Anuman
Anuman Interactive was a French video-game publisher that acquired Microïds and was subsequently renamed Microids.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Anuman Interactive was a French video-game publishing company associated with the development of the modern Microids business. The company operated in the French and international games market and became especially significant through its acquisition of Microïds, the long-established French developer and publisher founded by Elliot Grassiano in 1985. Anuman announced its intention to acquire Microïds in November 2009, while it was itself in the process of being acquired by the French media group Média-Participations. The Microïds transaction was completed on 1 January 2010, after which Microïds continued as a division of Anuman Interactive. The acquisition gave Anuman control of a business with a substantial history in game development, publishing, distribution and international operations. Microïds had expanded from development into publishing and distribution during the 1990s, established subsidiaries in Italy, the United Kingdom and Canada, merged with MC2 in 2003, acquired Wanadoo Edition, and obtained assets and intellectual property from bankrupt publisher Cryo Interactive in 2008. Under Anuman, the Microïds name remained an important operating label. In 2010, the company introduced Microïds Games for All as a sub-label for non-adventure titles. The group later developed a broader portfolio of labels and publishing activities, including the independent-game imprint Microïds Indie, launched in 2016. Following the 2010 acquisition, Microïds chief executive Emmanuel Olivier left the company. The subsequent period involved the integration and repositioning of the acquired business within Anuman's wider structure. Elliot Grassiano, Microïds' founder, returned to the organization in 2013 as vice-president of Microïds. In July 2019, the Microïds label was simplified to Microids. In October of the same year, Anuman Interactive announced that it would itself be renamed Microids, effectively replacing the Anuman corporate identity with the better-known operating brand. Anuman chief executive Stéphane Longeard became chief executive of Microids, sharing leadership with Grassiano. As a result, Anuman is best understood as a predecessor corporate identity rather than a currently operating standalone consumer brand. Its principal strategic importance was the acquisition and consolidation of Microïds, which became Microids, a French publisher and developer with international distribution and several specialist publishing labels. The available reference material does not establish a separate, enduring Anuman product portfolio or a distinct current headquarters after the 2019 renaming.
History
Anuman Interactive's documented history is closely tied to the French video-game company Microïds and to the later Microids organization. The available reference material does not specify Anuman's original founding year, founder, early standalone product catalogue or a separate headquarters. It does, however, identify the company's decisive strategic move: the acquisition of Microïds at the beginning of 2010. Microïds had been founded in France in 1985 by programmer Elliot Grassiano. It initially developed computer games and later expanded into publishing and distribution. During the 1990s, the company grew its development operations and created international subsidiaries in Italy, the United Kingdom and Canada. It merged with MC2 in 2003, acquired Wanadoo Edition in the same year, and later obtained assets and intellectual property from Cryo Interactive. These activities made Microïds an established games business before its acquisition by Anuman. Anuman announced its intention to purchase Microïds in November 2009. At the time, Anuman was also in the process of being acquired by Média-Participations. The Microïds acquisition closed on 1 January 2010, after which Microïds operated as a division of Anuman Interactive. Microïds chief executive Emmanuel Olivier departed in connection with the transaction. The acquired company retained its name as a publishing and development label, while Anuman used it to broaden its position in the games market. The post-acquisition period included several label and portfolio initiatives. In 2010, Microïds Games for All was launched for non-adventure titles. In 2013, Grassiano returned to the organization as vice-president of Microïds. In September 2016, Anuman opened Microïds Indie, an imprint intended to support independent games. These initiatives indicate that Anuman's strategy relied substantially on the Microïds identity and its accumulated intellectual property, expertise and market recognition. The corporate distinction between Anuman and Microïds gradually disappeared. In July 2019, the Microïds label was simplified to Microids. In October 2019, Anuman announced that the company would be renamed Microids. Stéphane Longeard, who had served as Anuman's chief executive, became chief executive of Microids and shared management with Grassiano. The change effectively ended Anuman as a standalone corporate brand and established Microids as the continuing identity. Later Microids developments, including the opening of a Japanese office, the strengthening of Microids Indie, the creation of Microids Distribution France in 2020 and the launch of a third-party publishing unit in 2024, belong to the successor organization rather than to Anuman itself. Accordingly, Anuman's historical significance lies primarily in its ownership and integration of Microïds and in the corporate renaming that transformed Anuman into Microids.
- 2019
Anuman becomes Microids
[1]The company announced the replacement of the Anuman Interactive identity with Microids.
- 2016
Microïds Indie is established
[1]Anuman launched an independent-game label under the Microïds name.
- 2013
Grassiano returns to Microïds
[1]Microïds founder Elliot Grassiano joined Anuman as vice-president of Microïds.
- 2010
Microïds joins Anuman
[1]The acquisition closed on 1 January 2010, and Microïds became a division of Anuman Interactive.
- 2010
Microïds Games for All is launched
[1]Anuman introduced a Microïds sub-label for non-adventure games.
- 2009
Anuman announces planned Microïds acquisition
[1]Anuman Interactive announced its intention to acquire Microïds while Anuman was being acquired by Média-Participations.
Products and positioning
A French video-game publisher whose principal strategic role was to own and develop the Microïds business before adopting the Microids identity.
Video-game publishing and development label · 1985
Microïds
Microïds was the principal games business acquired by Anuman. It brought a long-running French development, publishing and distribution operation, together with established intellectual property and international market experience. After the 2010 transaction it continued as an Anuman division and later evolved into the Microids identity.
Video-game publishing label · 2010
Microïds Games for All
A sub-label introduced in 2010 for non-adventure games. It formed part of Anuman's effort to use the Microïds portfolio beyond the adventure-game category.
Independent-game publishing label · 2016
Microïds Indie
An independent-game imprint opened in September 2016. The label was intended to broaden the group's publishing activity by working with independently developed games.
Brand decisions
2019
Corporate rebrand from Anuman to MicroidsStrategyBackground
The acquired Microïds business and its labels had become the more prominent identity in the group's video-game operations.
Action taken
Anuman announced that it would be renamed Microids, following the simplification of Microïds to Microids.
Aftermath
The Anuman corporate identity ceased to be the group's principal operating brand, and Stéphane Longeard became Microids chief executive alongside Elliot Grassiano.
2010
Expansion through Microïds labelsStrategyBackground
After acquiring Microïds, Anuman retained its identity and sought to broaden the acquired business's market coverage.
Action taken
Anuman launched Microïds Games for All for non-adventure titles and later developed the Microïds Indie imprint.
Aftermath
The Microïds identity became increasingly central to the group's games activities and ultimately replaced Anuman's corporate name.
2009
Plan to acquire MicroïdsM&ABackground
Anuman was seeking acquisitions while it was itself in the process of being acquired by Média-Participations.
Action taken
The company announced its intention to purchase Microïds.
Aftermath
The transaction was completed on 1 January 2010, with Microïds operating as an Anuman division.
Sources2 sources
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