History
In 2004, Digital Bros created a publishing label entitled 505 GameStreet that would release mainly budget-priced video games in Europe and Australia, mainly those taken from D3Publisher's Simple series.[2]
In 2006, 505 GameStreet was reestablished as a standalone subsidiary entitled 505 Games, based in Milan.[3] The company found its early success through its video games such as Cooking Mama and Zumba Fitness.[4]
In April 2012, 505 Games took over publishing duties from THQ for the fitness game Adidas MiCoach, following a lawsuit between THQ and Adidas.[5] In April 2013, it acquired the license of Drawn To Life series. The purchase included rights to the franchise as a whole.[6] In November 2013, it canceled Ashes Cricket 2013 and issued refunds.[7] In April 2014, 505 Games announced a publishing agreement with Adam Orth's Three One Zero of the game Adrift. The game is described as a first-person experience, where the player controls an astronaut exploring debris of a wrecked station in outer space.[8] In January 2015, 505 Games confirmed the acquisition of the intellectual property (IP) rights to the multi-award-winning Game of the Year 2013,[9] Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons from Starbreeze Studios.[10] In April 2015, 505 Games announced a publishing agreement with Swedish game developer Starbreeze for the game Overkill's The Walking Dead, which released in late 2018.[11] A month later, 505 Games announced a publishing agreement with game developer Overkill Software for the game Payday 2 Crimewave Edition.[12] In August 2016, 505 Games announced it would be publishing Virginia from Variable State.[13]
In March 2015, 505 Games purchased 2.67% stock of Swedish game developer Starbreeze Studios.[14] In January 2016, 505 Games announced that it will shift its focus from publishing games for other developers to developing its own intellectual properties.[15] In October 2016, 505 Games has announced through Koji Igarashi, its collaboration in publishing Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night from Igarashi's own ArtPlay, DICO and Inti Creates, though Inti's involvement has been reduced.[16] At the Sony E3 press conference on 11 June 2018, 505 Games announced a partnership with Remedy Entertainment to publish Control.[17]
505 Games acquired Australia-based Infinity Plus Two, the developers of the Puzzle Quest games in January 2021.[18]
505 Games worked with Rabbit and Bear Studios to publish Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, a spiritual successor to the Suikoden series. The partnership was announced February 2021.[19]
On 27 June 2022 D3 Go! was acquired by 505 Games. The acquisition also included the intellectual property of the Puzzle Quest games.[20][21]
In November 2023, 505 Games parent company Digital Bros announced plans to lay off about 30% of its global workforce—around 130 employees.[22] Job cuts continued into 2024, when 505 Games closed offices in Germany, Spain, and France.[23][24]
In February 2024, 505 Games sold the IP rights to Control back to developer Remedy Entertainment for €17 million.[25]
