'' in its first decade of development. In 2014, inXile released the [[Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction|post-apocalyptic game]] ''[[Wasteland 2]]'', following a successful [[Kickstarter]] campaign. Following the game's critical success, the studio went on to raise a then-record US$4 million on Kickstarter to develop ''[[Torment: Tides of Numenera]]'', a [[spiritual successor]] to Interplay's ''[[Planescape: Torment]]''. The studio was purchased by Microsoft and became part of Xbox Game Studios in 2018, just as they were developing ''[[Wasteland 3]]'', which they released in 2020. The studio is currently developing ''[[Clockwork Revolution]]'' for [[Windows]] and [[Xbox Series X/S]].

== History ==
inXile Entertainment was founded on October 26, 2002,<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1055836056573145089|user=inXile|title=#HappyBirthday to us! Sixteen years...|date=October 26, 2018}}</ref> by [[Brian Fargo]] in [[Newport Beach, California]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Larino|last=Jennifer|url=https://www.nola.com/business/2018/11/microsoft-is-buying-video-game-developer-inxile-and-its-new-orleans-studio.html|title=Microsoft is buying video game developer inXile and its New Orleans studio|date=November 12, 2018|access-date=April 27, 2019}}</ref>

In an interview with [[Joystiq]], inXile's President Matthew Findley shared some of the company's history: "I worked with Brian Fargo at Interplay for a number of years and we both left Interplay at the same time. We knew we wanted to stay in video games, so starting a company seemed like a good idea -- he spent 20 years at Interplay and I was there for 13. When we were first out there, trying to figure out what to do next, we kinda felt like we were in [[exile]], and we made fake cards with a fake company name just to have a card to go to [[E3]] with. And before we ever thought of the name "inXile", Brian put as his job description on the cards: "Leader in exile." People got such a kick out of that card, we kept saying "in exile, in exile, in exile" so much that we just thought, "Why not make up a new word?" And so we did."<ref>{{cite web|last=Hinkle|first=David|title=What's in a Name: InXile Entertainment|url=https://www.engadget.com/2011/02/16/whats-in-a-name-inxile-entertainment/|website=[[Engadget]]|publisher=[[AOL]]|date=February 16, 2011|access-date=November 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219010140/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/16/whats-in-a-name-inxile-entertainment/ | archive-date=February 19, 2011}}</ref>

In May 2008, inXile announced the creation of SparkWorkz, an online business division with a focus on user-generated content, using their experience with ''Line Rider'' as base for the venture.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/05/07/inxile-entertainment-announces-sparkworkz-division|title=Inxile Entertainment Announces Sparkworz Division|date=May 7, 2008|access-date=April 27, 2019}}</ref> David Heeley, a former executive for [[Microsoft]], was hired to oversee the creation of the division.<ref>{{cite web|first=Matt|last=Martin|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/inxile-hires-former-microsoft-exec-for-new-division|title=inXile hires former Microsoft exec for new division|date=May 8, 2008|access-date=April 27, 2019}}</ref>

In April 2012, inXile launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund ''[[Wasteland 2]]'', the sequel to Interplay's ''[[Wasteland (video game)|Wasteland]]'', with most of the original team on board. The crowdfunding drive raised more than 300% of its initial goal of $900,000, ending at $2,933,252.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/inxile/wasteland-2/ |title=Wasteland 2 Kickstarter |publisher=Kickstarter |access-date=March 26, 2013}}</ref> In March 2013, inXile returned to Kickstarter to crowdfund ''[[Torment: Tides of Numenera]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/inxile/torment-tides-of-numenera |title=Torment: Tides of Numenera Kickstarter |publisher=Kickstarter |access-date=March 26, 2013}}</ref> The Kickstarter for ''Torment: Tides of Numenera'' broke the record of fastest Kickstart drive to $1 million, raising that amount in seven hours and two minutes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/122588-Torment-Tides-of-Numenera-Shatters-Kickstarter-Record |title=Torment: Tides of Numenera Shatters Kickstarter Record |publisher=The Escapist |access-date=March 26, 2013 |archive-date=December 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223054740/https://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/122588-Torment-Tides-of-Numenera-Shatters-Kickstarter-Record |url-status=dead }}</ref>

During a Kickstarter campaign for the game ''[[Wasteland 2]]'', Brian Fargo developed the Kicking it Forward program.<ref name="mashable1">{{cite web|author=Rob Lammle 7 |url=http://mashable.com/2012/04/15/retro-games-kickstarter/ |title=5 Retro Games Brought Back From the Dead By Kickstarter |publisher=Mashable.com |date=April 15, 2012 |access-date=April 29, 2012}}</ref> Under this program, inXile Entertainment pledged to use 5% of post-launch [[net profit]]s to back future Kickstarter projects.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fargo|first=Brian|url=http://kickingitforward.org/|title=inXile entertainment|publisher=Kicking It Forward|access-date=April 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130310225845/http://www.kickingitforward.org/|archive-date=March 10, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
In October 2015, inXile opened inXile New Orleans as a second studio based in [[New Orleans]].<ref name="Orleans">{{cite web|last=Makuch|first=Eddie|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/wasteland-2-dev-opening-new-orleans-office-will-pa/1100-6431622/|title=Wasteland 2 Dev Opening New Orleans Office, Will Pay $75,000 Salaries|website=[[GameSpot]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|date=October 22, 2015|access-date=November 20, 2016}}</ref> The Newport Beach office was moved to [[Tustin]] by January 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/job-listings-suggest-the-next-inxile-game-will-be-a-first-person-shooter-rpg/ |title=Job listings suggest the next inXile game will be a first-person shooter RPG |first=Jody |last=Macgregor |date=January 6, 2021 |website=[[PC Gamer]] |access-date=January 15, 2021}}</ref>

In November 2018, [[Microsoft Studios]] announced they were in the final stages of acquiring InXile, as well as [[Obsidian Entertainment]], another studio known for its role-playing games.<ref name="msacquisition_engadget">{{cite web |last1=Conditt |first1=Jessica |title=Microsoft Studios buys 'Fallout: New Vegas' house Obsidian and 'Wasteland 2' developer inXile Entertainment. |url=https://www.engadget.com/2018/11/10/microsoft-studios-fallout-new-vegas-wasteland-obsidian-inxile/ |website=Engadget |access-date=November 11, 2018}}</ref> According to Fargo, they were approached in April 2018 by Noah Musler, one of Microsoft's business development executives that had former ties to the studio, who suggested the possibility of acquisition. Fargo believed the acquisition was beneficial for the studio, as at the time, they were in the "uncanny valley" between more independent game development and [[AAA (video game industry)|high-budget AAA games]] where there was a significant difference in expectations on quality and pricing of the game. Microsoft's support would help them make games that are closer to AAA games and better compete in the current state of the industry.<ref name="eg ms acq"/>

In June 2023, inXile unveiled their new game ''Clockwork Revolution'' during the Xbox Games Showcase 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhattacharyya |first=Kushal |date=June 12, 2023 |title=Clockwork Revolution by creators of Fallout and Wasteland revealed: expected release date, gameplay, and more |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/esports/clockwork-revolution-creator-fallout-wasteland-revealed-expected-release-date-gameplay |access-date=July 17, 2023 |website=www.sportskeeda.com |language=en-us}}</ref>

== Games developed ==
{| class="wikitable sortable" width="100%"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Platform(s)
|-
| 2004
| ''[[The Bard's Tale (2004 video game)|The Bard's Tale]]''
| [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[BlackBerry PlayBook]], [[Classic Mac OS]], [[iOS]], [[Linux]], [[Microsoft Windows]], [[Ouya]], [[PlayStation 2]], [[PlayStation 4]], [[PlayStation Vita]], [[Xbox]], [[Xbox One]], [[Nintendo Switch]]
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2008
| ''[[Fantastic Contraption (2008 video game)|Fantastic Contraption]]''
| [[Adobe Flash]], iOS, [[Wii]]
|-
| ''[[Line Rider 2: Unbound]]''
| iOS, Microsoft Windows, [[Nintendo DS]], Wii
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2009
| ''Super Stacker''
| rowspan="3" | Adobe Flash, iOS
|-
| ''Super Stacker 2''
|-
| ''Shape Shape''
|-
| 2010
| ''Super Stacker Party''
| [[PlayStation Network]]
|-
| 2011
| ''[[Hunted: The Demon's Forge]]''
| Microsoft Windows, [[PlayStation 3]], [[Xbox 360]]
|-
| 2012
| ''[[Choplifter HD]]''
| Microsoft Windows, Ouya, PlayStation Network, [[Xbox Live Arcade]]
|-
| 2014
| ''[[Wasteland 2]]''
| Linux, [[macOS]], Microsoft Windows, [[Nintendo Switch]], [[PlayStation 4]], [[Xbox One]]
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2017
| ''[[Torment: Tides of Numenera]]''
| Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
|-
| ''[[The Mage's Tale]]''
| Microsoft Windows
|-
| 2018
| ''The Impossible Quiz!''
| App Store
|-
| 2018
| ''[[The Bard's Tale IV: Barrows Deep]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-05-18-inxile-reveals-the-bards-tale-4-kickstarter|title=Brian Fargo's vision for The Bard's Tale 4. Kickstarter launches next month. First "promo screen" released|work=[[Eurogamer]]|publisher=Gamer Network Ltd.|date=May 18, 2015|access-date=May 18, 2015|first=Wesley|last=Yin-Poole}}</ref>
| Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2020
| ''[[Wasteland Remastered]]''
| Microsoft Windows, Xbox One
|-
| ''[[Wasteland 3]]''
| Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
|-
|''Frostpoint VR: Proving Grounds''
|Microsoft Windows
|-
|TBA
|''[[Clockwork Revolution]]''
|Microsoft Windows, [[Xbox Series X/S]]
|}

=== Cancelled games ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Title
!Platform(s)
|-
|''[[Heist (video game)|Heist]]''
|Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|https://www.inxile-entertainment.com/}}

{{inXile}}
{{Xbox Game Studios}}
{{Obsidian Entertainment}}
{{Bard's Tale series}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2002 establishments in California]]
[[Category:2018 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:American companies established in 2002]]
[[Category:Companies based in Newport Beach, California]]
[[Category:First-party video game developers]]
[[Category:Microsoft subsidiaries]]
[[Category:Video game companies based in Greater Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Video game companies established in 2002]]
[[Category:Video game development companies]]
[[Category:Xbox Game Studios]]