Cmune
Cmune was a Chinese game developer known for browser, social-network, and mobile free-to-play shooters.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Cmune was a Chinese software and video-game developer established in 2007, with offices reported in Beijing and San Francisco. The company focused on online, multiplayer, and free-to-play games designed for distribution through web browsers, social networks, and mobile devices. Its best-known product was UberStrike, a casual first-person shooter that began as Paradise Paintball and became one of the more visible early browser-based 3D multiplayer games. Paradise Paintball launched in November 2008 and was designed around accessible multiplayer play and virtual-goods monetization. It was distributed through Facebook and MySpace as well as through Cmune's own channels. The game was notable for attempting to deliver real-time 3D shooting in a browser while allowing players to buy virtual items without leaving the game. After receiving recognition through Facebook's 2009 fbFund program and attention at the Game Developers Conference, it was renamed UberStrike in November 2010. UberStrike expanded beyond its original social-network setting. It became available through its own website and later on Apple's Mac and iOS platforms. By November 2012, the game was described as the largest first-person shooter on Facebook. Its community features included player forums, clan discussions, training-related activity, and user-created signature art. The service ultimately declined with the changing browser-game market and was formally closed in 2016: Cmune announced the shutdown in April, and the game servers went offline on June 13. Cmune subsequently pursued mobile games. DeadHeads, an online first-person shooter for Android and iOS, launched in 2017 and combined weapon and character customization with maps that included several locations associated with UberStrike. UltraHunt, announced as a mobile battle-royale project, entered closed pre-alpha development in 2018, although publicly available information about its release and commercial performance remained limited. Cmune also worked for a period on PAYDAY: Crime War, a mobile adaptation connected with the PAYDAY franchise; Starbreeze was reported to have invested in Cmune in connection with development. The company received funding or investment from Atomico, DCM, and Starbreeze during its lifespan. It was nominated for two Unity Awards, including the Community Choice Award and the Cross Platform Award. Despite its early prominence in social and browser gaming and its later move toward mobile shooters, Cmune did not establish a continuing commercial presence. DeadHeads was shut down around 2020, and the studio itself was reported to have closed later that year. Some project websites or community channels remained accessible after the games had ceased operation, but these remnants do not indicate that the company or its services remained active.
History
Cmune was established in 2007 as a Chinese software and game-development company operating across China and the United States. Its early work was closely associated with browser and social-network gaming, a sector that was expanding rapidly as platforms such as Facebook made multiplayer games available to large audiences without conventional downloads or retail distribution. The company's first prominent project was Paradise Paintball, launched in November 2008. It was an online first-person shooter built around casual multiplayer sessions and free-to-play access. The game was presented as an early real-time 3D browser title and used virtual goods as part of its business model. Its Facebook and MySpace distribution helped it reach audiences beyond dedicated PC-gaming communities, while its own website provided another route to the game. Paradise Paintball was reported to have reached the number-one position worldwide on Apple's Dashboard for four months after launch and received recognition at the 2010 Game Developers Conference. Cmune was also selected as a winner of Facebook's 2009 fbFund program. The program was run by Facebook together with Accel Partners and The Founders Fund, giving the company visibility during the formative period of social gaming. The game was nominated for two Unity Awards: the Community Choice Award and the Cross Platform Award. These recognitions reflected the importance of its technical and distribution model rather than the scale of a traditional boxed-game publisher. On November 16, 2010, Paradise Paintball was renamed UberStrike. Under its new name, the game continued as a browser-based and social multiplayer shooter and later expanded to Cmune's own website and Apple's Mac and iOS platforms. Its design combined short-form shooting gameplay with virtual goods and community features. Players could participate in forums, clan discussions, training activities, and user-created art exchanges. By November 2012, UberStrike was described as the largest first-person shooter within Facebook, an indication of its strong position among early social-network shooters. The browser-game environment subsequently became more difficult as platform policies, player expectations, and distribution patterns changed. Cmune announced UberStrike's closure through the game's website on April 13, 2016, and ended service on June 13. The shutdown marked the end of the company's most recognizable product, although the original website was reported to remain online after the servers closed. Cmune then concentrated more heavily on mobile development. DeadHeads launched in May 2017 for Android and iOS. It retained the studio's interest in online first-person combat while adding a larger character and equipment structure. The game included multiple weapon types and skins, survivor and infected characters, and ten maps, some of which reused or adapted locations associated with UberStrike. DeadHeads also maintained a Discord community and an official web presence. In 2018, Cmune worked on UltraHunt, a planned mobile battle-royale title for Android and iOS. The project was described as being in closed pre-alpha, and relatively little reliable public information is available about its development, testing, or release. Cmune also worked for several months on PAYDAY: Crime War, a mobile project related to the PAYDAY series. Reporting connected Starbreeze's investment in Cmune with development of that game. During its existence, Cmune received funding or investment from Atomico, DCM, and Starbreeze. A report from a community moderator stated that the company may have been moving its headquarters from Hong Kong to Taiwan in 2017, but the outcome of that alleged move is not documented sufficiently to establish it as fact. Public references instead identify offices in Beijing and San Francisco. DeadHeads was shut down around 2020, and Cmune itself was reported to have closed later that year. The company is therefore best understood as a defunct developer whose principal historical contribution was its early experimentation with browser-based, socially distributed, free-to-play multiplayer shooters.
- 2020
Company reported closed
[1]Cmune was reported to have shut down later in 2020, around the closure of DeadHeads.
- 2018
UltraHunt entered closed pre-alpha
[1]The planned mobile battle-royale title entered closed pre-alpha development.
- 2017
DeadHeads launched
[1]Cmune released DeadHeads for Android and iOS.
- 2016
UberStrike servers closed
[1]Following an April closure announcement, UberStrike servers went offline on June 13.
- 2012
UberStrike reported as Facebook's largest FPS
[1]UberStrike was described as the largest first-person shooter on Facebook.
- 2010
Paradise Paintball renamed UberStrike
[1]Cmune renamed its flagship browser shooter UberStrike on November 16.
- 2009
Selected for Facebook fbFund
[1]Paradise Paintball was selected as a winner of Facebook's 2009 fbFund program.
- 2008
Paradise Paintball launched
[1]The company's first prominent shooter launched as a casual, multiplayer, free-to-play 3D browser game.
- 2007
Cmune established
[1]Cmune was established as a Chinese software and video-game developer with operations later reported in Beijing and San Francisco.
Products and positioning
Cmune positioned itself as an innovative developer of accessible, cross-platform online shooters, emphasizing browser delivery, social distribution, free-to-play access, multiplayer communities, and virtual-item monetization.
Browser and mobile multiplayer first-person shooter · 2008
UberStrike
UberStrike was Cmune's flagship product and began as Paradise Paintball in November 2008. It was a casual, free-to-play, real-time 3D shooter distributed through Facebook, MySpace, the game's own website, and later Mac and iOS channels. Its model combined browser access with virtual-goods purchases, allowing players to buy items without leaving the game. Community functions included forums, clans, training discussions, and player-created art. The game was renamed UberStrike in November 2010 and its servers closed on June 13, 2016.
Mobile online first-person shooter · 2017
DeadHeads
DeadHeads was a mobile online first-person shooter released for Android and iOS in May 2017. It offered a selection of weapons and weapon skins, survivor and infected characters with their own customization options, and ten maps. Several maps were associated with locations from UberStrike, linking the mobile game to Cmune's earlier shooter portfolio. The title maintained a Discord community and was shut down around 2020.
Mobile battle-royale game · 2018
UltraHunt
UltraHunt was a planned battle-royale game for Android and iOS. The project originated in 2018 and was reported to have reached a closed pre-alpha stage. Public documentation about its mechanics, release plans, testing results, and commercial availability is limited, and there is no reliable evidence that it reached a full launch.
Mobile action game project
PAYDAY: Crime War
Cmune worked for several months on PAYDAY: Crime War, a mobile project connected with the PAYDAY franchise. The available reference material identifies Cmune as a development partner rather than the owner of the franchise. Starbreeze was reported to have invested in Cmune in connection with the project, but the amount and full commercial outcome are not included here because a verifiable source URL and complete financial context are unavailable.
Marketing campaigns
- 2009Facebook fbFund 2009
United States · Global social gaming
Paradise Paintball was selected as one of the winners of the 2009 fbFund program, an initiative associated with Facebook, Accel Partners, and The Founders Fund. The recognition gave Cmune's early social-game project additional visibility during the expansion of Facebook gaming.
Outcome. The selection served as an early recognition of the project and preceded the game's later rebranding as UberStrike.
Brand decisions
2016
Close UberStrikeStrategyBackground
After several years as Cmune's best-known browser and social shooter, UberStrike was discontinued as the company's portfolio shifted toward mobile development.
Action taken
Cmune announced the closure in April and terminated the game servers on June 13, 2016.
Aftermath
The service ended, although the original website was reported to remain accessible. Cmune subsequently focused on mobile projects including DeadHeads and UltraHunt.
2010
Rebrand Paradise Paintball as UberStrikeGeneration changeBackground
Cmune's original browser shooter had gained recognition across Facebook, MySpace, and other distribution channels. The company chose to replace the Paradise Paintball name as it developed the product's broader identity.
Action taken
The game was renamed UberStrike on November 16, 2010.
Aftermath
UberStrike became Cmune's principal public-facing game and continued across browser, social, Mac, and iOS channels until its 2016 shutdown.
Recent events
- 2020
Cmune reportedly shut down[1]
Other
The studio was reported to have closed later in 2020, around the period when DeadHeads also ceased operation.
- 2018
UltraHunt entered closed pre-alpha development[1]
Product launch
Cmune began developing UltraHunt as a battle-royale game for Android and iOS. The project was reported to be in closed pre-alpha, with limited public information about its eventual release.
- 2017
DeadHeads launched on mobile[1]
Product launch
Cmune released DeadHeads, a mobile online first-person shooter for Android and iOS featuring customizable weapons, characters, and multiple maps.
- 2016
UberStrike shutdown announced[1]
Other
Cmune announced on April 13 that UberStrike would close. The game's servers were terminated on June 13, 2016.
- 2010
Paradise Paintball received Game Developers Conference recognition[1]
Other
The game was recognized as Best New App at GDC in March 2010, reflecting the attention generated by its browser-based real-time multiplayer format.
- 2010
Paradise Paintball renamed UberStrike[1]
Product generation
Cmune changed the name of Paradise Paintball to UberStrike on November 16, 2010, consolidating the identity of its flagship online shooter.
- 2009
Paradise Paintball selected for Facebook fbFund 2009[1]
Other
Cmune's predecessor project Paradise Paintball was selected as one of the winners of the 2009 fbFund program operated by Facebook, Accel Partners, and The Founders Fund.
Sources3 sources
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