Carbine Studios

Carbine Studios, Inc. was an American video game development studio established in 2005 by Kevin Beardslee and a group of developers who had previously worked at Blizzard Entertainment. The studio was formed during the period when Blizzard's World of Warcraft was becoming one of the most commercially significant online games in the world. Beardslee, who had served as World of Warcraft's lead animator, left Blizzard together with nine other developers. The new company subsequently recruited additional former Blizzard employees and developers from other studios, giving it a team with substantial experience in large-scale online role-playing games. Carbine operated as an independent developer during its early years, but NCSoft acquired the studio in 2007. The relationship placed Carbine within the broader corporate structure of one of the industry's major publishers of massively multiplayer online games. Under NCSoft's ownership, Carbine developed WildStar, a science-fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game set on the fictional planet Nexus. The game combined colorful science-fiction and fantasy settings with conventional MMORPG systems such as character progression, group content, player-versus-player activities, crafting, exploration, and persistent online worlds. It was Carbine's only released game. WildStar initially used a subscription-based business model and attracted attention for its distinctive visual style, action-oriented combat, housing and customization systems, and emphasis on challenging group encounters. The game later moved away from subscriptions and adopted a free-to-play structure supported by in-game microtransactions. Although this change was intended to broaden the audience, the game's player population declined over the following years. Carbine's operating circumstances also became more difficult as NCSoft reorganized its operations. In March 2016, reports indicated that more than 70 employees, approximately 40 percent of the studio's workforce, had been laid off. At the same time, NCSoft said that Carbine would continue working on WildStar, while the planned Chinese version of the game was cancelled. In 2017, Carbine posted recruitment notices for an unannounced project. The listings referred to Unreal Engine and sought experience in cooperative AAA multiplayer games and multiplayer action-combat projects, suggesting that the studio was exploring development beyond WildStar. No such title was released publicly. On September 6, 2018, NCSoft announced that Carbine Studios would close immediately and that the process of winding down WildStar would begin. WildStar subsequently ceased operation on November 28, 2018. With the closure of the studio and the termination of its sole released game, Carbine Studios became a defunct developer. Its lasting identity is closely associated with WildStar and with the group of former Blizzard developers who founded the company.

Carbine Studios emerged in 2005 from a group of developers with experience on Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft. Kevin Beardslee, the game's lead animator, left Blizzard in the spring of that year alongside nine other developers. The group cited dissatisfaction with compensation and bonuses relative to the success of the game. Carbine subsequently expanded its staff, recruiting seven additional former Blizzard employees as well as developers from other studios. This background gave the company a strong concentration of experience in persistent online role-playing games. NCSoft acquired Carbine in 2007. The studio then operated as an NCSoft subsidiary and concentrated on the development of WildStar, a science-fantasy MMORPG set on the planet Nexus. WildStar was the only game released by Carbine. It entered the market with a subscription model and was distinguished by its colorful art direction, broad science-fiction and fantasy setting, combat systems, player housing, and a range of cooperative and competitive multiplayer content. The title initially achieved a degree of commercial and player interest, but its active population declined during the following four years. Carbine and NCSoft later replaced the subscription model with a free-to-play structure incorporating in-game microtransactions. The studio experienced a significant reduction in personnel during NCSoft's March 2016 reorganization. More than 70 employees were reportedly laid off, representing roughly 40 percent of Carbine's staff. NCSoft stated that the remaining studio would continue working on WildStar, but the planned Chinese edition of the game was cancelled. In April 2017, Carbine advertised positions for an unannounced project. The listings referenced the Unreal Engine and requested experience with cooperative AAA multiplayer games and multiplayer action-combat titles. The project did not become a publicly released Carbine product. On September 6, 2018, NCSoft announced that Carbine Studios would close immediately and that WildStar would be wound down. The game ended service on November 28, 2018. The closure ended Carbine's corporate operations and left WildStar as the studio's sole released work and principal legacy.

• 2018

  Studio closes and WildStar is wound down

  [1]Carbine Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  NCSoft closed Carbine Studios in September, and WildStar ended service in November.

• 2017

  Recruitment begins for an unannounced project

  [1]Carbine Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  Carbine listed positions connected with Unreal Engine and cooperative multiplayer action development.

• 2016

  Major workforce reduction and cancellation of Chinese WildStar version

  [1]Carbine Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  NCSoft's restructuring resulted in reports of more than 70 Carbine layoffs, while the planned Chinese version of WildStar was cancelled.

• 2007

  NCSoft acquires the studio

  [1]Carbine Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  Carbine became a subsidiary of NCSoft, which supported the studio's development of its online role-playing project.

• 2005

  Carbine Studios is founded

  [1]Carbine Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  Kevin Beardslee and nine other former Blizzard developers established Carbine Studios after leaving the World of Warcraft developer.

A specialist online-game developer built around experienced MMORPG talent, with a focus on large-scale multiplayer worlds, science-fantasy presentation, action-oriented combat, and persistent live-service content.

• Massively multiplayer online role-playing game

  WildStar

  WildStar was Carbine Studios' sole released title. It was a science-fantasy MMORPG set on the planet Nexus, combining persistent online exploration with character progression, cooperative encounters, player-versus-player activities, crafting, housing, and other conventional large-scale multiplayer systems. The game launched with a subscription model and later shifted to free-to-play operation supported by in-game microtransactions. After Carbine closed, WildStar was shut down on November 28, 2018.

• 2018

  NCSoft closes Carbine StudiosOther

  Background

  WildStar's player population had continued to decline, and no other Carbine title had been released.

  Action taken

  NCSoft immediately closed the studio and began winding down WildStar.

  Aftermath

  WildStar ended service on November 28, 2018, making Carbine a defunct developer.

  Source

• 2016

  NCSoft restructures Carbine operationsStrategy

  Background

  NCSoft reorganized its operations while WildStar continued to face declining player numbers.

  Action taken

  More than 70 employees were laid off, and the planned Chinese version of WildStar was cancelled while development of the existing game continued.

  Aftermath

  Carbine remained focused on WildStar until NCSoft later closed the studio.

  Source

• 2015

  WildStar transitions from subscription to free-to-playStrategy

  Background

  WildStar's player population declined after its initial subscription-based period.

  Action taken

  The game was restructured around free access with in-game microtransactions.

  Aftermath

  The revised model did not prevent the eventual decline of the game and its closure in 2018.

  Source

• 2018

  NCSoft closes Carbine Studios and begins winding down WildStar[1]Carbine Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  Bankruptcy

  NCSoft announced the immediate closure of Carbine Studios and the start of the process to shut down WildStar.

• 2018

  WildStar service ends[1]Carbine Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  WildStar was taken offline on November 28, 2018, following the closure of its developer.

• 2017

  Carbine advertises positions for an unannounced multiplayer project[1]Carbine Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Job postings on Carbine's website sought developers with Unreal Engine experience and backgrounds in cooperative AAA multiplayer and multiplayer action-combat games.

• 2016

  NCSoft announces restructuring and Carbine layoffs[1]Carbine Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  NCSoft announced a reorganization, and reports indicated that more than 70 Carbine employees were laid off. WildStar development was expected to continue, but the planned Chinese version was cancelled.

• 2007

  NCSoft acquires Carbine Studios[1]Carbine Studiosen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  NCSoft acquired Carbine Studios, bringing the independent developer into its corporate group while the studio continued developing its online role-playing game.

1. 1Carbine Studiosen.wikipedia.org