GameSpy: Difference between revisions
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{{ | {{StubNotice}} | ||
{{ | {{CompanyCargo | ||
| | |Description=Now defunct American company that hosted multiplayer servers and matchmaking systems for video games. | ||
|Founded=1999 | |||
| Founded =1999 | |Industry=Video Games, Information Technology | ||
| Industry = | |Logo=GameSpy.svg | ||
| | |ParentCompany=IGN Entertainment | ||
| | |Type=Subsidiary | ||
}}''' | |Website=http://www.gamespy.com | ||
}} | |||
'''GameSpy''' was a company founded by Mark Sufas in 1995. It provided multiplayer middleware<!-- We should have something that explains what middleware is... -JamesTDG --> for video game publishers, documented to be used by over 800 games. GameSpy was merged with the gaming magazine IGN in 2004,<ref>{{Cite news |date=Mar 4, 2004 |title=IGN/GameSpy Merger Creates One of the Internet's Largest Game and Entertainment-Focused Companies |url=https://corp.ign.com/press/press/2004/igngamespy-merger-creates-one-of-the-internets-largest-game-and-entertainment-focused-companies |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102223614/https://corp.ign.com/press/2004/igngamespy-merger-creates-one-of-the-internets-largest-game-and-entertainment-focused-companies |archive-date=Jan 2, 2018 |access-date=Jul 8, 2025 |work=IGN}}</ref> while its 'GameSpy Industries' division, which handled all of its multiplayer services, was purchased from IGN by Glu Mobile in 2012.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Potter |first=Seth |date=Aug 2, 2012 |title=Glu Acquires GameSpy Technology to Expand Connected, Cross-platform Mobile Leadership |url=https://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=207033&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1721900&highlight= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160411143602/https://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=207033&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1721900&highlight= |archive-date=Apr 11, 2016 |access-date=Jul 8, 2025 |work=[[Glu Mobile]]}}</ref> | |||
==Consumer-impact summary== | ==Consumer-impact summary== | ||
*User freedom: Games affected by | *User freedom: Games affected by GameSpy<nowiki/>'s shutdown require some modification of the software to regain functionality.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=u/Stevoisiak |date=Apr 7, 2014 |title=List of games affected by GameSpy shutdown |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/22fz75/list_of_games_affected_by_gamespy_shutdown/ |access-date=Jul 8, 2025 |website=[[Reddit]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230601012724/https://old.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/22fz75/list_of_games_affected_by_gamespy_shutdown/ |archive-date=1 Jun 2023}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Battlefield 2142 Reclamation instructions |url=https://battlefield2142.co/help/ |access-date=Jul 8, 2025 |website=Battlefield 2142 Reclamation |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251206123227/https://www.battlefield2142.co/help/ |archive-date=6 Dec 2025}}</ref> | ||
*User privacy: | *User privacy: Unknown; defunct in 2014.<nowiki/> | ||
*Business model: | *Business model: Founded as a middleware<nowiki/> distributor, eventually hosted game servers and was a gaming news publication. | ||
*Market control: Initially the primary game hosting service for many games | *Market control: Initially the primary game hosting service for many games; zero market control after shutdown in 2014.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
==Incidents== | ==Incidents== | ||
This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]]. | This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]]. | ||
===Shutdown | ===Shutdown=== | ||
{{Main|GameSpy server shutdown}} | {{Main|GameSpy server shutdown}} | ||
On May 31st, 2014, Glu Mobile, the owner of GameSpy's software division (GameSpy Industries), shut down GameSpy's services,<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Futter |first=Mike |date=Apr 3, 2014 |title=Glu Shutting Down Gamespy Service, Affecting A Reported 800 Developers And Publishers |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/04/03/glu-shutting-down-gamespy-service-affecting-a-reported-800-developers-and-publishers.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407072627/https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/04/03/glu-shutting-down-gamespy-service-affecting-a-reported-800-developers-and-publishers.aspx |archive-date=Apr 7, 2014 |access-date=Jul 8, 2025 |work=Game Informer}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> affecting popular titles such as ''Battlefield 2142'',<ref name=":2" /> ''Halo Combat Evolved'', and ''Saints Row 2'', which lost all multiplayer functionality.<ref>{{Cite web |title=GameSpy |url=https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/GameSpy |access-date=Jul 8, 2025 |website=PC Gaming Wiki |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251021003948/https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/GameSpy |archive-date=21 Oct 2025}}</ref> Some games were left unplayable due to digital rights management reliance on GameSpy servers.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Williams |first=Byrn |date=Mar 9, 2010 |title=Ubisoft's DRM Servers Attacked Again |url=https://pc.gamespy.com/pc/assassins-creed-2/1075803p1.html |access-date=Jul 8, 2025 |work=[[GameSpy]] |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260219115008/http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/assassins-creed-2/1075803p1.html |archive-date=19 Feb 2026}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Burns |first=Chris |date=Apr 4, 2014 |title=GAMESPY SHUTS DOWN MAY 31: WILL YOUR GAME BE AFFECTED? |url=https://www.slashgear.com/gamespy-shuts-down-may-31-will-your-game-be-affected-04323788/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717091309/https://www.slashgear.com/gamespy-shuts-down-may-31-will-your-game-be-affected-04323788/ |archive-date=Jul 17, 2014 |access-date=Jul 8, 2025 |website=Slashgear}}</ref> | |||
In the aftermath of the incident, projects such as OpenSpy were created to restore functionality to these damaged games, such as Battlefield 2142.<ref name=":2" /> | In the aftermath of the incident, projects such as OpenSpy were created to restore functionality to these damaged games, such as ''Battlefield 2142''.<ref name=":2" /> | ||
==Products<!-- Need the actual name of their server software, among other products GS used to distribute. -->== | ==Products<!-- Need the actual name of their server software, among other products GS used to distribute. -->== | ||
Latest revision as of 15:27, 25 March 2026
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GameSpy
| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 |
| Legal Structure | Subsidiary |
| Industry | Video Games, Information Technology |
| Also known as | |
| Official website | http://www.gamespy.com |
GameSpy was a company founded by Mark Sufas in 1995. It provided multiplayer middleware for video game publishers, documented to be used by over 800 games. GameSpy was merged with the gaming magazine IGN in 2004,[1] while its 'GameSpy Industries' division, which handled all of its multiplayer services, was purchased from IGN by Glu Mobile in 2012.[2]
Consumer-impact summary
[edit | edit source]- User freedom: Games affected by GameSpy's shutdown require some modification of the software to regain functionality.[3][4]
- User privacy: Unknown; defunct in 2014.
- Business model: Founded as a middleware distributor, eventually hosted game servers and was a gaming news publication.
- Market control: Initially the primary game hosting service for many games; zero market control after shutdown in 2014.[5]
Incidents
[edit | edit source]This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the GameSpy category.
Shutdown
[edit | edit source]- Main article: GameSpy server shutdown
On May 31st, 2014, Glu Mobile, the owner of GameSpy's software division (GameSpy Industries), shut down GameSpy's services,[5][3] affecting popular titles such as Battlefield 2142,[4] Halo Combat Evolved, and Saints Row 2, which lost all multiplayer functionality.[6] Some games were left unplayable due to digital rights management reliance on GameSpy servers.[7][8]
In the aftermath of the incident, projects such as OpenSpy were created to restore functionality to these damaged games, such as Battlefield 2142.[4]
Products
[edit | edit source]This section is incomplete. This notice can be deleted once all the placeholder text has been replaced.
See also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ "IGN/GameSpy Merger Creates One of the Internet's Largest Game and Entertainment-Focused Companies". IGN. Mar 4, 2004. Archived from the original on Jan 2, 2018. Retrieved Jul 8, 2025.
- ↑ Potter, Seth (Aug 2, 2012). "Glu Acquires GameSpy Technology to Expand Connected, Cross-platform Mobile Leadership". Glu Mobile. Archived from the original on Apr 11, 2016. Retrieved Jul 8, 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 u/Stevoisiak (Apr 7, 2014). "List of games affected by GameSpy shutdown". Reddit. Archived from the original on 1 Jun 2023. Retrieved Jul 8, 2025.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Battlefield 2142 Reclamation instructions". Battlefield 2142 Reclamation. Archived from the original on 6 Dec 2025. Retrieved Jul 8, 2025.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Futter, Mike (Apr 3, 2014). "Glu Shutting Down Gamespy Service, Affecting A Reported 800 Developers And Publishers". Game Informer. Archived from the original on Apr 7, 2014. Retrieved Jul 8, 2025.
- ↑ "GameSpy". PC Gaming Wiki. Archived from the original on 21 Oct 2025. Retrieved Jul 8, 2025.
- ↑ Williams, Byrn (Mar 9, 2010). "Ubisoft's DRM Servers Attacked Again". GameSpy. Archived from the original on 19 Feb 2026. Retrieved Jul 8, 2025.
- ↑ Burns, Chris (Apr 4, 2014). "GAMESPY SHUTS DOWN MAY 31: WILL YOUR GAME BE AFFECTED?". Slashgear. Archived from the original on Jul 17, 2014. Retrieved Jul 8, 2025.