Gearbox Software
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | February 16, 1999 in Frisco, Texas, United States |
| Founder | Randy Pitchford, Brian Martel, Stephen Bahl, Landon Montgomery, Rob Heironimus |
| Headquarters | Frisco, Texas , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Randy Pitchford (Founder and CEO), Steve Jones (President), Dan Hewitt (Chief Communications Officer) |
| Products | Video games, including Brothers in Arms series, Borderlands series, expansions for Half-Life, Duke Nukem and Homeworld IPs |
Number of employees | 1300 (2022) |
| Parent | 2K (Take-Two Interactive) |
Gearbox Software, L.L.C. is a United States-based video game developer located in Frisco, Texas. Established in February 1999 by five ex-Rebel Boat Rocker employees, including founder and CEO Randy Pitchford, the company initially concentrated on creating expansions for Valve's Half-Life and adapting games for console platforms. In 2005, Gearbox introduced its first original series, Brothers in Arms, which later expanded into multiple media formats such as comics, documentaries, books, and merchandise. Its second flagship franchise, Borderlands, launched in 2009 and achieved sales exceeding 26 million units by 2015. Additionally, Gearbox holds the rights to the Duke Nukem and Homeworld intellectual properties.
The company ventured into publishing with the creation of Gearbox Publishing in 2015. To manage both development and publishing operations, The Gearbox Entertainment Company was established as the parent entity in 2019. In April 2021, Embracer Group acquired Gearbox Entertainment, making it their seventh primary label. Later that year, Gearbox Studios was founded to focus on television and film adaptations. After a restructuring prompted by an unsuccessful investment, Embracer announced intentions to sell Gearbox to Take-Two Interactive, which had previously published many of Gearbox’s games through its 2K division. The acquisition by Take-Two was finalized on June 12, 2024.
By 2022, Gearbox had grown to roughly 1,300 employees and reported $184 million in revenue. Its subsidiaries include Gearbox Studio Montreal and Gearbox Studio Québec. Leadership figures feature President Steve Jones and Chief Communications Officer Dan Hewitt.
Founding and early development (1999–2008)
Gearbox Software was established on February 16, 1999, by Randy Pitchford, Brian Martel, Stephen Bahl, Landon Montgomery, and Rob Heironimus, all formerly part of Rebel Boat Rocker. Pitchford and Martel brought experience from 3D Realms, while Montgomery had worked at Bethesda Softworks. By the year 2000, the team had expanded to include 15 employees.
The company initially specialized in creating expansions and porting Valve's Half-Life. Through this work, Gearbox developed expertise in console adaptation by converting Half-Life and its expansions—such as Opposing Force, Blue Shift, and Counter-Strike: Condition Zero—for systems like PlayStation 2 and Sega Dreamcast. Their portfolio grew with porting assignments for publishers including Activision and Microsoft Game Studios; notable projects included Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 and Halo: Combat Evolved. They also produced the James Bond title James Bond 007: Nightfire for Electronic Arts.
In 2005, Gearbox debuted its own franchise with Brothers in Arms, launching Road to Hill 30 on Xbox, PC, and PlayStation 2. Subsequent sequels were released in 2005 and 2008. By 2007, the company had announced new projects based on licensed movie properties like Heat and the Aliens series; however, development of the Heat game was halted following the dissolution of a key partner. That same year marked Gearbox’s entry into rhythm games with Sega’s announcement of a new iteration of Samba de Amigo for the Wii console—a notable shift from their usual focus on first-person shooters.
Borderlands and Company Growth (2009–2015)
The creation of the original intellectual property Borderlands commenced around 2005 and was publicly revealed in 2007. Randy Pitchford characterized the game as a fusion of computer role-playing elements seen in titles like Diablo combined with first-person shooter mechanics reminiscent of Duke Nukem. Notable aspects included its unique cel-shaded art direction and a procedurally generated loot system capable of producing millions of distinct weapons and equipment. Released by 2K, a division of Take-Two Interactive, Borderlands debuted in October 2009. By August 2011, sales had surpassed 4.5 million units, representing a major commercial triumph that allowed Gearbox to broaden its studio operations and allocate larger budgets for upcoming projects.
The franchise progressed with sequels such as Borderlands 2 (2012) and Borderlands 3 (2019), along with the spin-off title Tiny Tina's Wonderlands (2022). The series also expanded through licensed games developed by other studios, including Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel by 2K Australia and Tales from the Borderlands from Telltale Games. Moreover, Gearbox collaborated with Take-Two and Lionsgate to produce a live-action adaptation of Borderlands, which premiered on August 9, 2024.
In July 2013, Gearbox announced plans to create high-definition remasters of Homeworld and Homeworld 2, tailored for contemporary PC platforms and aimed at digital distribution.
CEO Randy Pitchford publicly challenged the financial repercussions attributed to the Aliens: Colonial Marines class action lawsuit in July 2014, asserting that the primary losses stemmed from the publisher’s marketing expenditures rather than Gearbox’s development costs.
In December 2015, Gearbox extended its international presence by inaugurating a second development studio in Quebec City, Canada. Under the leadership of Sebastien Caisse alongside former Activision art director Pierre-Andre Dery, this facility employs over 100 professionals dedicated to creating original AAA projects.
Organizational Changes and Embracer Group Acquisition (2015–2024)
Gearbox launched Gearbox Publishing in 2015 to diversify beyond development, debuting with the remastered version of Bulletstorm developed by People Can Fly. Co-founder Randy Pitchford sought to broaden the company’s business scope and enhance capital growth opportunities. By May 2019, The Gearbox Entertainment Company, Inc. was established as the overarching entity managing both development and publishing divisions.
Co-founder Landon Montgomery, who departed in 2007, passed away in March 2020.
In April 2021, Embracer Group acquired Gearbox Entertainment for an initial $363 million, with potential earn-outs reaching $1.378 billion contingent on performance targets. This acquisition made Gearbox Embracer’s seventh major publishing group. Pitchford emphasized Embracer’s decentralized studio structure as strategically advantageous. Despite this change in ownership, 2K retained representation on Gearbox’s board and continued to publish the Borderlands titles.
Gearbox further expanded globally by opening Gearbox Studio Montreal in August 2021, adding approximately 250 employees and increasing total staff to around 850. In October of that year, Gearbox Studios was created under the parent company to manage television and film ventures, with Pitchford appointed president. Former CTO Steve Jones assumed the role of president at Gearbox Software.
In December 2021, Embracer integrated Perfect World Entertainment into Gearbox Entertainment; by April 2022, it was rebranded as Gearbox Publishing San Francisco to streamline publishing functions.
April 2022 saw Gearbox acquire Lost Boys Interactive, co-developers of Tiny Tina's Wonderlands. Later that year, they purchased the rights to Risk of Rain and absorbed Volition following the underwhelming performance of its Saint's Row reboot; Volition was subsequently closed amid Embracer’s corporate restructuring. Additionally, Eidos Shanghai was transferred to Gearbox Publishing and renamed Gearbox Studio Shanghai.
In January 2023, Gearbox acquired Captured Dimensions, a Texas-based company specializing in 3D modeling. However, later that month significant layoffs impacted Lost Boys Interactive, with WARN filings indicating termination of 125 employees.
This timeframe highlights Gearbox’s strategic expansion via acquisitions and internal restructuring within Embracer Group’s framework, strengthening its market position while diversifying its portfolio across various entertainment sectors.
Take-Two Interactive Acquisition (2024–present)
On March 28, 2024, Take-Two Interactive revealed its purchase of Gearbox Entertainment along with its associated intellectual properties from Embracer Group for $460 million, subsequently placing the company under the 2K brand. The agreement encompassed Gearbox Software, its affiliated satellite studios, and Gearbox Publishing. However, Embracer retained ownership of Gearbox San Francisco, Gearbox Shanghai, Lost Boys Interactive, Captured Dimensions, Cryptic Studios, and publishing rights to games such as Remnant and Hyper Light Breaker. Shortly following the announcement, layoffs impacted an undisclosed number of Gearbox employees. The acquisition was officially completed on June 12, 2024.
Company Organization
After the acquisition, The Gearbox Entertainment Company functions as a studio within 2K. Gearbox Software continues to base its headquarters in Frisco, Texas, with additional locations in Montréal and Québec. While Gearbox Publishing was integrated into 2K, Embracer retained several assets including Lost Boys Interactive and the San Francisco publishing division—now rebranded as Arc Games.
- The Gearbox Entertainment Company
- Gearbox Properties
- Gearbox Software
- Gearbox Studio Montréal
- Gearbox Studio Québec
- Gearbox Studios
Half-Life Series
Gearbox developed six titles within the Half-Life franchise, which includes expansion packs such as Opposing Force and Blue Shift. They also handled ports for Dreamcast and PlayStation 2 that featured Half-Life: Decay, along with substantial contributions to the retail versions of Counter-Strike and the core content of Counter-Strike: Condition Zero.
Brothers in Arms Franchise
The first game independently owned by Gearbox was Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30, launched in March 2005 for PC and Xbox utilizing Unreal Engine 2. Its sequel, Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood, arrived seven months later. Both titles were published by Ubisoft and supported by PlayStation 2 ports, handheld adaptations, and a Wii version.
In 2005, Gearbox acquired a license for Unreal Engine 3 from Epic Games to enhance their technology platform and broaden their development teams. Their subsequent major release, Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway, debuted in September 2008. By this time, the series had grown to include comics, a television documentary, collectible figures, and books that expanded its market reach.
Borderlands Franchise
Following the release of Earned in Blood, Gearbox created its second original IP titled Borderlands. Conceived by founder Randy Pitchford as a blend of roguelike mechanics and action RPG elements within a first-person shooter framework, the game features procedural generation yielding more than 15 million weapon variants alongside a unique comic book-inspired visual style.
Launched in 2009, Borderlands surpassed expectations commercially with sales ranging between three to four million copies by 2011. This success paved the way for several sequels—Borderlands 2 (2012), Borderlands 3 (2019), and the forthcoming Borderlands 4—as well as a prequel titled Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel (2015) and the spinoff Tiny Tina's Wonderlands (2023). The franchise also expanded through two interactive narrative games: Tales from the Borderlands (2014) and New Tales from the Borderlands (2022). A film adaptation named Borderlands was released in 2024.
Duke Nukem series
Prior to 2000, Duke Nukem Forever underwent a prolonged and difficult development phase at 3D Realms. In 2009, financial difficulties compelled 3D Realms to reduce its workforce significantly, which prompted Take-Two Interactive to initiate legal action for failure to deliver the completed game.
Randy Pitchford, CEO of Gearbox, utilized his industry network to negotiate with Take-Two, facilitating the transfer of former 3D Realms developers into Triptych Games—a new studio established within Gearbox’s headquarters—to finalize Duke Nukem Forever. Early in 2010, 3D Realms transferred ownership of the rights and existing assets for the game to Gearbox. By September that year, Gearbox declared its intention to complete the project.
When released in June 2011, Duke Nukem Forever was met with largely negative reviews due to its seemingly unfinished quality; however, it still achieved commercial success and generated profit.
In June 2013, 3D Realms filed a lawsuit against Gearbox over allegedly unpaid royalties but withdrew the claim by September, attributing it to a misunderstanding. Subsequently, Interceptor Entertainment acquired a partial stake in 3D Realms and announced plans for a new Duke Nukem installment. This led Gearbox to sue to assert its exclusive franchise rights. The conflict was resolved in August 2015, affirming Gearbox’s full ownership of the series.
Following this resolution, Gearbox launched Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary Edition World Tour in October 2016, which included new levels co-developed with original creators, re-recorded voice acting by Jon St. John, and a soundtrack composed by Lee Jackson.
Aliens: Colonial Marines
Aliens: Colonial Marines represented Gearbox’s initial venture into licensed film-based titles in 2007. Developed under license from 20th Century Fox and published by Sega, the game was designed as a first-person shooter featuring both single-player and multiplayer experiences. Players assumed control of human squads combating xenomorphs within environments inspired by the film franchise. However, during development, Gearbox shifted focus towards Borderlands and Duke Nukem Forever, reallocating personnel away from Aliens while still receiving full payments from Sega. This mismanagement led to layoffs in 2008 after Sega and 2K discovered the issue.
After the critical acclaim of Borderlands in 2009, Gearbox prioritized work on its sequel rather than redirecting resources back to Aliens, outsourcing significant portions of development to external studios including Demiurge Studios, Nerve Software, and TimeGate Studios. By 2012, Gearbox resumed direct oversight as the February 2013 release approached but faced difficulties stemming from the fragmented development process. The accelerated final phase resulted in cancellation of a planned beta test and culminated in a product afflicted by performance problems and a prominent AI bug that reduced gameplay difficulty—a defect later identified as originating from a typographical error in configuration files.
Due to poor reception, Sega canceled planned releases for the Wii U. In April 2013, a class action lawsuit accused Gearbox and Sega of false advertising based on promotional demos that did not accurately represent the final game. Sega settled with plaintiffs for $1.25 million in late 2014; Gearbox was removed from the lawsuit in 2015.
This case highlights the complexities involved in managing outsourced production and internal resource distribution, which adversely affected Gearbox’s reputation and financial outcomes regarding licensed titles.
Battleborn
Launched in May 2016, Battleborn combined cooperative first-person shooter gameplay with multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) features, set within a space fantasy setting. Players selected from a variety of heroes, enhancing their skills through mission rewards and advancing via a "Helix tree" progression system. Although it received favorable critical reviews, Battleborn debuted shortly before Blizzard Entertainment’s Overwatch, which rapidly captured the market's attention. The title transitioned to a free-to-play format in June 2017 but was eventually discontinued in January 2021.
Homeworld series
Gearbox expanded its portfolio by acquiring the Homeworld intellectual property from THQ in 2013. This acquisition culminated in the 2015 release of the Homeworld Remastered Collection, which offered high-definition remasters of the original games optimized for current hardware. Collaborating with Blackbird Interactive, Gearbox licensed the IP for Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak, a prequel released in January 2016 that explored the series’ backstory.
On August 30, 2019, Gearbox revealed plans for Homeworld 3, developed by Blackbird Interactive and partially funded through a Fig crowdfunding initiative. The game was officially released on May 13, 2024, underscoring Gearbox’s dedication to reviving this iconic franchise and broadening its footprint in the real-time strategy genre.
Other media
A feature film adaptation of Borderlands, co-produced by Gearbox and Lionsgate and directed by Eli Roth, premiered in 2024.
In April 2020, Gearbox announced it was developing a television series based on its Brothers in Arms franchise.
Technology
In 2006, Gearbox formed partnerships with Dell and Intel to upgrade its development infrastructure. By June 2007, the company had acquired a Moven motion capture system utilizing non-optical inertial technology to complement its existing Vicon optical setup, positioning it among the few independent studios with dual in-house motion capture systems.
In February 2008, Gearbox secured a license for NaturalMotion’s Morpheme software to enhance its animation capabilities.
Games developed
| Year | Title | Platform(s) | Publisher(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Half-Life: Opposing Force | Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows | Sierra Studios |
| 2001 | Half-Life: Blue Shift | ||
| Half-Life | PlayStation 2 (port) | ||
| Half-Life: Decay | PlayStation 2 | ||
| 2002 | Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 | Microsoft Windows (port) | Activision O2 |
| James Bond 007: Nightfire | Microsoft Windows | EA Games | |
| 2003 | Halo: Combat Evolved | Microsoft Windows (port) | Microsoft Game Studios |
| 2005 | Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 | macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox | Ubisoft |
| Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood | macOS, Microsoft Windows, mobile, PlayStation 2, Wii, Xbox | ||
| 2006 | Brothers in Arms: D-Day | PlayStation Portable | |
| 2007 | Brothers in Arms DS | Nintendo DS | |
| 2008 | Samba de Amigo | Wii (port) | Sega |
| Brothers in Arms: Double Time | macOS, Wii | Ubisoft | |
| Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | ||
| 2009 | Borderlands | macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | 2K |
| 2011 | Duke Nukem Forever | ||
| 2012 | Borderlands 2 | Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360 | 2K |
| Borderlands Legends | iOS | ||
| 2013 | Aliens: Colonial Marines | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | Sega |
| 2014 | Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel! | Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | 2K |
| 2015 | |||
|
macOS, Microsoft Windows |
Gearbox Software, Aspyr | ||
|
Battleborn (video game)|Battleborn |
Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
2K | |
|
Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Tour |
Gearbox Publishing | ||
|
Penn & Teller VR: F U, U, U, & U |
Microsoft Windows, PlayStation VR, Oculus Quest |
Gearbox Publishing | |
|
Borderlands 3 |
Microsoft Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S |
2K | |
|
Tiny Tina's Wonderlands |
Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S |
2K | |
|
New Tales from the Borderlands |
Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S |
2K | |
|
Risk of Rain 2: Seekers of the Storm |
Microsoft Windows |
Gearbox Publishing | |
|
Borderlands 4 (upcoming) |
Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S |
2K |
Gearbox Publishing
| Year | Title | Platform(s) | Developer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak | macOS, Windows | Blackbird Interactive |
| 2017 | Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition | Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | People Can Fly |
| Fortnite (physical edition) | Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | Epic Games | |
| Desert Bus VR | Windows | Dinosaur Games | |
| 2018 | Burnstar | Nintendo Switch | Nerve Software |
| Earthfall | Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch | Holospark | |
| We Happy Few | Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | Compulsion Games | |
| 2019 | Trover Saves the Universe | Squanch Games | |
| 2020 | Risk of Rain 2 | Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Stadia | Hopoo Games |
| Godfall | Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | Counterplay Games | |
| 2021 | Tribes of Midgard | Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | Norsfell Games |
| 2022 | Eyes in the Dark: The Curious Case of One Victoria Bloom | Windows | Under The Stairs |
| 2023 | Blanc | Windows, Nintendo Switch | Casus Ludi |
| Risk of Rain Returns | Windows, Nintendo Switch | Hopoo Games | |
| Relic Hunters Legend | Windows | Rogue Snail | |
| 2024 | Homeworld 3 | Windows | Blackbird Interactive |
| RKGK / Rakugaki | Windows | Wabisabi Games |