MachineGames
Corporate brand
UnclaimedSwedish video-game studio best known for revitalizing the Wolfenstein first-person-shooter series and developing Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.
Last updated October 5, 2026
Overview
MachineGames is a Swedish video-game development studio headquartered in Uppsala. It was established in 2009 by former employees of Starbreeze Studios, the Swedish developer associated with titles such as The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay and The Darkness. The new studio was organized around an experienced group of developers who wanted to pursue original projects with greater creative control. Its early corporate history changed quickly: ZeniMax Media acquired MachineGames in 2010, bringing the studio into the same publishing family as Bethesda Softworks and id Software. Following Microsoft's acquisition of ZeniMax's parent company in 2021, MachineGames became part of Microsoft's Xbox organization through ZeniMax Media and Bethesda. The studio's defining commercial and creative breakthrough came through its collaboration with id Software and Bethesda on Wolfenstein: The New Order. Released in 2014, the game reimagined the long-running Wolfenstein property as a story-focused first-person shooter set in an alternate history in which Nazi Germany won the Second World War. Rather than simply reproducing the arcade-like design of earlier entries, MachineGames emphasized character development, cinematic presentation, alternate narrative paths, and a mixture of stealth, exploration, and highly kinetic gunplay. The game established the studio's reputation for combining traditional shooter mechanics with unusually substantial single-player storytelling. MachineGames subsequently developed Wolfenstein: The Old Blood, a standalone prequel released in 2015, and Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, released in 2017. The latter continued the alternate-history storyline in the United States and expanded the series' dramatic and political themes. The studio also worked on Wolfenstein: Youngblood, a cooperative spin-off released in 2019 in collaboration with Arkane Studios' Lyon team, and Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot, a virtual-reality title developed with Arkane Studios. These projects extended the property into cooperative and VR formats while retaining the broader Wolfenstein setting. In the 2020s, MachineGames broadened its portfolio beyond Wolfenstein. The studio worked with Lucasfilm Games and Bethesda on Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, an original first-person adventure centered on Indiana Jones. Released in 2024, the game combined first-person exploration and combat with third-person sequences for traversal and cinematic moments. It marked a significant expansion of MachineGames' profile from a specialist Wolfenstein developer into a studio handling another globally recognized entertainment property. MachineGames remains primarily a developer rather than a consumer-facing publisher. Its products are distributed through Bethesda and platform-holder channels, including Xbox and PC storefronts, with selected releases also appearing on PlayStation and other platforms depending on the title. The studio's positioning is centered on premium, narrative-driven action games, particularly first-person experiences with strong cinematic direction, authored characters, and recognizable intellectual property. Its historical output has been relatively concentrated, but the Wolfenstein series and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle give it a distinctive place within the international games industry.
History
MachineGames was founded in Uppsala, Sweden, in 2009 by a group of developers who had previously worked at Starbreeze Studios. The founders brought experience in first-person action games and sought to create a new studio with a strong creative identity. Among the publicly associated founders were Jens Matthies and Jerk Gustafsson. The company was established during a period when Sweden had developed a notable concentration of independent and internationally oriented game studios, and its location gave it access to the country's established development talent. The studio became part of ZeniMax Media in 2010. The acquisition gave MachineGames financial and publishing support while placing it within a group that also contained Bethesda Softworks and id Software. This relationship was particularly relevant to the studio's first major project: a new Wolfenstein game developed with id Software, the company historically connected with the franchise. Bethesda announced Wolfenstein: The New Order as a modern continuation and reinterpretation rather than a direct recreation of the earliest games. Wolfenstein: The New Order was released in 2014. Set in an alternate history in which the Axis powers had won the Second World War, it followed resistance fighter William "B.J." Blazkowicz through a campaign that mixed conventional first-person shooting with stealth, exploration, character scenes, and branching decisions. The title distinguished MachineGames from many shooter developers by treating its campaign and cast as central parts of the experience. It was followed in 2015 by Wolfenstein: The Old Blood, a standalone prequel that revisited the series' setting and action systems in a smaller-scale campaign. MachineGames then produced Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, released in 2017. The sequel continued the series' alternate-history narrative after the events of The New Order and relocated much of the action to the United States. Its campaign used a more overtly cinematic presentation and expanded the game's treatment of resistance, occupation, and political extremism. The studio's work on the two principal modern Wolfenstein entries established its public identity as a developer of single-player first-person games with a strong narrative component. The company expanded the franchise in 2019. Wolfenstein: Youngblood was developed in collaboration with Arkane Lyon and emphasized cooperative play, while Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot was developed with Arkane Studios as a virtual-reality experience. These projects allowed the publisher to test different formats and audiences within the Wolfenstein property, although they differed from the traditional solo campaign structure associated with MachineGames' mainline releases. In 2021, Microsoft completed its acquisition of ZeniMax Media. MachineGames therefore became part of Microsoft's first-party gaming structure, alongside Bethesda and the other ZeniMax studios. The change in ownership did not alter the studio's identity as a development team, but it expanded its relationship with the Xbox ecosystem and Microsoft's platform, subscription, and distribution operations. MachineGames subsequently moved beyond Wolfenstein through its work on Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Developed with Bethesda and Lucasfilm Games, the project was designed as a new Indiana Jones adventure set between established films in the character's chronology. It uses first-person gameplay for much of its exploration, puzzle solving, and combat, with third-person presentation used in selected traversal and cinematic contexts. Its release in 2024 demonstrated the studio's ability to apply its strengths in atmosphere, scripted storytelling, and first-person design to another globally recognized license. Today, MachineGames is an active Microsoft-owned studio operating under the ZeniMax and Bethesda structure. Its catalog remains relatively focused compared with larger publishers, but its modern Wolfenstein games made it a prominent specialist in narrative first-person action, while Indiana Jones and the Great Circle broadened its portfolio. The studio's business model is primarily that of a developer of premium games published and distributed by its corporate partners rather than an independent publisher with a broad consumer product line.
- 2024
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle released
[6]MachineGames released its Indiana Jones action-adventure game with Bethesda and Lucasfilm Games.
- 2021
Became part of Microsoft through ZeniMax
[3]Microsoft completed its acquisition of ZeniMax Media, including MachineGames.
- 2019
Wolfenstein expanded into cooperative and VR formats
[8]Youngblood and Cyberpilot extended the franchise through cooperative play and virtual reality.
- 2017
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus released
[5]The sequel continued the alternate-history story in a Nazi-controlled United States.
- 2015
Wolfenstein: The Old Blood released
[7]The studio released a standalone prequel to The New Order.
- 2014
Wolfenstein: The New Order released
[4]MachineGames' first major release reimagined Wolfenstein as a cinematic, story-led first-person shooter.
- 2010
Acquired by ZeniMax Media
[1]ZeniMax Media acquired the studio and integrated it into the corporate family behind Bethesda Softworks and id Software.
- 2009
MachineGames founded in Uppsala
[1]Former Starbreeze developers established MachineGames in Uppsala, Sweden.
Products and positioning
Premium narrative-driven action games, especially first-person shooters built around established entertainment franchises.
First-person shooter · 2014
Wolfenstein: The New Order
MachineGames' breakthrough title and the first modern Wolfenstein game developed by the studio. It combines fast gunplay with stealth, exploration, scripted storytelling, character relationships, and alternate-history world-building. The game follows B.J. Blazkowicz against a victorious Nazi regime and established the narrative and mechanical template for the studio's subsequent Wolfenstein work.
Standalone first-person shooter prequel · 2015
Wolfenstein: The Old Blood
A standalone prequel to The New Order. It returns to the series' alternate-history setting and follows an earlier mission involving B.J. Blazkowicz. The project is more compact than the mainline game but retains the mixture of gunplay, stealth, exploration, supernatural elements, and pulp-inspired presentation associated with MachineGames' version of Wolfenstein.
First-person shooter · 2017
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
A direct sequel to The New Order that moves the resistance story into the United States under Nazi occupation. It expands the cast, locations, cinematic scenes, and political themes while retaining the studio's emphasis on authored single-player action. The game presents a more elaborate campaign and continues B.J. Blazkowicz's fight against the regime.
Cooperative first-person shooter · 2019
Wolfenstein: Youngblood
A cooperative Wolfenstein spin-off developed by MachineGames with Arkane Lyon. Set after the events of The New Colossus, it places players in the roles of B.J. Blazkowicz's twin daughters and emphasizes two-player cooperation, mission selection, and a more flexible progression structure than the mainline games.
Virtual-reality action game · 2019
Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot
A virtual-reality Wolfenstein spin-off developed with Arkane Studios. Players take control of resistance machinery and attack Nazi forces from a cockpit-like perspective. The project adapts the franchise's setting and combat concepts to room-scale and headset-based play rather than the conventional campaign format of the principal series.
Action-adventure game · 2024
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
A first-person Indiana Jones adventure developed by MachineGames with Bethesda and Lucasfilm Games. Set between established films in the franchise's chronology, it combines archaeological investigation, environmental puzzles, stealth, hand-to-hand combat, firearms, and globe-spanning exploration. The game uses first-person presentation for its core play while employing third-person sequences for selected traversal and cinematic moments.
Brand decisions
2021
Become part of Microsoft's Xbox organizationM&ABackground
Microsoft acquired ZeniMax Media's parent company, bringing Bethesda and its associated studios into Microsoft's first-party gaming business.
Action taken
Microsoft completed the acquisition of ZeniMax Media and its subsidiaries, including MachineGames.
Aftermath
MachineGames continued operating as a ZeniMax/Bethesda studio while becoming part of Microsoft's broader Xbox and PC ecosystem.
Transaction value. Microsoft announced an agreement valued at US$7.5 billion (Announced 2020; completed 2021)
2010
Join the ZeniMax Media groupM&ABackground
MachineGames was a young Swedish studio formed by former Starbreeze developers and needed a publishing and financing structure for its planned projects.
Action taken
ZeniMax Media acquired MachineGames and placed it within the group that included Bethesda Softworks and id Software.
Aftermath
The acquisition enabled the studio to develop and publish a new Wolfenstein project with Bethesda and id Software, leading to The New Order and the studio's subsequent franchise work.
Recent events
- 2024
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle announced[9]
Product launch
MachineGames and Bethesda announced a new Indiana Jones adventure developed in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games.
- 2024
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle releases[6]
Product launch
The studio released its first major non-Wolfenstein project, an Indiana Jones action-adventure game using first-person exploration and combat.
- 2021
Microsoft completes acquisition of ZeniMax Media[3]
M&A
Microsoft completed its acquisition of ZeniMax Media, making MachineGames part of Microsoft's Xbox and Bethesda organization.
- 2019
Wolfenstein: Youngblood and Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot launch[8]
Product launch
MachineGames expanded the Wolfenstein brand through a cooperative spin-off developed with Arkane Lyon and a virtual-reality title developed with Arkane Studios.
- 2017
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus launches[5]
Product launch · Product generation
The studio released a direct sequel that moved the alternate-history narrative into a Nazi-occupied United States.
- 2014
Wolfenstein: The New Order launches[4]
Product launch · Product generation
MachineGames released its first Wolfenstein title, a story-focused reimagining of the classic first-person-shooter property.
- 2010
ZeniMax Media acquires MachineGames[1]
M&A
ZeniMax Media acquired the Swedish studio and brought it into the corporate group that included Bethesda Softworks and id Software.
Sources9 sources
- 1MachineGamesen.wikipedia.org
- 2MachineGames official websitemachinegames.com
- 3Microsoft completes acquisition of ZeniMax Medianews.microsoft.com
- 4Wolfenstein: The New Orderen.wikipedia.org
- 5Wolfenstein II: The New Colossusen.wikipedia.org
- 6Indiana Jones and the Great Circleen.wikipedia.org
- 7Wolfenstein: The Old Blood releaseden.wikipedia.org
- 8Wolfenstein expanded into cooperative and VR formatsen.wikipedia.org
- 9Indiana Jones and the Great Circle announcedbethesda.net
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