Psyonix
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Founder | Dave Hagewood |
| Headquarters | San Diego , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Dave Hagewood (founder) |
| Products | Video games, including Rocket League |
Number of employees | 132 (2019) |
| Parent | Epic Games |
Psyonix LLC is a United States-based video game developer located in San Diego. Established in 2000 by Dave Hagewood, the company originated from his earlier Internet venture, WebSite Machines. After shelving initial projects, Psyonix created VehicleMOD, a modification that introduced vehicles into Unreal Tournament 2003. This caught the attention of Epic Games, who commissioned Psyonix to transform it into a game mode for Unreal Tournament 2004. While sustaining itself through contract assignments, Psyonix launched its debut original game, Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars, in 2008. Although it achieved only moderate success, Hagewood preserved the concept and directed a small team to develop a sequel alongside ongoing contract work. This follow-up, Rocket League (2015), became commercially successful. Epic Games acquired Psyonix in May 2019.
Origins and VehicleMOD (2000–2003)
Dave Hagewood, originally from Charlotte and programming since childhood, founded Psyonix in 2000 as his team shifted focus from web hosting to game development. Prior to this, he ran WebSite Machines in Satellite Beach, Florida, investing heavily in online ventures before concentrating on gaming. The company’s name reflects an interest in intellect and mental abilities.
Early efforts by Psyonix included Proteus, a vehicular combat game halted due to engine limitations, and Vampire Hunter: The Dark Prophecy, an action title that exceeded its financial scope. Refocusing their efforts, the team created VehicleMOD, which integrated vehicles into Unreal Tournament 2003. This mod attracted Epic Games’ interest; after showcasing a prototype at the 2003 Game Developers Conference, Epic engaged Psyonix to develop it into the Onslaught mode for Unreal Tournament 2004. To facilitate closer collaboration with Epic, Hagewood moved Psyonix to Raleigh, North Carolina in 2003, with relocation expenses covered by Epic. Around this period, he exited the web hosting industry.
Contract projects and initial original titles (2003–2013)
Operating out of Raleigh, Psyonix was primarily led by founder Hagewood and supported by interns from nearby academic institutions. To maintain financial stability, the company undertook contract work for Epic Games, contributing to games such as Gears of War and Unreal Tournament III, utilizing their Unreal Engine expertise. Aiming to concentrate on proprietary games, Hagewood relocated the team westward. In 2006, Psyonix developed Track Addict, a vehicle-based platformer inspired by extreme sports franchises like Tony Hawk's and SSX. Initially partnering with Microsoft for an Xbox release, the addition of a soccer ball element changed the game's direction and ended the partnership. The title was eventually released in 2008 on PlayStation 3 as Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars, intentionally given a lengthy name to attract attention. Concurrently, Psyonix produced Monster Madness: Grave Danger for PlayStation 3 under contract with SouthPeak Games.
Although Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars recouped its costs, its commercial performance was limited, leading Psyonix back to contract work. Nevertheless, Hagewood maintained a small core group focused on developing a sequel, retaining only a portion of the original 50 employees for this effort. In December 2009, all staff were relocated to larger offices within San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, placing the company within an active technology community. Subsequent contract engagements included tech demos like Whizzle for Unreal Development Kit and contributions to major titles such as Bulletstorm, Homefront, Mass Effect 3, and XCOM: Enemy Unknown. Expanding into mobile platforms, Psyonix released the shooter ARC Squadron for iOS in November 2012 and followed with an enhanced version titled ARC Squadron: Redux for iOS and Android in October 2013.
Rocket League and Epic Games acquisition (2013–present)
Psyonix initiated development of the follow-up to Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars in 2013, operating with a budget below . Launched in July 2015 on Windows and PlayStation 4, Rocket League swiftly amplified Psyonix’s earnings by a factor of 100, generating within its first year. By the end of 2016, the company had grown to 70 staff members and moved into a larger office located in San Diego’s 1 Columbia Place building. Founder Hagewood contributed to the local technology ecosystem by investing in startups such as Zesty.io. Psyonix maintained support for Rocket League through continuous content updates and collaborated with Twitch to establish the official esports competition known as the Rocket League Championship Series. In April 2018, the studio developed a prototype for a mobile adaptation, which was later titled Rocket League Sideswipe.
On May 1, 2019, Epic Games acquired Psyonix under undisclosed conditions; at that time, the studio employed 132 people and continued to develop content for Rocket League. Post-acquisition, Hagewood acquired the superyacht named Galaxy and expressed intentions to invest in space tourism ventures. Epic Games launched Rocket League Sideswipe on Android and iOS platforms in November 2021 and incorporated Psyonix’s Rocket Racing mode into Fortnite in December 2023.
Games developed
| Year | Title | Platform(s) | Publisher(s) | Notes | Template:Refh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Monster Madness: Grave Danger | PlayStation 3 | SouthPeak Games | Remastered version of Monster Madness: Battle for Suburbia | Template:Centered |
| Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars | PlayStation 3 | Psyonix | Template:Centered | ||
| 2009 | Whizzle | Windows | Technology demonstration using Unreal Development Kit | Template:Centered | |
| 2012 | ARC Squadron | iOS | Template:Centered | ||
| 2013 | ARC Squadron: Redux | Android, iOS | Enhanced edition of ARC Squadron | Template:Centered | |
| 2015 | Rocket League | Linux, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One | Support discontinued for macOS and Linux as of March 2020 | Template:Centered | |
| 2021 | Rocket League Sideswipe | Android, iOS | Epic Games | Template:Centered | |
| 2023 | Rocket Racing | Android, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | Integrated into Fortnite | Template:Centered |
Additional projects
| Year | Title | Primary developer(s) | Template:Refh |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Unreal Tournament 2004 | Epic Games | rowspan="7" Template:Centred |
| 2006 | Gears of War | ||
| 2007 | Unreal Tournament III | ||
| 2011 | Bulletstorm | People Can Fly, Epic Games | |
| Homefront | Kaos Studios | ||
| 2012 | Mass Effect 3 | BioWare | |
| XCOM: Enemy Unknown | Firaxis Games |