The Reason Behind Amplitude Studios' Departure from Sega

Amplitude Studios, a Paris-based game developer, made its mark in 2012 with the release of Endless Space, a 4X turn-based strategy game. This was followed by several sequels and spin-offs, including Endless Legend and Dungeon of the Endless in 2014, and Endless Space 2 in 2017. In 2016, Sega acquired Amplitude Studios, providing the studio with more resources to create games comparable to those developed by Wargaming, Paradox, and 2K. However, in 2024, Amplitude parted ways with Sega, just months after the Japanese publisher sold Relic Entertainment. In a recent interview, de Genlis reflected on the past decade, discussing the highs and lows of the studio's journey. De Genlis explained that Amplitude's goal was to bring more art, storytelling, music, and focus on interface to 4X games, making them more appealing to a wider audience. The studio's efforts paid off, with their games reaching over 2 million players, a significant increase from their initial target of 40,000 to 60,000 players. De Genlis also discussed the development of Humankind, a historical 4X game that introduced innovations such as cultural representation, terrain interaction, and tactical combat. Although the game did not meet expectations at launch, it eventually became the studio's most successful game financially and in terms of player numbers. Amplitude's departure from Sega was initiated by de Genlis, who felt that the studio's vision and strengths were not aligned with Sega's focus on core IPs and mobile games. The separation was a lengthy process, taking nearly a year and a half to finalize, during which time Sega made significant redundancies. De Genlis emphasized the importance of retaining the studio's IPs and workforce, which was essential for their survival and success as an independent studio. As an independent studio, Amplitude aims to create high-quality games with smaller budgets and optimized work habits, allowing for faster development and more motivated team members.