Relic Entertainment is a Canadian video game developer based in Vancouver and founded in June 1997 by Alex Garden and Luke Moloney.[1] After its debut title Homeworld (1999), the company developed two more games, Impossible Creatures (2003) and Homeworld 2 (2003), and signed a contract with publisher THQ for an additional two games.[2] Before either game was released, however, Relic was bought by THQ in May 2004 for US$10.2 million in cash;[3] the company was renamed THQ Canada, with "Relic Entertainment" used as a marketing brand by the studio.[4] THQ published the next five games by the company. A few months after being purchased, Relic released its first licensed title, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War (2004). It released two more original titles in 2006, The Outfit and Company of Heroes, before transitioning to focus on further titles and expansion packs in the Warhammer 40,000 and Company of Heroes franchises.

In December 2012, THQ declared bankruptcy and began selling off its properties and subsidiary companies; THQ Canada was auctioned to Sega in January 2013, for US$26.6 million, along with the rights to the Company of Heroes franchise.[5][6][7] The studio was then renamed back to Relic Entertainment.[6][8] Since joining Sega, Relic has released one more title in the Warhammer franchise and two more titles in the Company of Heroes franchise, all published by Sega, as well as Age of Empires IV.

Games

List of games
Title Details
Homeworld

Original release date:
September 28, 1999[9] 		Release years by system:
1999 – Windows[9]
2015 – macOS (Homeworld Remastered)[10]
Notes:
Impossible Creatures

Original release date:
January 7, 2003[13] 		Release years by system:
2003 – Windows[13]
Notes:
Homeworld 2

Original release date:
September 16, 2003[16] 		Release years by system:
2003 – Windows[16]
2004 – macOS[16]
Notes:
  • Real-time strategy game
  • Published by Sierra Studios[16]
  • Part of the Homeworld series
  • Remastered versions of the game and Homeworld released as Homeworld Remastered Collection (2015) by Gearbox Software[12]
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War

Original release date:
September 20, 2004[17] 		Release years by system:
2004 – Windows[17]
Notes:
The Outfit

Original release date:
March 13, 2006[21] 		Release years by system:
2006 – Xbox 360[21]
Notes:
Company of Heroes

Original release date:
September 12, 2006[22] 		Release years by system:
2006 – Windows[22]
2007 – Mobile phones[23]
2012 – macOS[24]
Notes:
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II

Original release date:
February 19, 2009[28] 		Release years by system:
2009 – Windows[28]
2016 – macOS, Linux[29]
Notes:
  • Tactical role-playing game
  • Published by THQ[28]
  • Part of the Warhammer 40,000 series
  • Two standalone expansion packs published by THQ: Chaos Rising (2010) and Retribution (2011), as well as smaller downloadable add-ons[30][31]
  • Original game and expansion packs included in Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II Master Collection (2011), and with additional add-ons in Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II Grand Master Collection (2011)[32][33]
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine

Original release date:
September 6, 2011[34] 		Release years by system:
2011 – Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360[34]
Notes:
  • Third-person shooter
  • Published by THQ[34]
  • Part of the Warhammer 40,000 series
Company of Heroes 2

Original release date:
June 25, 2013[35] 		Release years by system:
2013 – Windows[35]
2015 – macOS, Linux[36]
Notes:
  • Real-time strategy game
  • Published by Sega[35]
  • Part of the Company of Heroes series
  • Three expansion packs published by Sega: The Western Front Armies (2014), Ardennes Assault (2014) and The British Forces (2015)[37][38][39]
  • Original game and expansions included in Company of Heroes 2: Master Collection[40]
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III

Original release date:
April 27, 2017[41] 		Release years by system:
2017 – Windows, macOS, Linux[41][42]
Notes:
  • Real-time strategy game
  • Published by Sega[41]
  • Part of the Warhammer 40,000 series
Age of Empires IV

Original release date:
October 28, 2021[43][44] 		Release years by system:
2021 – Windows[43]
2023 – Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S[45][46]
Notes:
Company of Heroes 3

Original release date:
February 23, 2023[48][49] 		Release years by system:
2023 – Windows,[48][49] PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S[50]
Notes:
  • Real-time strategy game
  • Published by Sega[49]
  • Part of the Company of Heroes series

Cancelled

Title Details
Company of Heroes Online

Cancellation date:
March 31, 2011[51] 		Proposed system release:
N/A
Notes:
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

Cancellation date:
January 22, 2013[52] 		Proposed system release:
N/A
Notes:
  • Part of the Warhammer 40,000 series
  • Planned sequel to Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine[52]
  • Project cancelled before development officially started when THQ sold Relic and abandoned rights to the Warhammer 40,000 franchise[52]
  • The name was reused a decade later for a new project, developed by Saber Interactive and published by Focus Entertainment in 2023

References

  1. ^ "Relic Entertainment Celebrates 15th Anniversary". Gamasutra. UBM. 2012-06-01. Archived from the original on 2016-10-10. Retrieved 2016-10-03.
  2. ^ "THQ, Relic Announce Publishing Agreement". Gamasutra. UBM. 2003-04-28. Retrieved 2019-01-30.
  3. ^ "THQ Inc SEC Filing". THQ. 2004-08-09. Archived from the original on 2019-02-06. Retrieved 2019-02-05.
  4. ^ "Notice of Sega's Acquisition of Relic Entertainment and Some IPs Owned by THQ Inc" (Press release). Sega. 2013-01-24. Archived from the original on 2013-04-20. Retrieved 2019-01-30 – via Business Wire.
  5. ^ Matulef, Jeffrey (2013-01-24). "THQ is no more. This is where its assets went". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 2017-10-29. Retrieved 2019-01-30.
  6. ^ a b "Notice of SEGA's Acquisition of Relic Entertainment and some IPs owned by THQ Inc" (PDF). Sega Sammy Holdings. 2013-01-25. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2013-06-29. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
  7. ^ Lien, Tracy (2013-01-24). "Sega purchased THQ's Relic Entertainment to 'reinforce PC game development capabilities'". Polygon. Archived from the original on 2013-01-27. Retrieved 2013-01-24.
  8. ^ Alabaster, Jay (2013-01-25). "Sega acquires game developer Relic from THQ auction". CIO. International Data Group. Archived from the original on 2019-02-06. Retrieved 2013-02-05.
  9. ^ a b c "Homeworld". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2016-04-14. Retrieved 2019-01-23.
  10. ^ "Homeworld Remastered Collection Gets Mac App Store Release". Aspyr Media. 2015-08-15. Archived from the original on 2016-10-13. Retrieved 2016-10-07.
  11. ^ Chin, Elliott (2000-09-15). "Homeworld: Cataclysm Review". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on 2016-04-22. Retrieved 2016-10-07.
  12. ^ a b McElroy, Griffin (2015-01-25). "Homeworld Remastered Collection launching Feb. 25 with original games, multiplayer beta". Polygon. Vox Media. Archived from the original on 2017-02-07. Retrieved 2016-10-07.
  13. ^ a b c "Impossible Creatures". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2015-03-27. Retrieved 2019-01-23.
  14. ^ "Impossible Creatures Bonus Animals". IGN. Ziff Davis. 2003-05-03. Archived from the original on 2019-01-25. Retrieved 2019-01-23.
  15. ^ "Download New Insects, Birds, Animals, and Maps – Free!". Microsoft Game Studios. 2004-03-24. Archived from the original on 2008-03-09. Retrieved 2019-01-23.
  16. ^ a b c d "Homeworld 2". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2015-02-28. Retrieved 2019-01-29.
  17. ^ a b c "Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2019-01-25. Retrieved 2019-01-23.
  18. ^ "Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War -- Winter Assault". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2019-01-25. Retrieved 2019-01-23.
  19. ^ "Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War -- Dark Crusade". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2019-01-25. Retrieved 2019-01-23.
  20. ^ Rossignol, Jim (2008-03-18). "Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Soulstorm". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 2019-01-25. Retrieved 2019-01-23.
  21. ^ a b c "The Outfit". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2019-01-29. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
  22. ^ a b c "Company of Heroes". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2015-12-29. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
  23. ^ a b "Company of Heroes". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2015-12-01. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
  24. ^ a b Joseph, Cliff (2012-04-18). "Company Of Heroes Complete: Campaign Edition". Macworld. Mac Publishing. Archived from the original on 2019-01-29. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
  25. ^ "Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2019-01-29. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
  26. ^ "Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2019-01-29. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
  27. ^ "Company of Heroes". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Archived from the original on 2017-12-10. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
  28. ^ a b c "Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2019-01-29. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
  29. ^ Chaffin, Bryan (2016-09-30). "Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II Hits Mac and Linux". The Mac Observer. Archived from the original on 2019-01-29. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
  30. ^ "Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II -- Chaos Rising". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2019-01-29. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
  31. ^ "Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II -- Retribution". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2019-01-29. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
  32. ^ "Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 2 Master Collection". Amazon.com. Archived from the original on 2015-03-23. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
  33. ^ "Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 2 Grand Master Collection". Amazon.com. Archived from the original on 2016-04-04. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
  34. ^ a b c "Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2016-06-19. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
  35. ^ a b c "Company of Heroes 2". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2019-01-29. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
  36. ^ "Mac and Linux ready their armies: Company of Heroes 2 arrives August 27". Feral Interactive. 2015-08-18. Archived from the original on 2019-01-29. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
  37. ^ "Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2019-01-29. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
  38. ^ "Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2019-01-29. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
  39. ^ "Company of Heroes 2: The British Forces". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2019-01-29. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
  40. ^ "Company of Heroes 2: Master Collection". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
  41. ^ a b c "Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2018-02-14. Retrieved 2019-01-29.
  42. ^ "Step into the grimdark far future… Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III released for macOS and Linux". Feral Interactive. 2017-06-08. Archived from the original on 2018-10-01. Retrieved 2019-01-29.
  43. ^ a b "Age of Empires IV - Gameplay Trailer". Age of Empires. Microsoft Game Studios. 2021-04-10. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
  44. ^ "Age of Empires 4 releases this October". Eurogamer. 2021-06-13. Retrieved 2021-08-23.
  45. ^ Romano, Sal (October 25, 2022). "Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition coming to Xbox Series and Xbox One on January 31, 2023; Age of Empires IV in 2023". Gematsu. Archived from the original on October 25, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  46. ^ Spear, Rebecca (August 22, 2023). "Age of Empires 4 for Xbox is available today on Game Pass". Windows Central. Archived from the original on August 22, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  47. ^ Roberts, Samuel (2019-02-08). "Age of Empires 4: everything we know". PC Gamer. Future. Retrieved 2019-02-18.
  48. ^ a b "Company Of Heroes 3 Announced". Kotaku. July 13, 2021. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  49. ^ a b c Bonthuys, Darryn (October 4, 2022). "Company Of Heroes 3 Delayed To February 23, 2023". GameSpot.
  50. ^ Bonthuys, Darryn (April 13, 2023). "Company Of Heroes 3 Is Deploying Onto PS5 And Xbox Series X|S". GameSpot. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  51. ^ a b Senior, Tom (2011-02-02). "Company of Heroes Online closing down". PC Gamer. Future. Archived from the original on 2019-01-30. Retrieved 2019-01-29.
  52. ^ a b c Dobra, Andrei (2013-10-21). "Canceled Warhammer: Space Marine 2 and 3 Get Detailed by Game Director". Softpedia. SoftNews NET. Archived from the original on 2017-10-24. Retrieved 2019-01-29.

External links

Relic Entertainment (list of games)
Categories