Foundation 9 Entertainment
Corporate brand
UnclaimedFoundation 9 Entertainment was an American video-game development group created through the 2005 merger of Backbone Entertainment and The Collective.
Last updated August 25, 2026
Overview
Foundation 9 Entertainment, Inc. was an American video-game development company that assembled and operated a large network of studios in North America, Europe, and India. The company was established on March 29, 2005, through the merger of Backbone Entertainment and The Collective, bringing together developers with experience in licensed games, console development, handheld software, and technology services. It initially operated from Los Angeles and later became associated with Irvine, California. The company pursued an acquisitive growth strategy. Soon after its creation, it acquired Pipeworks Software and took an equity position in Hollywood management company Circle of Confusion. These moves reflected an ambition to combine game production with broader entertainment relationships and to expand its development capacity across platforms. Its studio portfolio included Backbone Entertainment, The Collective, Pipeworks, Amaze Entertainment, Griptonite Games, Shiny Entertainment, Sumo Digital, and several smaller or specialized teams. Foundation 9's most significant expansion followed a 2006 financing commitment from Francisco Partners. The investment gave the company resources to acquire established developers, including Shiny Entertainment from Atari in October 2006 and Amaze Entertainment and associated studios the following month. In August 2007, Foundation 9 acquired Sumo Digital and its Indian subsidiary. These transactions made the company one of the larger independent video-game development organizations of its period, with capabilities spanning console, PC, handheld, mobile, and outsourced development. A central part of its strategy was the consolidation of The Collective and Shiny Entertainment. The two studios were brought together in Irvine and formally rebranded as Double Helix Games in 2008. Foundation 9 also restored the Griptonite Games and Fizz Factor names after they had been absorbed into Amaze. The group nevertheless experienced contraction as market conditions changed. Fizz Factor was closed in 2009, Amaze was merged into Griptonite, and Double Helix reduced its workforce. Backbone's Vancouver operation closed in 2009, while ImaginEngine was closed in 2012 and Backbone's Emeryville operation substantially reduced its staff. Foundation 9 subsequently began selling or separating major assets. Griptonite Games and Griptonite India were sold to Glu Mobile in 2011. Double Helix Games was sold to Amazon in February 2014, and Pipeworks was sold to Digital Bros later that year. Sumo Digital and Sumo India were sold in a management buyout backed by NorthEdge Capital. After these transactions, the group no longer retained the operating structure that had defined it during its expansion period. In 2015, its board elected to dissolve the company. Foundation 9 is therefore a defunct corporate video-game development group rather than an active publisher or consumer-facing game brand.
History
Foundation 9 Entertainment was created on March 29, 2005, when Backbone Entertainment and The Collective merged. The transaction established a holding and operating structure intended to coordinate multiple game-development teams rather than create a single consumer-facing software label. Its initial leadership included chief executive Jon Goldman, co-presidents Andrew Ayre and Douglas Hare, co-chairmen Gary Priest and Mark Loughridge, chief creative officer Richard Hare, Canadian operations executive Jeff Vavasour, chief financial officer Steven Sardegna, and chief operating officer Larry Kelly. The company expanded almost immediately. On April 12, 2005, it acquired Pipeworks Software, and it later acquired an equity interest in Circle of Confusion, a Hollywood management company. The Circle of Confusion relationship was intended to create a connection between game development and entertainment-industry representation. Foundation 9 also brought Dan Duncalf, Pipeworks' president and co-founder, onto its board. A major turning point came on June 1, 2006, when Francisco Partners agreed to provide Foundation 9 with US$150 million in funding over several years, with further funding available if required. The capital supported a series of acquisitions. Foundation 9 bought Shiny Entertainment from Atari in October 2006 and acquired Amaze Entertainment and related studios in November. In August 2007 it acquired Sumo Digital and Sumo's Indian subsidiary, giving the group a substantial presence in the United Kingdom and India as well as a broader range of console and PC development skills. The company also reorganized its internal studio portfolio. Shiny and The Collective were brought together in Irvine and moved into shared 60,000-square-foot offices. The merger was announced in 2007, and the combined operation was named Double Helix Games in March 2008. In January 2008 Foundation 9 promoted David Mann to president, Chris Charla to vice-president of business development, and Jack Brummet to vice-president of quality assurance. James North-Hearn, one of Sumo Digital's founders, became chief executive officer in March 2008. Foundation 9's expansion was followed by a period of retrenchment. In July 2008 the company restored Griptonite Games and Fizz Factor as separate brand identities after their earlier absorption into Amaze. Fizz Factor was closed in July 2009, Amaze was merged into Griptonite, and Double Helix experienced staff reductions. Backbone Entertainment's Vancouver location closed in May 2009. In October 2012, the ImaginEngine studio was closed and Backbone's Emeryville operation laid off most of its staff. The Emeryville business later became associated with Other Ocean Group and the Digital Eclipse name. From 2011 onward, Foundation 9 increasingly separated its operating assets. Griptonite Games and Griptonite India were sold to Glu Mobile in August 2011 in exchange for Glu common stock. Double Helix Games was sold to Amazon in February 2014. Later in 2014, Foundation 9 sold Pipeworks to Italian publisher Digital Bros and Sumo Digital to its management, with the latter transaction backed by NorthEdge Capital. These disposals effectively dismantled the multi-studio group. In 2015, the board elected to dissolve the company. Foundation 9's history is consequently best understood as a cycle of consolidation, acquisition-led international expansion, studio restructuring, and eventual asset divestiture.
- 2015
Company dissolution
[1]Foundation 9's board elects to dissolve the company after the sale of its principal businesses.
- 2014
Major studio divestitures
[1]Double Helix is sold to Amazon, Pipeworks to Digital Bros, and Sumo Digital to its management.
- 2011
Griptonite is sold to Glu Mobile
[1]Griptonite Games and Griptonite India are divested to Glu Mobile.
- 2008
Double Helix Games is created
[1]The Collective and Shiny Entertainment are consolidated under the Double Helix Games name.
- 2007
Sumo Digital is acquired
[1]Sumo Digital and its Indian subsidiary become part of Foundation 9.
- 2006
Francisco Partners provides expansion funding
[1]Francisco Partners agrees to provide US$150 million in multi-year funding.
- 2006
Shiny and Amaze are acquired
[1]Foundation 9 acquires Shiny Entertainment from Atari and Amaze Entertainment with related studios.
- 2005
Foundation 9 is established
[1]Backbone Entertainment and The Collective merge on March 29 to form Foundation 9 Entertainment.
- 2005
Pipeworks joins the group
[1]Foundation 9 acquires Pipeworks Software shortly after its formation.
Products and positioning
A diversified independent video-game development group built through studio acquisitions, consolidation, and cross-platform production services.
Game development · 2005
Console and PC development services
Foundation 9 coordinated studios that developed and co-developed games for home consoles and personal computers. Its portfolio included teams with experience in licensed entertainment properties, original projects, technical development, and publisher-supported production. The corporate group generally supplied development capacity to publishers and rights holders rather than marketing a single, unified Foundation 9 software franchise.
Game development · 2005
Handheld and mobile development
Through Amaze, Griptonite, Fizz Factor, and related teams, Foundation 9 supported development for handheld and mobile platforms. These studios were particularly relevant to licensed and platform-adapted games, and their work broadened the group beyond traditional console production. Griptonite and Griptonite India were eventually sold to Glu Mobile in 2011.
Development studio · 2008
Double Helix Games
Double Helix Games was the consolidated Irvine studio created from The Collective and Shiny Entertainment. It served as one of Foundation 9's principal internal development operations after the two studios were combined. Double Helix remained within the group until its sale to Amazon in 2014.
Co-development and technology services · 2005
Pipeworks Software
Pipeworks Software was acquired shortly after Foundation 9 was formed. It contributed game-development and technical production capabilities to the wider group. Foundation 9 later sold Pipeworks to Italian publisher Digital Bros in 2014 as part of the company's withdrawal from direct studio ownership.
Development studio · 2007
Sumo Digital
Sumo Digital and its Indian subsidiary joined Foundation 9 in 2007, adding United Kingdom and India-based development capacity. The business was later separated from Foundation 9 in a management buyout backed by NorthEdge Capital in 2014.
Brand decisions
2015
Dissolve Foundation 9 EntertainmentOtherBackground
Following the divestiture of its principal studios, Foundation 9 no longer maintained the operating network that had defined the company.
Action taken
The board of directors elected to dissolve the company.
Aftermath
Foundation 9 became defunct, while its former studios continued under new ownership or independent management.
2014
Sell remaining major operating studiosM&ABackground
Foundation 9 had already sold Griptonite and was continuing to unwind its multi-studio structure.
Action taken
The company sold Double Helix to Amazon, Pipeworks to Digital Bros, and Sumo Digital to its management in a NorthEdge Capital-backed transaction.
Aftermath
The disposals removed the group's principal operating businesses and preceded its dissolution.
2011
Divest Griptonite GamesM&ABackground
Foundation 9 began reducing its portfolio of operating studios after a period of expansion.
Action taken
Griptonite Games and Griptonite India were sold to Glu Mobile in exchange for Glu common stock.
Aftermath
The sale transferred Foundation 9's handheld and mobile-focused operations to Glu Mobile.
Consideration. 6 million shares of Glu common stock (2011)
2008
Consolidate The Collective and Shiny EntertainmentStrategyBackground
Both studios operated in Irvine and had overlapping roles within Foundation 9's expanding development portfolio.
Action taken
Foundation 9 merged the studios and rebranded the combined operation as Double Helix Games.
Aftermath
Double Helix became a principal Foundation 9 studio until Amazon acquired it in 2014.
2006
Adopt an acquisition-led expansion strategyStrategyBackground
After its formation, Foundation 9 sought to build a broad international development network rather than operate as a single studio.
Action taken
The company used Francisco Partners funding to acquire Shiny Entertainment, Amaze Entertainment, and Sumo Digital and to expand its range of platform capabilities.
Aftermath
The acquisitions made Foundation 9 a large multi-studio developer but also created a complex portfolio that was later restructured and sold.
Committed investment funding. US$150 million committed over several years (2006)
Recent events
- 2015
Foundation 9 board elects to dissolve the company[1]
Bankruptcy
After divesting its major operating businesses, the board elected to dissolve Foundation 9 Entertainment.
- 2014
Double Helix Games is sold to Amazon[1]
M&A
Amazon acquired Double Helix Games, removing one of Foundation 9's principal internal development studios from its portfolio.
- 2014
Pipeworks and Sumo Digital are divested[1]
M&A
Foundation 9 sold Pipeworks to Digital Bros and sold Sumo Digital to its management in a NorthEdge Capital-backed buyout.
- 2011
Griptonite is sold to Glu Mobile[1]
M&A
Foundation 9 sold Griptonite Games and Griptonite India to Glu Mobile in a transaction involving Glu common shares.
- 2010
Foundation 9 acquires FXLabs[1]
M&A
Hyderabad-based FXLabs was acquired and incorporated into Griptonite as Griptonite India.
- 2009
Foundation 9 closes Fizz Factor and reduces staff at Double Helix[1]
Leadership change · Other
Fizz Factor was closed, Amaze was combined with Griptonite, and Double Helix underwent staff reductions as the group streamlined operations.
- 2008
The Collective and Shiny Entertainment consolidate as Double Helix Games[1]
Product generation
The two Irvine studios were merged and ultimately operated under the Double Helix Games name.
- 2007
Foundation 9 acquires Sumo Digital[1]
M&A
Sumo Digital and its Indian studio became part of Foundation 9's international development network.
- 2006
Francisco Partners commits funding to Foundation 9[1]
M&A
Francisco Partners agreed to provide substantial multi-year funding, supporting Foundation 9's subsequent acquisition program.
- 2006
Foundation 9 acquires Shiny Entertainment[1]
M&A
Foundation 9 purchased Shiny Entertainment from Atari and later combined it with The Collective.
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