Uber Entertainment
| File:Star Theory Games.svg | |
| Formerly | Uber Entertainment Inc. (2008–2019) |
|---|---|
| Company type | Private |
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | March 2008 |
| Founders |
|
| Defunct | March 4, 2020 |
| Fate | Dissolved |
| Headquarters | , US |
Key people | |
| Products | |
Number of employees | 30 (2019) |
| Website | startheory |
Star Theory Games, initially known as Uber Entertainment Inc., was a video game developer based in Bellevue, Washington, United States. Established in March 2008 by Bob Berry and Jonathan Mavor, who took on the roles of president and chief technology officer respectively, the studio debuted with the well-received title Monday Night Combat in 2010. The company rebranded as Star Theory Games in 2019, concentrating efforts on developing Kerbal Space Program 2 under the publishing arm Private Division, a subsidiary of Take-Two. However, after Private Division terminated their agreement and created an internal development team named Intercept Games—recruiting numerous Star Theory employees in late 2019—the studio struggled to find new publishing partnerships and ultimately dissolved in March 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
History
Uber Entertainment was launched in March 2008 by entrepreneurs Bob Berry and Jonathan Mavor in Bellevue, Washington. Their leadership helped position the company within the competitive landscape of the video game sector.
In September 2012, Uber Entertainment successfully crowdfunded its real-time strategy project Planetary Annihilation via Kickstarter, securing over $2.2 million. Although initially planned for release in December 2013, the launch was deferred to early 2014 to ensure a more polished and feature-complete product.
On March 31, 2014, Uber Entertainment separated PlayFab to independently advance its UberNet backend gaming service. This strategic spin-off culminated in Microsoft acquiring PlayFab in January 2018, integrating it into Microsoft Azure to bolster cloud gaming services.
Uber Entertainment initiated another Kickstarter campaign in October 2014 for the game Human Resources, aiming to raise $1.4 million; however, the project was canceled due to inadequate financial support projections.
In August 2015, the company expanded its portfolio with the release of Planetary Annihilation: Titans, a standalone expansion pack.
By August 2018, Planetary Annihilation Inc. was formed to oversee ongoing development and publishing responsibilities for the Planetary Annihilation franchise.
At Gamescom 2019, Uber Entertainment announced its rebranding as Star Theory Games along with a collaboration with Private Division to develop Kerbal Space Program 2. This move was designed to capitalize on Star Theory’s development capabilities while building upon original creator Squad’s work following Take-Two’s acquisition of the series rights in 2017.
In early 2020, Take-Two established Intercept Games within Private Division to assume control of Kerbal Space Program 2’’ development, recruiting key Star Theory personnel including creative director Nate Simpson and studio head Jeremy Ables. Industry sources indicate Take-Two attempted to acquire Star Theory outright but negotiations faltered due to terms unfavorable to founders Berry and Mavor. Subsequently, Take-Two extended offers to Star Theory staff for positions at Intercept Games; approximately one-third accepted before the contract was withdrawn. Remaining team members intended to showcase new projects at the March 2020 Game Developers Conference; however, pandemic-related cancellations disrupted these plans. Facing financial challenges and unable to secure further investment, Star Theory Games ceased operations on March 4, 2020. Several former employees later joined various Take-Two subsidiaries.
This series of events illustrates the difficulties independent studios encounter when navigating publisher relationships and highlights the strategic vulnerabilities tied to contract reliance and unforeseen market disruptions within global business contexts.
Games developed
| Year | Title | Platform(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Monday Night Combat | Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360 | |
| 2012 | Super Monday Night Combat | Microsoft Windows | |
| 2013 | Outland Games | iOS | |
| 2013 | Toy Rush | iOS, Android | Developed in partnership with Tilting Point |
| 2014 | Planetary Annihilation | Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows | |
| 2015 | Planetary Annihilation: Titans | Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows | Independent expansion of Planetary Annihilation |
| 2016 | Wayward Sky | PlayStation 4 | Designed specifically for PlayStation VR |
| 2017 | Dino Frontier | PlayStation 4 | Created for PlayStation VR platform |
| 2023 | Kerbal Space Program 2 | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | Development duties reassigned to Intercept Games in 2020 |