High Voltage Software
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | April 1, 1993 in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, United States |
| Founder | Kerry J. Ganofsky |
| Headquarters | Hoffman Estates , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Kerry J. Ganofsky (CEO) |
| Products | Video games, Quantum3 game engine |
Number of employees | 160 (2006) |
| Parent | Keywords Studios (since 2020) |
High Voltage Software, Inc. (commonly known as HVS) is a United States-based video game developer located in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. Established in April 1993 by entrepreneur Kerry J. Ganofsky, the studio is best known for titles like Lego Racers (1999), Hunter: The Reckoning (2002), and The Conduit (2009).
History
High Voltage Software originated with a small team of four employees working out of temporary office space in Hoffman Estates. By mid-2006, the workforce had grown substantially to 160 personnel, indicating rapid expansion. In 2008, to improve the quality of third-party Wii games, HVS created Quantum3, a custom-built game engine tailored specifically for the Wii’s hardware, which was utilized in several of their releases.
In December 2014, CEO Kerry J. Ganofsky revealed plans to establish a satellite branch in New Orleans’ Place St. Charles district to broaden the company’s international reach and capitalize on local expertise. This initiative generated 80 new positions and took advantage of various incentives such as a $150,000 performance grant, workforce development programs, and digital media tax credits. After evaluating alternatives including Georgia and Florida, New Orleans was selected due to its cultural compatibility and economic advantages.
In December 2020, Keywords Studios acquired High Voltage Software in a transaction valued at $23.75 million in cash plus $9.75 million in stock, with an additional $16.5 million contingent upon meeting performance benchmarks through 2021. This acquisition strengthened Keywords’ footprint in the industry and expanded HVS’s access to worldwide markets and resources.
The Grinder
During the late 2000s, High Voltage Software worked on The Grinder, a horror-themed shooter initially planned exclusively for the Wii. Due to disappointing sales of similar hardcore games on that platform, the Wii version was quietly phased out by 2010 without an official cancellation announcement. Versions targeting PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC were also under development but transitioned from first-person shooters to top-down shooters after failing to secure publisher interest amid a saturated market.
In a 2013 interview, HVS cited the industry's preference for established intellectual properties as a significant obstacle preventing The Grinder from being released. The company expressed hope that the next generation of consoles would create better opportunities for launching original IPs. Nevertheless, financial setbacks caused by The Grinder's difficult development process combined with poor sales of Conduit 2 led to the decision not to revisit this project.
Games developed
Canceled
- Thea Realm Fighters (Jaguar)
- Kid Vid Grid (Jaguar)
- Country Vid Grid (Jaguar)
- The Grinder (Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows)
- Paperboy (PlayStation)
External links
- Articles with short description
- Companies founded in Illinois in 1993
- Mergers and acquisitions completed in 2020
- American firms founded in 1993
- U.S. subsidiaries owned by international corporations
- Corporations located in Cook County, Illinois
- Businesses in Hoffman Estates, Illinois
- Keywords Studios
- Illinois-based video game companies
- Video game firms established in 1993
- Video game development studios
- Video game publishing companies
- 5
- American companies established in 1993
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment