Gearbox Software

Gearbox Software, L.L.C.
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryVideo games
FoundedFebruary 16, 1999 (1999-02-16)
Founders
Headquarters,
US
Key people
Products
RevenueSteady US$184 million[3] (2022)
Owner
Number of employees
1,300[4][needs update] (2022)
ParentThe Gearbox Entertainment Company
Subsidiaries
  • Gearbox Studio Montreal
  • Gearbox Studio Québec
Websitegearboxsoftware.com

Gearbox Software, L.L.C[5] is an American video game development company based in Frisco, Texas. It was established as a limited liability company in February 1999 by five developers formerly of Rebel Boat Rocker. Randy Pitchford, one of the founders, serves as president and chief executive officer. Gearbox initially created expansions for the Valve game Half-Life, then ported that game and others to console platforms. In 2005, Gearbox launched its first independent set of games, Brothers in Arms, on console and mobile devices. It became their flagship franchise and spun off a comic book series, television documentary, books, and action figures. Their second original game series, Borderlands, commenced in 2009, and by 2015 had sold over 26 million copies. The company also owns the intellectual property of Duke Nukem and Homeworld.

Gearbox expanded into publishing with the creation of Gearbox Publishing in 2015. A parent company, The Gearbox Entertainment Company, was established for Gearbox Software and Gearbox Publishing in 2019. Gearbox Entertainment was acquired by the Embracer Group in April 2021, becoming its seventh major label. A third division, Gearbox Studios, focusing on television and film productions, was established in October 2021. Due to major restructuring following a failed investment, Embracer announced plans to divest Gearbox to Take-Two Interactive, who had previously published several of Gearbox's games under its 2K label, in March 2024. Take-Two Interactive closed the Gearbox Software acquisition on June 12, 2024.[6][7]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference ign oct21 reorg was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Sinclair, Brendan (September 23, 2019). "Gearbox names Dan Hewitt its chief communications officer". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  3. ^ "Embracer Annual Report & Sustainability Report 2021-2022" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on July 8, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference gearbox lostboys was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Gearbox Software, L.L.C. :: Texas (US) :: OpenCorporates". OpenCorporates. February 16, 1999. Archived from the original on May 27, 2024. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  6. ^ Carcasole, David (June 12, 2024). "Take-Two Now Officially Owns Gearbox Entertainment As Acquisition Closes". PlayStation Universe. Archived from the original on June 12, 2024. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  7. ^ "Gearbox is officially out from under Embracer Group". www.gamedeveloper.com. Archived from the original on June 12, 2024. Retrieved June 12, 2024.

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