New World Interactive
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Founder | Andrew Spearin, Jeremy Blum |
| Headquarters | United States , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Keith Warner (CEO), Jeremy Blum (Strategic and Creative Advisor) |
| Products | Insurgency, Day of Infamy, Insurgency: Sandstorm |
| Parent | Saber Interactive (since 2020) |
New World Interactive LLC (NWI) is a United States-based video game developer established in 2010 by Andrew Spearin and Jeremy Blum. The firm specializes in creating multiplayer tactical shooter titles, notably Insurgency (2014), Day of Infamy (2017), and Insurgency: Sandstorm (2018). In 2020, NWI became part of Saber Interactive through acquisition.
History
Andrew Spearin, who served in the Canadian Army, initiated the creation of a total conversion mod for Valve's Source Engine in 2002, emphasizing authentic military combat inspired by his personal military background. By 2005, Jeremy Blum and additional developers joined the effort, culminating in the release of Insurgency: Modern Infantry Combat in 2007.
The year 2010 marked the founding of New World Interactive by Spearin and Blum. Their follow-up standalone title, Insurgency, debuted in 2014 to widespread critical praise. Building on this momentum, NWI developed Day of Infamy, a tactical shooter set during World War II, which began as an Insurgency mod in 2016 before becoming a separate release.
In 2018, NWI launched Insurgency: Sandstorm, their inaugural project utilizing Unreal Engine 4, which improved both visual fidelity and gameplay mechanics compared to earlier entries. Although versions for Xbox and PlayStation were initially planned, these console editions were postponed until 2021. The title was met with favorable critiques upon release.
To support growth, NWI established a new branch named New World North in Calgary, Alberta in 2019, recruiting seasoned professionals such as former BioWare Art Director Michael Grills and Head of Production Derek Czerkaski.
Leadership changes occurred in March 2020 when Keith Warner, previously President, assumed the role of CEO, while co-founder Jeremy Blum shifted to Strategic and Creative Advisor. Later that year, Saber Interactive acquired NWI, integrating it into the Embracer Group.
During Embracer Group’s organizational changes in December 2023, layoffs took place at NWI with affected employees reassigned to Saber Interactive positions; nonetheless, development persisted on Insurgency: Sandstorm alongside an undisclosed project.
In March 2024, ownership of Saber Interactive—including New World Interactive—transferred to Beacon Interactive, a company founded by Saber co-founder Matthew Karch.
Insurgency
Released in 2014, Insurgency is a tactical shooter set against a fictional Middle Eastern conflict featuring two factions: "Security" and "Insurgents". The game emphasizes minimal HUD elements, realistic weapon lethality, and eliminates standard respawn mechanics. Player loadouts are determined by character class and limited supply points that restrict available weapons and gear.
Development commenced in September 2011 with an early access phase beginning in 2013; the full version launched on Steam in January 2014. Within its first eight months, the title sold approximately 400,000 copies and had reached about 3.76 million sales by July 2017. It garnered Indie DB's Indie of the Year awards for both Editor's Choice and Player's Choice in 2014, highlighting its significant impact on the market and contributing to company growth.
Day of Infamy
Day of Infamy, released in 2017, is a tactical shooter portraying combat on WWII’s Western Front between Allied and Axis forces. Building upon the gameplay foundation of Insurgency, it introduced enhancements such as an updated fire support system, command functionalities, and customizable cosmetic options.
Originally launched as a Steam Workshop mod in 2016, it evolved into an independent game with early access starting in July 2016 and a full Steam release in March 2017. The title received positive feedback from players and critics alike, reinforcing NWI’s standing within the tactical shooter genre.
Insurgency: Sandstorm
Released in 2018, Insurgency: Sandstorm is a tactical shooter crafted by New World Interactive, representing the studio's inaugural project utilizing Unreal Engine 4 and its first entry on console platforms. Building upon the foundations laid by Insurgency and Day of Infamy, the title introduces improved gameplay features such as an upgraded fire support mechanism, extensive cosmetic customization, purchaseable outfits and weapon skins, as well as operable vehicles.
Development commenced in 2016 with intentions to include a campaign centered around the 2003 Iraq invasion and subsequent insurgency; however, this narrative component was ultimately scrapped prior to launch. The Windows edition was released on Steam in December 2018, whereas planned versions for MacOS and Linux were abandoned in 2019. Console editions for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 experienced delays but were eventually released in September 2021, coinciding with launches on Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5.
The title has been met with positive critical reception and continues to receive regular live service content updates through 2024, solidifying its standing within the tactical shooter genre and bolstering New World Interactive’s commercial success.
Unannounced IPs
In July 2019, New World Interactive advertised for an art director to work on a "new IP yet to be announced," with job descriptions suggesting development efforts on a looter shooter combined with cover-based shooting mechanics. As of 2024, no additional information or official announcements have surfaced, and the corresponding job listings have since been removed.