Fishlabs GmbH (formerly Fishlabs Entertainment GmbH and Deep Silver Fishlabs) is a German video game developer based in Hamburg. Founded in 2004 by Michael Schade and Christian Lohr, the studio is best known for its Galaxy on Fire series. Following a brief bankruptcy proceeding, Fishlabs was acquired by Koch Media and reorganized as part of their game publishing label Deep Silver.
History Michael Schade and Christian Lohr opened Fishlabs in 2004, incorporated under the name Fishlabs Entertainment GmbH. That same year, the company received a round of financing, which allowed them to pay for development expenses for several years while generating revenue from their releases. It developed advergames like Barclaycard's Waterslide Extreme. In May 2010, Fishlabs planned a series B round and announced its plans to move into the massively multiplayer online games market.
By mid-2013, Fishlabs had run out of money; in October, 25 jobs were cut before the company went into self-administration. On 2 December, media company Koch Media announced that it had acquired Fishlabs, which would henceforth operate as the dedicated mobile studio for its game publishing label, Deep Silver. As the agreement was an asset deal, all of Fishlabs' assets, including 52 employees, were transferred to Koch Media and incorporated in a new division, called Deep Silver Fishlabs. The company's former legal entity, Fishlabs Entertainment GmbH, was to be dissolved, and both founders left the company. Schade and Lohr left the company and founded Everspace developer Rockfish Games. As result of the change in ownership, and the associated financial stability, Fishlabs also moved into video game publishing.
In March 2022, Fishlabs received €5.5 million in funding from the German government for the company's Project Black. Described as a third-person action game, the project was expected to be completed by August 2026. By January 2023, the company employed 95 people. In September, Embracer Group, the parent company of Koch Media (now known as Plaion), underwent cost cutting restructuring. Project Black was cancelled and about 12 employees were laid off.
Fishlabs then pitched a new Red Faction game following the closure of series developer Volition. Despite initial positive reception, the title was cancelled in November 2023 and around 50 Fishlabs employees were laid off.
List of video games +YearTitlePlatform(s)2005Robot AllianceJ2ME,Symbian2005Speed SpiritJ2ME,Symbian2005Cloud CommanderJ2ME,Symbian2005Motoraver 3DJ2ME,Symbian2005Galaxy on FireiOS, Symbian, J2ME, Android, Zeebo2006Star Wars: Imperial AceJ2ME,Symbian2006Heli Strike: Advanced Air CombatJ2ME,Symbian2006Planet RidersJ2ME,Symbian2007DEEP: Submarine OdysseyJ2ME,Symbian2007Blades & MagicJ2ME,Symbian2008Powerboat ChallengeiOS, J2ME, Zeebo2008GladiatorJ2ME,Symbian2008Toy TanksJ2ME,Symbian2008Rally Master ProiOS, J2ME, Symbian, Zeebo2008Snowboard HeroiOS, Symbian, J2ME2009Burning TiresJ2ME,Symbian2009 Galaxy on Fire 2J2ME, Android, Macintosh, iOS, PC2013Galaxy on Fire: AlliancesiOS, Android2014Secret Files: Sam PetersSecret Files: Tunguska2015Galaxy on Fire: Manticore RisingTvOSLost HorizonAndroid, iOSSecret Files: Sam PetersAndroid2016Galaxy on Fire 3: ManticoreiOSSacred LegendsAndroid, iOSThe Interactive Adventures of Dog Mendonça & Pizza Boy2017Galaxy on Fire 3: ManticoreAndroidGalaxy on Fire: Alliances2018Dead Island: SurvivorsAndroid, iOSManticore: Galaxy on Fire iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch, TvOS2019Saints Row: The Third - The Full PackageNintendo Switch, Stadia2020Saints Row IV: Re-Elected2021 ChorusWindows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Stadia, Amazon Luna, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S2022Saints RowStadiaGoat Simulator 3PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Amazon Luna, Nintendo Switch 22023Dead Island 2Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, macOS, Amazon LunaValheimXbox One, Xbox Series X/S2024Goat Simulator: RemasteredWindows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S2025SatisfactoryPlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
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