inXile Entertainment
Corporate brand
UnclaimedinXile Entertainment is an American role-playing game developer and an Xbox Game Studios studio known for story-driven fantasy and post-apocalyptic games.
Last updated August 22, 2026
Overview
inXile Entertainment is an American video game development studio based in Tustin, California, and operating as part of Xbox Game Studios. The company was founded in 2002 by Brian Fargo, a co-founder of Interplay and a veteran of the role-playing game industry. Its name was derived from the founders' feeling that they were temporarily "in exile" after leaving Interplay, a phrase that was turned into the stylized company name inXile. The studio has primarily specialized in role-playing games, while also working in adjacent formats and on smaller digital projects. During its first decade, inXile developed or published projects associated with established fantasy properties, including The Bard's Tale, and produced Hunted: The Demon's Forge. It also worked on Flash and iOS projects, including Fantastic Contraption, reflecting a period in which the company explored browser, mobile, and user-generated-content opportunities in addition to conventional boxed and downloadable games. A major turning point came in 2012, when inXile used Kickstarter to finance Wasteland 2. The project was a sequel to Interplay's Wasteland and was built with significant involvement from members of the original development team. Its crowdfunding campaign substantially exceeded its initial target, raising more than $2.9 million against a $900,000 goal. The campaign demonstrated the commercial potential of directly addressing players who wanted traditional, computer-oriented role-playing games that were not being widely funded by the mainstream market. During the campaign, Brian Fargo also introduced the Kicking it Forward pledge, under which inXile committed 5 percent of post-launch net profits to supporting future Kickstarter projects. The success of Wasteland 2 encouraged another crowdfunding effort. In 2013, inXile launched Kickstarter for Torment: Tides of Numenera, described as a spiritual successor to Interplay's Planescape: Torment. The campaign reached $1 million in approximately seven hours, setting a Kickstarter speed record at the time, and ultimately helped establish inXile as one of the best-known developers associated with the revival of classic computer role-playing game design through crowdfunding. Wasteland 2 was released in 2014 and became a central part of the studio's identity. InXile expanded its development footprint in 2015 by opening a second studio in New Orleans. The company later continued its Wasteland line with Wasteland 3, released in 2020. The game was developed during the transition to Microsoft ownership and represented a larger-scale continuation of the studio's role-playing strategy. Microsoft announced in 2018 that it was acquiring inXile Entertainment, alongside Obsidian Entertainment. The transaction made inXile part of Xbox Game Studios. Brian Fargo said the acquisition could help the studio move beyond the difficult middle ground between independent development and high-budget AAA production by providing greater resources and a stronger platform relationship. The original Newport Beach office was subsequently moved to Tustin by January 2021. The studio remains active under Xbox Game Studios. In 2023, inXile unveiled Clockwork Revolution, a role-playing game in development for Windows and Xbox Series X/S. Its public identity continues to center on narrative-focused role-playing games, long-form campaigns, established or revived intellectual properties, and ambitious projects supported by a larger first-party publishing structure.
History
inXile Entertainment was established on October 26, 2002, in Newport Beach, California, by Brian Fargo. Fargo had co-founded Interplay and had spent many years in the role-playing game business. Matthew Findley, who had also worked at Interplay, later described the circumstances behind the company's unusual name: after leaving their former employer, the founders felt as though they were in exile from the industry. They initially used informal cards featuring the phrase "leader in exile," and the repeated expression eventually became the basis for the stylized name inXile. The studio's early work covered several formats and levels of production. It developed fantasy-oriented games such as The Bard's Tale and Hunted: The Demon's Forge, while also making smaller digital projects for Flash and iOS. Fantastic Contraption was among the projects associated with this phase. In 2008, inXile announced SparkWorkz, an online division intended to focus on user-generated content. The initiative drew on the company's experience with Line Rider, and former Microsoft executive David Heeley was hired to oversee the division. The company's most important strategic shift began in 2012. Rather than relying solely on conventional publishing finance, inXile launched a Kickstarter campaign for Wasteland 2. The game was conceived as a sequel to Interplay's Wasteland, with much of the original creative lineage represented in the project. The campaign had an initial goal of $900,000 and ended after raising $2,933,252. Its performance showed that a large, dedicated audience would directly finance a traditional, party-based computer role-playing game. It also helped reconnect inXile with the design traditions associated with Fargo's earlier work. During the Wasteland 2 campaign, Fargo created the Kicking it Forward program. inXile pledged to direct 5 percent of post-launch net profits toward backing later Kickstarter projects. The initiative positioned the studio not only as a beneficiary of crowdfunding but also as a participant in the development of a broader crowdfunding ecosystem. In March 2013, inXile launched a second major Kickstarter campaign, this time for Torment: Tides of Numenera. The project was presented as a spiritual successor to Interplay's Planescape: Torment and drew on the appeal of narrative-heavy, choice-oriented role-playing games. It reached one million dollars in approximately seven hours and two minutes, setting a record for the fastest Kickstarter campaign to reach that threshold at the time. Wasteland 2 was released in 2014, while Torment: Tides of Numenera became another prominent example of the studio's focus on reviving classic computer-RPG concepts. The company expanded geographically in October 2015 by opening inXile New Orleans. This created a second development base while the original operation remained associated with Southern California. The Newport Beach office was moved to Tustin by January 2021. In November 2018, Microsoft Studios announced that it was in the final stages of acquiring inXile Entertainment and Obsidian Entertainment. Fargo said Microsoft had approached him earlier that year about a possible acquisition and argued that the arrangement could help inXile overcome the resource gap between independent development and high-budget AAA production. The acquisition made the studio part of Xbox Game Studios and gave its projects access to the resources and platform structure of Microsoft's first-party gaming organization. inXile continued its principal franchise work with Wasteland 3, released in 2020. In 2023, the studio unveiled Clockwork Revolution at the Xbox Games Showcase. The title was described as being developed for Windows and Xbox Series X/S. The available reference material does not establish a release date or completion status for the project. inXile's documented trajectory therefore runs from a small post-Interplay formation, through experimental digital work and crowdfunding-led role-playing revivals, to its current position as a Microsoft-owned Xbox Game Studios developer.
- 2023
Clockwork Revolution is unveiled
[1]The studio announced Clockwork Revolution for Windows and Xbox Series X/S during the Xbox Games Showcase.
- 2020
Wasteland 3 is released
[1]inXile released the third main installment in its post-apocalyptic role-playing series.
- 2018
Microsoft announces acquisition
[1]Microsoft announced the acquisition of inXile, which subsequently became part of Xbox Game Studios.
- 2015
inXile New Orleans opens
[1]The company established a second development studio in New Orleans.
- 2014
Wasteland 2 is released
[1]The studio released its crowdfunded sequel to Interplay's Wasteland.
- 2013
Torment: Tides of Numenera crowdfunding campaign
[1]The campaign reached one million dollars in about seven hours and two minutes.
- 2012
Wasteland 2 crowdfunding campaign
[1]The Kickstarter campaign for Wasteland 2 raised $2,933,252 against a $900,000 goal.
- 2008
SparkWorkz is announced
[1]inXile announced an online division focused on user-generated content and appointed David Heeley to oversee it.
- 2002
inXile Entertainment is founded
[1]Brian Fargo founded the company on October 26 in Newport Beach, California.
Products and positioning
A specialist role-playing game studio combining classic computer-RPG design, narrative-heavy franchises, and larger-scale development within Xbox Game Studios.
Role-playing game
The Bard's Tale
A fantasy role-playing title associated with inXile's early development portfolio. It connected the studio to a recognized computer-RPG property and reflected its emphasis on fantasy settings and role-playing mechanics.
Action role-playing game
Hunted: The Demon's Forge
A fantasy action role-playing game developed by inXile during the company's first decade. It broadened the studio's portfolio beyond strictly traditional computer role-playing formats.
Digital and mobile game
Fantastic Contraption
A project associated with inXile's work on Flash and iOS, representing the studio's early exploration of smaller digital and mobile products alongside larger console and computer games.
Post-apocalyptic role-playing game · 2014
Wasteland 2
A sequel to Interplay's Wasteland and one of inXile's defining projects. It was financed through a highly successful Kickstarter campaign and continued the series' post-apocalyptic setting while emphasizing party-based, choice-driven role-playing.
Narrative role-playing game
Torment: Tides of Numenera
A narrative-focused role-playing game developed as a spiritual successor to Planescape: Torment. Its crowdfunding campaign became one of the most visible examples of inXile's strategy of using direct player support to revive classic computer-RPG traditions.
Post-apocalyptic role-playing game · 2020
Wasteland 3
The next major installment in the Wasteland series, released in 2020. It continued inXile's focus on post-apocalyptic settings and role-playing systems while being developed during the studio's transition into Microsoft's Xbox Game Studios organization.
Role-playing game
Clockwork Revolution
A role-playing game unveiled by inXile at the 2023 Xbox Games Showcase. It is identified as being in development for Windows and Xbox Series X/S; the available material does not provide a confirmed release date.
Marketing campaigns
- 2013Torment: Tides of Numenera Kickstarter
Global
The studio sought direct player financing for a spiritual successor to Planescape: Torment.
Outcome. The campaign reached one million dollars in approximately seven hours and two minutes, setting a Kickstarter speed record for reaching that amount at the time.
- 2012Wasteland 2 Kickstarter
Global
inXile used Kickstarter to finance Wasteland 2, setting an initial target of $900,000 and finishing with $2,933,252 in pledges.
Outcome. The campaign exceeded its target by more than three times and helped establish crowdfunding as a core financing route for the studio's classic-style role-playing projects.
- 2012Kicking it Forward
Global
Brian Fargo created a pledge during the Wasteland 2 campaign under which inXile would use part of the game's post-launch net profits to support later Kickstarter projects.
Outcome. The studio committed 5 percent of post-launch net profits to backing future Kickstarter projects.
Brand decisions
2023
Unveiling of Clockwork RevolutionProduct launchBackground
Following its integration into Xbox Game Studios, inXile presented a new role-playing project at Microsoft's Xbox Games Showcase.
Action taken
The studio unveiled Clockwork Revolution for Windows and Xbox Series X/S.
Aftermath
The available material identifies the game as in development but does not establish a release date or later production milestone.
2018
Acquisition by MicrosoftM&ABackground
According to Brian Fargo, inXile occupied an intermediate position between independent development and high-budget AAA production, making access to greater resources strategically valuable.
Action taken
Microsoft acquired inXile Entertainment and incorporated it into Xbox Game Studios.
Aftermath
The studio continued developing role-playing games within Microsoft's first-party gaming organization, including Wasteland 3 and Clockwork Revolution.
2012
Adoption of crowdfunding for Wasteland 2StrategyBackground
The studio sought to finance a sequel to Interplay's Wasteland while retaining the style associated with classic computer role-playing games.
Action taken
inXile launched a Kickstarter campaign with a $900,000 target and accepted direct financial support from players.
Aftermath
The campaign raised $2,933,252 and encouraged the studio to pursue another major Kickstarter campaign for Torment: Tides of Numenera.
Kickstarter pledges. $900,000 target → $2,933,252 raised (2012 campaign)
2008
Creation of the SparkWorkz online divisionStrategyBackground
inXile sought to apply its experience with Line Rider to online and user-generated content.
Action taken
The company announced SparkWorkz and appointed former Microsoft executive David Heeley to oversee the division.
Aftermath
The available material does not document the division's later performance or continuing status.
Recent events
- 2023
inXile unveils Clockwork Revolution[1]
Product launch
inXile presented Clockwork Revolution during the Xbox Games Showcase. The game was identified as being in development for Windows and Xbox Series X/S.
- 2021
inXile moves its Newport Beach office to Tustin[1]
Other
The company's Newport Beach office had moved to Tustin by January 2021, establishing the current headquarters location identified in reference material.
- 2020
Wasteland 3 is released[1]
Product launch · Product generation
inXile released Wasteland 3, continuing its post-apocalyptic role-playing series after the studio had become part of Xbox Game Studios.
- 2018
Microsoft announces acquisition of inXile Entertainment[1]
M&A
Microsoft announced that it was in the final stages of acquiring inXile, bringing the developer into the Xbox Game Studios organization alongside Obsidian Entertainment.
- 2015
inXile opens a New Orleans development studio[1]
Other
The company expanded its development operations by opening inXile New Orleans as a second studio.
- 2013
Torment: Tides of Numenera sets an early Kickstarter funding record[1]
Campaign · Product launch
The crowdfunding campaign for Torment: Tides of Numenera reached one million dollars in roughly seven hours, supporting a spiritual successor to Planescape: Torment.
- 2012
inXile launches Wasteland 2 Kickstarter campaign[1]
Campaign · Product launch
inXile turned to Kickstarter to fund Wasteland 2, a sequel to Interplay's Wasteland. The campaign exceeded its initial target by more than three times and became a defining moment in the studio's return to classic computer role-playing games.
Sources1 sources
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