Maximum Entertainment

Maximum Entertainment AB, a publicly traded Swedish company, operates as a global entity in the video game sector, focusing on the development and publishing of indie to AA-tier games. The company's business model is vertically integrated, covering the entire value chain from game development and publishing to transmedia, sales, and operations. Revenue is generated through the sale of games on digital platforms like Steam, PlayStation Store, Nintendo eShop, and Xbox Games Store, as well as physical distribution.

The company's origins trace back to Zordix AB, founded in Umeå, Sweden, in 2008 by Matti Larsson. Larsson, who began developing games in the late 1970s and has a background in Computer Science, established Zordix to create high-quality console games after a lengthy career in the industry, including a role at the early publicly-listed company Daydream Software. A significant growth phase began with a series of strategic acquisitions. In 2021, Zordix acquired French distributor Just For Games, UK-based publisher Merge Games, and the US-based publisher Maximum Games for $42 million. The acquisition of Maximum Games was pivotal, leading to its founder, Christina Seelye, becoming the CEO of the Zordix group in early 2022, with Larsson transitioning to a role focused on innovation. Seelye founded Maximum Games in 2009, growing it into a top 20 global publisher. Her prior experience includes leadership roles at companies like McAfee and Avanquest Software. In 2018, she launched the Modus Games publishing label to provide AAA-level services to independent developers.

This strategic consolidation culminated in August 2023, when the parent company Zordix AB was renamed Maximum Entertainment AB to unify its diverse brands. The company's publishing labels, including Maximum Games, Modus Games, Merge Games, and Just For Games, were grouped under this new single identity. The development arm was also restructured into Modus Studios, incorporating teams from various acquisitions like Invictus Games (Hungary), Dimfrost (Sweden), FUN Labs (Romania), and Modus Studios Brazil. This M&A-driven strategy is a core part of the company's plan to strengthen its intellectual property portfolio and expand its market reach. The company has a stated goal of increasing the revenue share from its own IP to 30% by 2025.

As a publisher and developer, Maximum Entertainment's portfolio comprises over 300 titles. It serves a global market, releasing games for major consoles such as PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox, as well as for PC. The company manages both original content created by its internal studios and licensed partnerships with external developers and well-known franchises. Recent financial reports indicate the company is undergoing a period of strategic adjustment, including cost-cutting measures and a reduction in headcount, while navigating market challenges and continuing to explore options to stabilize its financial position. The company's recent activities also include the divestment of certain assets from its Merge Games subsidiary back to Merge's original founders to clear liabilities. Keywords: video game publisher, game development, AA games, indie games, PC games, console games, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam, Zordix, Matti Larsson, Maximum Games, Christina Seelye, Modus Games, Merge Games, Just For Games, transmedia, digital distribution, physical distribution, game publishing, video game franchises, Umeå, game developer, interactive entertainment, Modus Studios, Invictus Games, Dimfrost Studio