Gunfire Games
Gunfire Games is an American video-game development studio founded by David Adams in 2014 and known for the Darksiders and Remnant franchises.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Gunfire Games is an American video-game developer headquartered in Austin, Texas. The studio was founded in July 2014 by David Adams, a veteran of the Texas development scene who had previously co-founded Vigil Games. Vigil created the Darksiders series and was acquired by THQ in 2006, but its operations were disrupted when THQ entered bankruptcy proceedings in 2012 and ultimately folded in 2013. After Vigil’s closure, Adams helped establish Crytek USA, an American branch of Crytek, and brought a substantial portion of the former Vigil team into that operation. Crytek USA was created rapidly after no buyer acquired Vigil Games in the THQ bankruptcy auctions. Adams served as its chief executive and assembled a team that included many former Vigil employees. The American studio nevertheless experienced prolonged financial constraints as Crytek encountered broader financial difficulties. After approximately eighteen months at Crytek USA, Adams chose to establish an independent company. Gunfire Games began with seven people, primarily former Crytek USA leads, and Matthew Guzenda served as studio director. The team expanded to approximately 22 employees by February 2015 and around 60 by November 2017. During its early period, Gunfire used virtual-reality development and work-for-hire projects to establish its business. It created games for platforms including Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear VR, with early titles such as Herobound: Spirit Champion, Herobound Gladiators, Chronos, Dead and Buried, and From Other Suns. This work gave the studio experience in immersive game design while providing a financial foundation for larger projects. The company’s historical connection to Vigil Games shaped its later direction. After discussions with Nordic Games, the company that subsequently became THQ Nordic, Gunfire developed Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition, a remastered version of the second Darksiders game originally made by Vigil. Gunfire then developed Darksiders III, a new mainline entry in the series, which launched in 2018. These projects re-established the former Vigil team’s connection with the franchise and positioned Gunfire as an important developer within THQ Nordic’s expanding portfolio. Gunfire Games was acquired by THQ Nordic in August 2019 for an undisclosed amount. At the time of the acquisition, the studio had 63 employees. The acquisition made Gunfire part of a larger publishing and development structure while allowing it to continue working as a distinct studio. On August 20, 2019, the studio released Remnant: From the Ashes through publisher Perfect World Entertainment. The title broadened Gunfire’s profile beyond Darksiders and became associated with the studio’s action-oriented, cooperative survival and role-playing design work. Gunfire’s known portfolio spans action-adventure games, role-playing games, remasters, cooperative shooters, and virtual-reality titles. Its work is particularly associated with serialized worlds, third-person combat, challenging encounters, and multiplayer or cooperative systems. In October 2025, the sister company Appeal Studios was assigned to Gunfire Games as Gunfire Games Europe, according to the referenced account. Gunfire therefore operates within the wider THQ Nordic and Embracer Group structure while retaining an identity rooted in original development, franchise continuation, and technically varied game production.
History
Gunfire Games emerged from the collapse and reorganization of several earlier development operations connected with the Darksiders franchise. David Adams had previously co-founded Vigil Games in 2005 with other former NCSoft employees. Vigil was acquired by THQ in 2006 and developed the first two Darksiders games. THQ later filed for bankruptcy in 2012 and folded in 2013, ending Vigil’s independent operation. Near the end of Vigil’s existence, Crytek approached Adams about establishing an American branch. Adams became chief executive of Crytek USA and brought roughly two-thirds of the former Vigil workforce, approximately 50 people, into the new studio. The arrangement was created quickly because no company had bid for Vigil in THQ’s bankruptcy auctions. Crytek USA subsequently faced chronic underfunding as Crytek experienced financial difficulties. Adams eventually decided to create an independent studio rather than continue operating under a financially troubled parent organization. Gunfire Games was founded in July 2014. The studio initially consisted of seven people, all former leads from Crytek USA, and Matthew Guzenda served as studio director. The company grew to approximately 22 employees by February 2015 and approximately 60 by November 2017. Its early financial strategy centered on virtual-reality development, including both original work and projects commissioned for platforms such as Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear VR. The resulting portfolio included Herobound: Spirit Champion, Herobound Gladiators, Chronos, Dead and Buried, and From Other Suns. The studio later re-entered the Darksiders series through a relationship with Nordic Games, which became THQ Nordic. Gunfire developed Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition, a remaster of a game originally created by Vigil, and then produced Darksiders III, a new franchise installment released in 2018. These projects established Gunfire as the successor studio most directly associated with Vigil’s creative and technical legacy. THQ Nordic acquired Gunfire Games in August 2019 for an undisclosed price. The studio remained identifiable as a separate development operation within the acquiring group. That same month, on August 20, Gunfire released Remnant: From the Ashes through Perfect World Entertainment. The title expanded the company’s public identity beyond Darksiders and reinforced its association with action-oriented cooperative games. The referenced account states that in October 2025, sister company Appeal Studios was assigned to Gunfire Games as Gunfire Games Europe. This indicates a later expansion of the studio’s organizational footprint within the broader THQ Nordic and Embracer Group structure. Across its history, Gunfire has combined franchise development, remaster production, original intellectual property, cooperative action design, and virtual-reality experimentation.
- 2025
Appeal Studios assigned as Gunfire Games Europe
[1]The referenced account states that Appeal Studios became associated with Gunfire as Gunfire Games Europe in October 2025.
- 2019
THQ Nordic acquisition and Remnant release
[1]THQ Nordic acquired Gunfire in August, while Remnant: From the Ashes launched on August 20 through Perfect World Entertainment.
- 2018
Darksiders III released
[1]Gunfire released a new mainline Darksiders game after first developing a remastered edition of Darksiders II.
- 2017
Studio reaches approximately 60 employees
[1]Gunfire Games had expanded to around 60 people by November 2017.
- 2015
Early studio expansion and virtual-reality development
[1]The studio grew to approximately 22 employees by February and pursued virtual-reality projects for Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear VR.
- 2014
Gunfire Games established
[1]David Adams founded Gunfire Games in July after leaving Crytek USA, initially assembling seven former Crytek USA leads.
- 2013
Vigil Games folded
[1]Vigil Games ceased operations after THQ’s collapse and the bankruptcy auction process.
- 2012
THQ filed for bankruptcy
[1]THQ entered bankruptcy proceedings, a development that ultimately led to the closure of Vigil Games and the dispersal of its team.
- 2006
Vigil Games acquired by THQ
[1]THQ acquired Vigil Games, which continued developing the Darksiders series under the publisher.
- 2005
Vigil Games founded
[1]David Adams and other former NCSoft employees co-founded Vigil Games, the predecessor studio whose Darksiders work later influenced Gunfire Games.
Products and positioning
A developer of action-focused console, PC, and virtual-reality games, with a particular emphasis on dark fantasy, science-fiction settings, challenging combat, cooperative play, and the continuation or expansion of established game franchises.
Virtual-reality video game
Herobound: Spirit Champion
One of Gunfire Games’ early virtual-reality projects, developed during the studio’s initial period when it used VR work and commissioned projects to build its business. The title formed part of the company’s early portfolio for emerging VR hardware.
Virtual-reality video game
Herobound Gladiators
An early Gunfire Games virtual-reality title created as the studio developed experience with immersive platforms. It belongs to the group of VR projects that supported the company before its larger franchise assignments.
Virtual-reality role-playing game
Chronos
A virtual-reality role-playing project from Gunfire’s early portfolio. Its development reflects the studio’s initial concentration on VR design and its effort to create original experiences rather than relying only on established franchises.
Virtual-reality action game
Dead and Buried
A Gunfire-developed virtual-reality game created for the early VR market. It demonstrates the studio’s work across immersive action formats during the period when VR projects were an important source of development experience and financing.
Virtual-reality science-fiction game
From Other Suns
A science-fiction virtual-reality title developed by Gunfire Games as part of its early VR portfolio. The project broadened the studio’s experience beyond fantasy action and supported its development work on Oculus-oriented hardware.
Action-adventure remaster
Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition
A remastered edition of Darksiders II, the game originally created by Vigil Games. Gunfire’s work on the edition reconnected the studio’s former Vigil personnel with the franchise and helped establish its relationship with Nordic Games, later known as THQ Nordic.
Action-adventure video game · 2018
Darksiders III
A new mainline entry in the Darksiders series developed by Gunfire Games and released in 2018. The game represented the studio’s transition from remaster work into original development within the franchise associated with its predecessor, Vigil Games.
Cooperative action role-playing game · 2019
Remnant: From the Ashes
A Gunfire Games title released on August 20, 2019, through publisher Perfect World Entertainment. The game expanded the studio’s portfolio beyond Darksiders and became a key example of its action-focused, cooperative game development.
Brand decisions
2025
Establish Gunfire Games Europe through Appeal StudiosStrategyBackground
The referenced account describes a later organizational alignment involving Gunfire Games and its sister company Appeal Studios.
Action taken
In October 2025, Appeal Studios was assigned to Gunfire Games as Gunfire Games Europe.
Aftermath
The change expanded the organizational scope associated with the Gunfire Games name within the wider corporate group.
2019
Join THQ NordicM&ABackground
Gunfire had developed Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition and Darksiders III in cooperation with Nordic Games, which had become THQ Nordic.
Action taken
THQ Nordic acquired Gunfire Games in August 2019 for an undisclosed amount.
Aftermath
Gunfire became part of the THQ Nordic organization while continuing to operate as a recognizable development studio. It had 63 employees at the time of acquisition.
2014
Form an independent development studioStrategyBackground
David Adams chose to leave Crytek USA after the American branch experienced chronic underfunding amid Crytek’s wider financial difficulties.
Action taken
Adams founded Gunfire Games in July 2014 and began with a small group of former Crytek USA leads.
Aftermath
The independent studio grew, developed VR titles, returned to the Darksiders franchise, and was later acquired by THQ Nordic.
2014
Use virtual reality as an early business foundationStrategyBackground
As a new independent studio, Gunfire needed development work and financing before taking on larger franchise projects.
Action taken
The company pursued original and work-for-hire virtual-reality projects for platforms including Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear VR.
Aftermath
Gunfire produced a group of VR titles and expanded from its initial seven-person team to approximately 60 employees by late 2017.
Sources1 sources
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