The Reason Behind Amplitude Studios' Departure from Sega

Amplitude Studios, based in Paris, made a name for itself in 2012 with the release of Endless Space, a 4X turn-based strategy game. This was followed by 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, providing the studio with more resources to create games on par with those developed by Wargaming, Paradox, and 2K, as stated by co-founder Romain de Waubert de Genlis at the time. This partnership resulted in the release of the ambitious 4X title Humankind in 2021. However, in 2024, Amplitude parted ways with Sega, just months after the Japanese publisher sold off Relic Entertainment, another PC-focused studio. In an interview, de Genlis reflected on the journey of Amplitude Studios, discussing the challenges and opportunities that arose during its time under Sega and its newfound independence. 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 success can be seen in the fact that its 4X games now reach over 2 to 3 million people, whereas initially, they were aiming for 40,000 to 60,000 players. De Genlis also discussed the development of Humankind, which introduced innovations such as a new approach to cultures, terrain, and combat. Although the game did not quite meet expectations, it was still a commercial success and helped establish Amplitude as a major player in the 4X genre. The decision to leave Sega was initiated by de Genlis, who saw that the studio's vision and goals were not aligned with those of the publisher. De Genlis expressed his desire to maintain control over Amplitude's IPs and keep the team intact, which was a key factor in the negotiations. With Amplitude now independent, de Genlis believes that the studio can make games more quickly and efficiently, without compromising on quality. The independence allows for faster decision-making and a more motivated team, as they are fighting for their own games and are experts in their field.