Vivox
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications, Voice over IP |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Founder | Jeff Pulver |
| Headquarters | Framingham, Massachusetts , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Owner | Unity Technologies |
Vivox Inc. is an American communication firm that specializes in delivering integrated voice chat and Instant Messaging (IM) solutions tailored for online gaming, virtual environments, and digital social platforms. Its headquarters are located in Framingham, Massachusetts, and it functions as a subsidiary under the ownership of Unity.
History
Established in 2005 by entrepreneur Jeff Pulver, Vivox initially secured $6 million in venture funding from Canaan Partners and GrandBanks Capital. In 2007, the company completed a Series B financing round totaling $7.8 million, led by Benchmark Capital, which also resulted in former JAMDAT Mobile CEO Mitch Lasky joining Vivox’s board to enhance its strategic direction.
By 2010, Vivox had raised an additional $6.8 million through a Series C round spearheaded by IDG Ventures. This round included continued investment from previous backers and introduced IDG managing director Phil Sanderson as a new board member. These capital injections supported Vivox’s expansion within the competitive voice-over-IP (VoIP) and gaming communication sector.
On January 29, 2019, Unity completed its acquisition of Vivox, incorporating its voice and text communication technologies into Unity’s worldwide operations to bolster communication capabilities for game developers and broaden Unity’s product offerings.
Major announcements
On May 10, 2006, Vivox formed a partnership with CCP Games to embed real-time voice communication within EVE Online, allowing players to converse and establish audio conference channels for groups and alliances.
On February 27, 2007, Vivox announced a collaboration with Linden Lab to integrate voice communication features into the Second Life Grid, utilizing spatial audio technology licensed from DiamondWare Technologies.
During the 2008 Game Developers Conference, Vivox disclosed a partnership with Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) to integrate voice chat across SOE’s current and future titles, including the Station Launcher platform. SOE games featuring Vivox Voice include EverQuest, APB, EverQuest 2, Star Wars Galaxies, and Planetside 2.
On May 13, 2008, Vivox partnered with NCsoft to introduce voice communication capabilities to its gaming community. Later that year, on September 16, Vivox was chosen to provide voice technology for the upcoming MMO developed by 38 Studios.
On March 24, 2009, Vivox announced it would deliver voice services along with spatial 3D audio technology for Real Time Worlds’ MMO title, APB.
Vivox also supplied its software for Fortnite Battle Royale on the Nintendo Switch, enabling native in-game voice chat functionality without requiring the Nintendo Switch Online companion app and facilitating cross-platform communication. In February 2019, Vivox introduced an SDK for Switch voice chat to extend this feature set to additional games.
Controversy
The Linux community criticized Vivox after the company reportedly advised game developers to discontinue Linux support rather than modify their software accordingly. A developer from Alderon Games, working on Path of Titans, was reportedly encouraged by Vivox to consider removing Linux support due to its limited user base and absence of compatible solutions.
Online Games and Virtual Environments
Vivox's voice communication technology is embedded within a wide range of online games and virtual worlds, facilitating enhanced in-game voice interaction. Notable active integrations comprise:
Arc Client |Active | Alliance of Valiant Arms, Metro Conflict |Pending | APB: All Points Bulletin |Early Access | League of Legends, Valorant |Active | Runes of Magic |Active | Foxhole |Active | Ready or Not |Active | Rainbow Six Siege |Active | World of Tanks, World of Warships |World of Tanks since version 0.7.5; both Active | Dungeons & Dragons Insider |Pending | The Elder Scrolls Online |Active |Some games have discontinued their use of Vivox, including zOMG!, IMVU, Combat Arms, and MechWarrior Online. Several other projects remain under development or are awaiting deployment.
Middleware Platforms
Vivox's communication platform is compatible with a variety of middleware products, strengthening its foothold in the sectors of online gaming and virtual environments.
| Company | Product |
|---|---|
| BigWorld Technology | BigWorld Technology Suite |
| Icarus Studios | Icarus Developer Tools Suite |
| Monumental Games | Monumental Technology Suite |
| Multiverse Network | Multiverse Platform |
| Simutronics | HeroEngine |
C3 - Command, Control, Communicate
C3 is an independent voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) application developed for gamers to interact through text and voice within channels that accommodate up to 100 participants. Focused on the MMO gaming community, C3 enhances group coordination and fosters community engagement, aligning with Vivox's commitment to delivering engaging multiplayer experiences.[1]