Oddworld Inhabitants

Oddworld Inhabitants Inc.
Company type	Private
Industry	Video games
Founded	1994; 32 years ago
Founder	Sherry McKenna, Lorne Lanning
Headquarters	San Luis Obispo, California, United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Sherry McKenna (co-founder), Lorne Lanning (co-founder)
Products	Oddworld series (including Abe's Oddysee, Abe's Exoddus, Munch's Oddysee, Stranger's Wrath, New 'n' Tasty!, Soulstorm)

Oddworld Inhabitants Inc. is a United States-based video game developer established in 1994 by industry veterans Sherry McKenna and Lorne Lanning, both with backgrounds in special effects and computer animation. The company gained recognition primarily through the Oddworld franchise, which unfolds on the imaginary world of Oddworld and showcases its indigenous species. The franchise debuted with Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee in 1997, followed by Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee in 2001, alongside standalone releases such as Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus (1998) and Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath (2005).

Following the release of Stranger's Wrath, Oddworld Inhabitants temporarily halted game production to explore film ventures, including the unreleased project Citizen Siege. Subsequently, the company reentered the gaming industry through a collaboration with UK developer Just Add Water, concentrating on remastering and expanding the Oddworld series. This partnership resulted in Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty! (2014), a revamped version of their original game, and later Oddworld: Soulstorm, which launched on April 6, 2021.

History

Lorne Lanning and Sherry McKenna founded Oddworld Inhabitants in 1994 after Lanning secured $3.5 million by leveraging his expertise in 3D technology. The company moved from Hollywood to San Luis Obispo, California, where it established its headquarters.

Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee (1997)

The inaugural release from Oddworld Inhabitants was Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee, a 2D side-scrolling platformer published by GT Interactive for PlayStation and PC platforms. The title achieved significant commercial success, selling approximately 3.5 million copies and generating about $180 million in revenue, while also receiving close to 30 industry accolades. The storyline centers on Abe, a mudokon enslaved by industrial glukkons at RuptureFarms, a meat-processing facility on Oddworld. To develop this game, the company created its proprietary A.L.I.V.E. (Aware Lifeforms in Virtual Entertainment) engine.

Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus (1998)

After the success of Abe's Oddysee, publisher GT Interactive urged Oddworld Inhabitants to deliver a sequel for PlayStation by the Christmas season of 1998. To meet this deadline, the studio postponed its originally intended second installment, Munch's Oddysee, opting instead to produce Abe's Exoddus utilizing the same game engine. This sequel introduced enhanced gameplay mechanics, a quicksave feature, improved cinematic sequences, and richer background details.

Released in 1998 for both PlayStation and PC, Abe's Exoddus continues the narrative from Oddysee, incorporating story elements that had been omitted previously due to time limitations. The plot focuses on Abe’s mission to dismantle mega factories manufacturing Soulstorm Brew—a beverage created from the bones of deceased mudokons—and to rescue 300 members of his species, further exploring his spiritual journey.

Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee (2001)

The third installment developed by the studio, Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee, was their first foray into 3D platform gaming, built using an upgraded version of the A.L.I.V.E engine known as A.L.I.V.E 2. Published exclusively by Microsoft Game Studios for the Xbox console, this title follows Abe as he assists Munch—a member of a nearly extinct species hunted for their eggs by Vykkers—to locate the last can of gabbiar eggs needed to revive his kind.

In October 2000, Microsoft acquired exclusive global publishing rights for four forthcoming Oddworld games, commencing with Munch's Oddysee. The choice to develop for Xbox arose after encountering challenges with PlayStation 2 development and capitalizing on Xbox’s advanced graphics capabilities that allowed for numerous characters and dynamic environments simultaneously.

The transition from 2D to 3D development posed significant obstacles for the team; although experienced with previous 2D Oddworld titles, many developers were new to 3D game creation. With just three months remaining before launch and recognizing project delays, additional programmers were hired to completely rewrite the game to ensure timely completion.

Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath (2005)

For their fourth installment, Oddworld Inhabitants created Stranger's Wrath, a first-person shooter situated within the Oddworld universe but notably excluding the studio's iconic character Abe. Initially named Oddworld Stranger: Wrath of the Wild, the game alternates between first-person and third-person viewpoints. Players take on the role of Stranger, the sole survivor of a vanished species known as the Steef.

Launched in January 2005 and published exclusively for Xbox by Electronic Arts, Stranger's Wrath garnered widespread critical praise yet failed to achieve commercial success, moving just 600,000 copies. Lorne Lanning, the studio’s founder, publicly criticized EA for undermining the title through insufficient marketing efforts.

Withdrawal from game development (2005–2009)

The problematic marketing experience with EA regarding Stranger's Wrath left Lorne Lanning disillusioned with the video game industry and skeptical about publisher-studio dynamics when intellectual property rights are not retained. Although EA proposed acquiring Oddworld Inhabitants, both Lanning and McKenna turned down the offer. Upon reviewing their publishing contract, Oddworld identified substantial unpaid royalties and issued EA an ultimatum: either settle the payments or return all company assets and intellectual properties. EA opted to relinquish these rights. Losing their publishing partner cut off essential funding for development, promotion, and distribution, forcing a halt to projects such as The Brutal Ballad of Fangus Klot.

In April 2005, Lanning declared that Oddworld Inhabitants would cease its internal game development operations to explore broader media opportunities like filmmaking. The company shuttered its in-house production and began seeking alternative business strategies beyond traditional publisher-developer models to finance IP development across various media platforms.

During this interval, Oddworld pursued a computer-generated feature film titled Citizen Siege, an online game called Wage Wars linked to the film’s narrative, and an HD machinima series. Revealed in 2006, Citizen Siege was set to be directed by Lanning with McKenna as executive producer and produced by Vanguard Films. This dark political sci-fi thriller unfolds in a universe distinct from Oddworld’s, portraying humans as collateralized assets for debt repayment. The story centers on a protagonist battling to reclaim his body parts repossessed by corporate entities.

Wage Wars was envisioned as an online promotional game accompanying Citizen Siege, planned for simultaneous release with the film. With an approved budget ranging from $40 to $60 million for an R-rated CG animated feature, the onset of the 2008 financial crisis heightened publishers’ risk aversion, causing the project to stall and placing all company endeavors on indefinite hold.

Simultaneously, Lanning co-established Xmobb alongside McKenna and Daniel Goldman in Emeryville, California. Xmobb aimed to deliver a social networking platform integrated with video and gaming functionalities. Despite patent applications filed under Oddmobb, Inc., Xmobb never achieved commercial launch and was discontinued by 2012.

Just Add Water collaboration (2009–2015)

In 2008, Gabe Newell, co-founder of Valve Corporation, reached out to Lanning and McKenna with the proposal to bring Abe's Oddysee and Abe's Exoddus to the Steam platform. By June 2009, they had a meeting with UK-based developer Just Add Water during the 2009 Game Developers Conference.

Just Add Water’s initial undertaking with Oddworld Inhabitants involved porting the 2005 title Stranger's Wrath to Steam in 2010. Later that year, in December, the Oddboxx compilation—featuring Abe's Oddysee, Abe's Exoddus, Munch's Oddysee, and Stranger's Wrath—was released for PC, although its North American launch faced delays due to publishing complications.

Following this, Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath HD, a high-definition remaster, was digitally launched for PlayStation 3 in December 2011, with subsequent releases for PC and PS Vita in 2012. Plans for an Xbox 360 edition were abandoned because of communication challenges with Microsoft. Mobile adaptations appeared in December 2014. Additionally, Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee HD was introduced on PS3 in December 2012 and later arrived on PS Vita in February 2014.

The first original game produced under this alliance was Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty!, a reimagined version of Abe's Oddysee. Publicly announced in January 2011, it debuted on PlayStation 4 in July 2014, followed by releases across PC, Xbox One, PS3, Wii U, and PS Vita platforms. Developed utilizing the Unity engine, it showcased refreshed 2.5D visuals.

In December 2015, Stewart Gilray declared that Just Add Water would cease involvement with Oddworld projects, without disclosing reasons for ending their cooperation.

Oddworld: Soulstorm production (2016–2021)

March 2016 saw Oddworld Inhabitants reveal the development of Oddworld: Soulstorm, managed by internal teams located in the UK and California alongside collaboration with Canadian studio Frima. Originally conceived as a remake of Abe's Exoddus, the project transformed into a reboot of the sequel featuring a darker narrative tone and new gameplay mechanics such as crafting.

Although initially planned for release in 2017, the launch date was postponed several times—to 2018, then 2019, and subsequently into 2020. A cinematic trailer premiered at the 2019 Game Developers Conference held in San Francisco. Eventually, the game was released on PlayStation 5, PS4, and PC in April 2021. An Enhanced Edition containing additional content followed in November, expanding availability to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles.

Games developed

Title	Year	Platforms	Developer	Publisher	Notes
Abe's Oddysee	1997	PlayStation, Windows (1997) PS3, PSP (2009), OnLive (2012)	Oddworld Inhabitants	GT Interactive	First Quintology installment.
Abe's Exoddus	1998	PlayStation, Windows (1998) PS3, PSP (2009), OnLive (2012)	Oddworld Inhabitants	GT Interactive	Sequel to Abe's Oddysee.
Oddworld Adventures	1998	Game Boy	Saffire	GT Interactive	Portable adaptation of Abe's Oddysee.
Oddworld Adventures 2	2000	Game Boy Color	Saffire	GT Interactive	Handheld version of Abe's Exoddus.
Munch's Oddysee	2001	Xbox (2001), Game Boy Advance (2003), Windows (2010), OnLive (2011), iOS, Android, Mac, Apple TV	Oddworld Inhabitants (Xbox, OnLive), ART Co. (Game Boy), Square One Games (Apple, Android)	Microsoft Game Studios (Xbox, OnLive), THQ Inc. (Game Boy), Oddworld Inhabitants (Apple, Android)	Second Quintology installment.
Stranger's Wrath	2005	Xbox (2005), iOS, Android (2014), Mac (2015), Apple TV (2017)	Oddworld Inhabitants, Square One Games (mobile)	Electronic Arts (Xbox), Oddworld Inhabitants (mobile)	First-person shooter combined with third-person platforming.
Stranger's Wrath HD	2010	Windows, PS3 (2011), PS Vita (2012), PS4, Xbox One (2022)	Just Add Water Ltd., Oddworld Inhabitants	Oddworld Inhabitants	High-definition remaster.
Munch's Oddysee HD	2012	PS3 (2012), PS Vita (2014), Mac (2016)	Just Add Water Ltd.	Oddworld Inhabitants	High-definition remaster.
New 'n' Tasty!	2014	PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Windows, OS X, Linux, PS Vita, Wii U, iOS, Android, Shield	Oddworld Inhabitants, Just Add Water Ltd.	Oddworld Inhabitants	Remake of Abe's Oddysee.
Soulstorm	2021	Windows, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S	Oddworld Inhabitants, Frima Studio, Fat Kraken Studios, Sabotage Studio	Oddworld Inhabitants	Reimagining of Abe's Exoddus.

The Brutal Ballad of Fangus Klot

Initially proposed as a follow-up to Stranger's Wrath, The Brutal Ballad of Fangus Klot was introduced as an independent game in April 2005. The storyline is set amid the wooded elevations of Fangustan and centers on Fangus, a shepherd who becomes Oddworld's defender against invading forces. The project was slated for release on Xbox in 2006, carried a Mature rating, and was to be published by Majesco Entertainment before being cancelled.

A FAQ released in May 2011 confirmed that Fangus Klot remains part of Oddworld Inhabitants' roadmap following The Hand Of Odd and Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty!. Stewart Gilray from Just Add Water mentioned that a playable Xbox version exists. Concept illustrations emerged in May 2013. In March 2014, Lorne Lanning disclosed he had been working on the game's design for a year and a half, adding that if New 'n' Tasty! reaches sales of 500,000 copies, Oddworld Inhabitants would proceed with funding Fangus.

Oddworld: Hand of Odd

Originating during the development of Munch's Oddysee, Hand of Odd was envisioned as an online, open-world real-time strategy title featuring multiplayer modes where players could control either the mudokons or the industrial Glukkons.

Due to changes in market trends, publishers became hesitant about RTS games, and the publisher backing Oddworld Inhabitants was acquired by a more conservative company, leading to the project's shelving. Nonetheless, its preproduction phase broadened the Oddworld lore for subsequent games. The title resurfaced when Just Add Water announced its development intentions and launched a website showcasing the original logo crafted by Oddworld Inhabitants.

SligStorm

Oddworld Inhabitants described a concept revolving around an albino slig nearly exterminated by his own species for his uniqueness. On May 9, 2011, the company affirmed in an FAQ that Sligstorm would be developed following "Abe HD" and "The Hand of Odd."

Oddworld: Squeek's Oddysee

As the third installment in the original Quintology, this game follows Squeek, who survives within a robotic life-support apparatus after his body parts were repossessed. Referenced as far back as 1997 and mentioned intermittently by Oddworld Inhabitants and Just Add Water over time, it was confirmed in 2011 that Squeek's Oddysee would be developed after Hand of Odd, Abe HD, The Brutal Ballad of Fangus Klot, and Sligstorm.

Oddworld: Munch's Exoddus

Originally intended as a supplementary title connected to Munch's Oddysee, akin to how Abe's Exoddus complemented Abe's Oddysee, this concept eventually transformed into what became Stranger's Wrath. It was to feature Munch journeying to "Ma'Spa" to incubate Gabbit eggs from the initial game. By 2013, Oddworld Inhabitants confirmed that it was not actively being developed and is generally considered to have evolved into Stranger's Wrath.

Oddworld: Slave Circus

Lorne Lanning disclosed intentions for Oddworld: Slave Circus, which is thought to be a reimagining of Wage Wars within the Oddworld setting.

Stranger's Wrath 2

The earliest indication of a sequel to Stranger's Wrath appeared on January 17, 2013, when Oddworld Inhabitants invited fans to vote on Just Add Water’s next development project—among the choices was Stranger 2. This endeavor ultimately morphed into what became known as The Brutal Ballad of Fangus Klot.

Stranger Arena

Stranger Arena is a competitive multiplayer title set within the Oddworld universe, drawing on gameplay elements from Stranger's Wrath. Players command multiple "Strangers" in either one-on-one duels or team-based skirmishes. The gameplay alternates between third-person and first-person views and incorporates real-time strategy components such as base construction. The underlying game engine was originally created for the Xbox platform.

Reception

Adventure Classic Gaming honored Lorne Lanning as "a legend in both the game and film industries."

The Oddworld franchise has accumulated over 100 industry accolades. In particular, Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee garnered upwards of 24 awards and received three nominations from the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences during 1997–1998.

In 1998, Oddworld Inhabitants submitted FMV sequences from Exoddus, titled Abe's Exoddus: The Movie, for consideration in the Animated Short category at the Oscars, although it did not achieve a win.

Scenes from Abe's Oddysee and Abe's Exoddus were incorporated into the 1998 music video "Get Freaky" by German electronic dance group Music Instructor. Likewise, footage from Munch's Oddysee combined with newly produced CGI appeared in the 2002 European music video "Use Yur Imagination."

In 2010, Game Informer included Oddworld in a list of ten franchises deemed worthy of revival, emphasizing the potential return of Abe.

Abe, Oddworld’s iconic character, was slated as downloadable content for PlayStation 3’s All-Stars Battle Royale but was ultimately cancelled.

Stewart Gilray’s crowdfunding assistance during the development of Thomas Was Alone resulted in a character being named after Abe from the Oddworld series.

Merchandise

At E3 1999, Lorne Lanning announced intentions to create a game centered on Oddworld-themed action figures called Oddwars, with all related assets preserved for potential future use.

On July 30, 2007, Michael Bross, who composed the soundtrack for Stranger's Wrath, released the official music album. In 2008, Oddworld Inhabitants collaborated with Ballistic Publishing to produce The Art of Oddworld Inhabitants: The First Ten Years 1994–2004, an art book featuring design sketches and in-game visuals from their early projects. This collection was available in four versions, including exclusive leather-bound and folio editions.

To support the launch of Stranger's Wrath HD in November 2011, Oddworld issued themed costumes for LittleBigPlanet 2 along with an XMB Dynamic Theme for PlayStation 3. Ahead of the remastered release, apparel company Insert Coin introduced t-shirts showcasing Stranger's Wrath artwork, complemented by Jonny Eveson’s Oddworld-inspired designs based on Abe's Exoddus. One design was successfully sold through Qwertee following a public vote.

In January 2016, after reaching 3,000 followers on Twitter, Oddworld teamed up with Limited Run Games to produce a physical edition of New 'n' Tasty! for PlayStation Vita. A limited physical release for PS4 followed in March that year. Another collaboration in October 2016 resulted in a collector’s physical edition of Stranger's Wrath HD for Vita, which shipped in December. A third partnership launched in February 2018 brought a physical PS Vita version of Munch's Oddysee HD, released later that month.

External links