View source for Company:Volition

{{Short description|American video game developer}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Deep Silver Volition, LLC
| logo = Volition logo.svg
| logo_alt = The letter "V" is displayed in black, with a white, male face shown in its center. Below the letter, the word "Volition" is rendered in lower-case letters.
| logo_caption = The 2013 variation of Volition's logo
| former_name = {{Plainlist|
* Parallax Software Corporation (1993–1996)
* Volition, Inc. (1996–2013)
}}
| type = [[Social:Subsidiary|Subsidiary]]
| industry = Video games
| founded = {{Start date and age|1993|06|14}}
| defunct = {{End date and age|2023|08|31}}
| founders = {{Plainlist|
* Mike Kulas
* Matt Toschlog
}}
| hq_location_city = Champaign, Illinois
| hq_location_country = US
| key_people = {{Plainlist|class=nowrap|
* Jim Torbit ([[Social:General manager|general manager]])<ref name="torbit">{{cite video game |title=[[Software:Saints Row (2022 video game)|Saints Row]] |developer=Volition |publisher=[[Company:Deep Silver|Deep Silver]] |date=August 23, 2022 |scene=Credits}}</ref>
* Jim Boone ([[Social:Chief creative officer|CCO]])<ref name="torbit" />
}}
| products = {{Plainlist|
* ''[[Software:Descent (1995 video game)|Descent]]'' series
* ''[[Software:Descent: FreeSpace – The Great War|FreeSpace]]'' series
* ''[[Software:Summoner (video game)|Summoner]]'' series
* ''[[Software:Red Faction|Red Faction]]'' series
* ''[[Software:Saints Row|Saints Row]]'' series
* ''[[Software:Agents of Mayhem|Agents of Mayhem]]''
}}
| num_employees = 236<ref>{{cite web |url=https://embracer.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Embracer-Annual-Report-and-Sustainability-Report-2021.pdf |title=Embracer Group Annual Report & Sustainability Report 2020 / 2021 |date=25 August 2021 |publisher=Embracer Group |access-date=12 September 2021 |archive-date=25 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825223946/https://embracer.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Embracer-Annual-Report-and-Sustainability-Report-2021.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>
| num_employees_year = 2021
| parent = {{Plainlist|
* [[Company:THQ|THQ]] (2000–2013)
* [[Company:Deep Silver|Deep Silver]]  (2013–2022)
* Gearbox Entertainment  (2022–2023)
}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.volitiongames.com/|volitiongames.com}}
}}

'''Deep Silver Volition, LLC''' (formerly '''Parallax Software Corporation''' and '''Volition, Inc.''') was an American [[Software:Video game developer|video game developer]] based in Champaign, Illinois. Mike Kulas and Matt Toschlog founded the company as Parallax Software in June 1993, developing ''[[Software:Descent (1995 video game)|Descent]]'' and ''[[Software:Descent II|Descent II]]''. By the time the sequel was completed, Toschlog had relocated to Ann Arbor, Michigan, with some employees to operate a satellite studio for Parallax. Kulas and Toschlog decided to split up the company, with Toschlog establishing Outrage Entertainment and Kulas staying with Parallax, which was renamed Volition in November 1996. With publisher [[Company:Interplay Entertainment|Interplay Entertainment]], Volition created ''[[Software:Descent: FreeSpace – The Great War|Descent]]'' and its sequel, ''[[Software:FreeSpace 2|FreeSpace 2]]''. The two companies parted ways during the development of ''[[Software:Summoner (video game)|Summoner]]''.

Volition found a new publisher in [[Company:THQ|THQ]], which acquired the studio in August 2000 and released the game shortly thereafter. Under THQ, Volition created the ''[[Software:Red Faction|Red Faction]]'' and ''[[Software:Saints Row|Saints Row]]'' series, developing four entries in each series. During the development of ''[[Software:Saints Row IV|Saints Row IV]]'', THQ filed for [[Finance:Bankruptcy|bankruptcy]] in December 2012. In the subsequent proceedings, Volition and the ''Saints Row'' [[Social:Intellectual property|intellectual property]] (IP) were sold to Koch Media (now Plaion) and became part of the company's [[Company:Deep Silver|Deep Silver]] label. Meanwhile, [[Company:THQ Nordic|Nordic Games]] acquired other THQ assets, including ''Summoner'' and ''Red Faction''. Volition reconnected with these IPs when Koch Media was acquired by Nordic Games' parent company (later known as Embracer Group) in February 2018. The studio developed two less successful games with 2017's ''[[Software:Agents of Mayhem|Agents of Mayhem]]'' and the 2022 [[Software:Saints Row (2022 video game)|''Saints Row'' reboot]]. The studio was transferred from Deep Silver to Gearbox Entertainment in November 2022, and later, on August 31, 2023, as part of a larger restructuring within the Embracer Group, Volition was shut down, with Volition's intellectual property moved to Plaion.

== History ==

=== Parallax Software and ''Descent'' (1993–1996) ===
[[File:Parallax Software logo.png|thumb|left|alt=The words "Parallax" and "Software" in red, aligned vertically, superimposed over a collage of stars|Parallax Software logo (1993–1996)]]
Parallax Software was founded on June 14, 1993, by Mike Kulas and Matt Toschlog.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /><ref name="Volition: Parallax founding" /> The company was incorporated under the name Parallax Software Corporation.<ref name="Outrage: Split" /> Both founders were [[Video game programmer|programmers]] who had previously worked together on ''[[Software:Car and Driver (video game)|Car and Driver]]''.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> This led them to consider launching their own game development company, knowing that, should they fail, they would have to return to working for other's companies.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> To reach a lower cost-of-living, Toschlog moved from Boston to Champaign, Illinois, where Kulas resided, and the two launched Parallax Software.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> Early on, they hired programmers John Slagel and Che-Yuan Wang, of which Wang also worked on level design.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> The team developed a rough concept for a game called ''Inferno'', which they pitched to [[Company:3D Realms|Apogee Software]], the primary publisher of [[Company:Id Software|id Software]].<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> Apogee began funding the game's development, though the funds did not suffice for the company over time.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" />

Because the team lacked an artist, Adam Pletcher was hired in January 1994.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> Shortly thereafter, Apogee dropped the project after it had been in development for seven months, though leaving Parallax with an already funded, functional prototype.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> Subsequently, while the studio was slowly running out of money, they produced a demo reel of the game and set it as a [[VHS]] tape to various publishers.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> Three companies—[[Company:Accolade|Accolade]], Trimark Interactive and Interplay Productions (where it was championed by Rusty Buchert)—offered to publish the game, of which Parallax chose Interplay.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> Jasen Whiteside then became Parallax's eighth employee, working on level design while studying [[Social:Industrial design|industrial design]] at school.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> With the studio lacking a [[Quality assurance|quality assurance]] department, the game was tested by the entire team.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> As Interplay's funds had also dried up, Parallax refused to ask them for more, not wanting to show signs of weakness.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> Instead, Kulas and Toschlog invested their own money into the continued development.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> Funds provided by Apogee, Interplay and the two founders totaled to about {{US$|450,000|link=yes}}.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> ''Inferno'', now titled ''[[Software:Descent (1995 video game)|Descent]]'', was released in March 1995 to widespread attention.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" />

By the time Parallax began development on another ''Descent'' game, the team had grown to about 14 people.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> Interplay wished for the studio to develop a "[[CD-ROM|CD]]-enhanced" version of the game, which would include high-resolution textures, cutscenes and Red Book-quality audio, as well as several new levels.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> Interplay marketed the game as a new game, ''[[Software:Descent II|Descent II]]'', so they could make more profit than they would have from a simple derivate version of the same game, and could publish a new game under the same contract they had with Parallax.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> As a result, Parallax profited heavily from ''Descent II''{{'s}} success.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" />

=== Creation of Volition (1996–1997) ===
Although Toschlog had moved to Champaign from Boston, he did not want to stay in Champaign long-term.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> During the development of ''Descent II'', he and three designers moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to open a second office for Parallax.<ref name="Gamasutra: Descent 3" /> At the new office, Toschlog also hired two further programmers.<ref name="Gamasutra: Descent 3" /> After ''Descent II'' had shipped, the team came to the conclusion that working on the same game out of two distant offices had adverse effects on the team, where Toschlog and Kulas agreed to move the company to one office.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /><ref name="Gamasutra: Descent 3" /> However, they could not decide on where they should move the company, so they instead opted to split the company in half, a move they were able to pursue due to ''Descent''{{'s}} success.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> Thus, half of Parallax' employees followed Toschlog to Michigan, where Toschlog formed Outrage Entertainment, while Kulas stayed with the main Parallax office in Champaign.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /><ref name="GameSpot: Kulas departure" />

As Kulas' company was to receive a new name, he asked the remaining team for ideas.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> When he found that he liked none of the proposals, he sat down in his living room, pulling books from a shelf and looking through dictionaries and reference books' glossaries for a possible name.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> In one such glossary, he found the word "{{wt|en|volition}}", described as "an intense active will to accomplish something".<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> As he drew a connection between this definition and the act of software development, he chose "Volition" to be the new company name.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> He pitched the name and its definition to the company's employees, asking them to create a suitable logo.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> Of the many entries submitted, the one that was chosen was designed by Whiteside and inspired by the logo of Wax Trax! Records, while Pletcher created a [[Font|font]] to display the company name with.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> The logo has been in use since.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> Formally, Volition was founded in October 1996 with twelve members,<ref name="GameSpy: Origins" /> and the split was announced on December 1, 1997, with both companies having been organized into new corporate entities (wherein Volition was Volition, Inc.) and wholly owned by their respective leads.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /><ref name="Outrage: Split" />

=== ''FreeSpace'' and ''Summoner'', THQ acquisition (1997–2000) ===
Following the split, Volition and Outrage signed with Interplay for two further projects each.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> Their first project under the new name was ''[[Software:Descent: FreeSpace – The Great War|Descent]]'' (or simply ''FreeSpace''), a game that was set to improve on the concepts of games like ''[[Software:Star Wars: X-Wing (video game)|Star Wars: X-Wing]]'' and ''[[Software:Star Wars: TIE Fighter|Star Wars]]''.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> During the development of ''FreeSpace'', the Volition team doubled in size, adding about five or six people to the studio.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> During this time many team members were allocated to training the new employees.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> Meanwhile, Kulas, as the sole manager of the company, had to divide his time between programming and managing the business; consequently, should any business matter come up, his portion of the programming work stood still.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> ''FreeSpace'' was the last Volition game Kulas would significantly do programming work on.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> Following the release of ''FreeSpace'', Volition began work on four projects—''[[Software:FreeSpace 2|FreeSpace 2]]'', ''Descent 4'', ''Tube Racer'' and ''[[Software:Summoner (video game)|Summoner]]''.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> The first, ''[[Software:FreeSpace 2|FreeSpace 2]]'', was developed within a year.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> When the game's development had about three months to go, Interplay, who had recently become a [[Finance:Public company|public company]], urged Volition to complete the game within a month.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> While the game was completed within the month, Interplay did not adjust their advertisement strategy.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> As a result, the game sold poorly and was only marginally profitable.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> ''Tube Racers'' was canceled about six to nine months in development.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" />

''Descent 4'' was to be the fourth main entry in the ''Descent'' series (the third game, ''[[Software:Descent 3|Descent 3]]'', was in development simultaneously at Outrage).<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> As the ''Descent 3'' release date came closer, Interplay began having financial difficulties.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> When the game launched in June 1999,<ref name="CDMag: Descent 3" /> it also did not sell well.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> The two companies separated on Volition's suggestion.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> Interplay owned the publishing rights to the ''Descent'' franchise, and as a result Volition could not publish ''Descent 4'' with a different publisher.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> Instead, they reused much of the code and tools they had created for the game and used it to create ''[[Software:Red Faction (video game)|Red Faction]]''.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" />

''Summoner'', unlike other games by Parallax and Volition, was developed as a [[Software:Role-playing video game|role-playing video game]], a genre the development team had no experience with.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> The team were later provided with a development kit for the [[Engineering:PlayStation 2|PlayStation 2]], and were tasked with making ''Summoner'' a launch title for the console.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> Meanwhile, the four-game deal with Interplay was winding down, and Volition required a new publisher for ''Summoner''.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> On August 31, 2000, they were acquired by [[Company:THQ|THQ]], who also overtook the game's publishing duties.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> In exchange for the ownership of Volition, Volition received one million shares of THQ's [[Finance:Common stock|common stock]] and THQ assumed about {{US$|500,000|long=no}} in net liabilities for Volition's operations.<ref name="LATimes: THQ acquisition" /> THQ also acquired Outrage in April 2002, though closed that studio by 2004.<ref name="Gamasutra: Outrage acquisition" /><ref name="Neowin: Outrage closure" /> Following a troubled development cycle, ''Summoner'' eventually hit the intended release date in October 2000, but shipped in a flawed state that resulted from the technical discrepancies between [[Engineering:Personal computer|personal computer]]s and PlayStation 2, between which the studio had to port the game.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" />

=== ''Red Faction'', ''Summoner II'' and ''The Punisher'' (2000–2005) ===
After Volition had started to develop ''Red Faction'' out of what had been ''Descent 4'', many people on the team felt like the game was a "ground-pounder", a game they would work hard on just to get an unpleasant result.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> The game shifted from a space combat game to a [[Software:First-person shooter|first-person shooter]] with a heavy focus on environmental destruction.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> Much like ''Summoner'', ''Red Faction'' was first developed for personal computers before moving to consoles.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> When Kulas attempted to write a part of the game's code, he found himself writing code for personal computers, having to rewrite everything should it work on consoles.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> The game was delayed for two months shortly before release to allow the team to polish the game before it shipped.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> The game went gold shortly thereafter, and received positive reviews, much to the surprise of the development team.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> Following ''Red Faction'', Volition developed ''[[Software:Summoner 2|Summoner 2]]'', aiming at fixing all flaws made in the first game.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> While it was received better than the first game, it also sold fewer copies.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> After that came ''[[Software:Red Faction II|Red Faction II]]'', which was ultimately not reviewed as good as the first game, again to the team's surprise.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> Internally, ''Red Faction II'' was considered a failure, and the series was halted.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> Ports of the game, released in 2003, were developed by fellow THQ studios Outrage (for [[Software:Windows|Windows]] and [[Engineering:Xbox (console)|Xbox]]) and Cranky Pants Games (for [[Engineering:GameCube|GameCube]]).<ref name="Eurogamer: Red Faction" /> A third ''Red Faction'' game was already in development, but was consequently canceled.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> A third ''Summoner'' game was also canceled.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> Following these cancellations, their teams started development on a heist-style game called ''Underground''.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> The team worked on the game for about twelve months, but when ''[[Software:Grand Theft Auto III|Grand Theft Auto III]]'' was released, the marketing department at THQ pushed the expectations for the game so high that they could not be met, wherefore ''Underground'', too, was canceled.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" />

Following ''Underground''{{'s}} cancellation, THQ approached Volition and asked them whether they were willing to create a licensed game.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> The publisher suggested that they would create a game around Marvel Comics character Punisher, who had a movie coming up, which the studio agreed to.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> The development team had excursed to Marvel's film studios and were on set, talking to stage designers and witnessing some of the scenes being shot.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> Meanwhile, in 2003, as the studio grew to 30–40 employees, Kulas hired Dan Cermak as vice-president for the company, who then implemented a new company structure to replace its previous flat hierarchy.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> As the game neared completion, it was submitted to the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), which, as the game re-enacted the Punisher's violent interrogation methods, deemed the game to be more of a [[Philosophy:Torture|torture]] simulator than a game.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> Some elements were adjusted so that the game could pass the ESRB with a "Mature" rating.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" />

=== ''Saints Row'' (2006–2008) ===
At one point, Volition held a [[Software:Video game design|design]] exercise, inviting staff members to submit ideas for a new game.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> One such idea was a hybrid between a first-person shooter and a "gang simulator", a genre unexplored by most games at the time.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> A trailer was put together by taking snippets from various movies and games, underlaid with the song "Fuck tha Police", and after it was showcased in their board room, THQ's [[Social:Chief financial officer|chief financial officer]] stepped forward, stating that this would be a game they were willing to develop.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> Volition imposed several rules on the game, such as the exclusion of children and the inability to kill the police, so to not generate too much controversy.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> The team shifted away from developing in wide arrays of genres, instead focusing the entire studio's talent on one design principle: [[Software:Open world|open world]].<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> The game, initially known as ''Bling Bling'', was disliked by many of Volition's employees who either did not want to be associated with a gang simulator or thought that their work on the game was not worthwhile.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> The studio faced further trouble as they switched from the PlayStation 2 to the [[Engineering:Xbox 360|Xbox 360]], because the documentation provided with the Xbox 360 was incomplete, and the final hardware specifications for it is unknown.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" />

During the game's development, the studio overspent its budget of {{US$|8–9&nbsp;million|long=no}} and brought up its headcount to over 100.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> After the game, now titled ''[[Software:Saints Row (2006 video game)|Saints Row]]'', was finished, the team was asked to write [[Social:Postmortem documentation|postmortem documentation]]s, which presented a lot of negative views on the game, as well as criticism with the management.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> When the game was released and sold well, it was decided that Volition would develop another such game, which would become ''[[Software:Saints Row 2|Saints Row 2]]''.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> ''Saints Row 2'' differed from its predecessor in that it was more [[Software:Sandbox game|sandbox]]-oriented and more infused with humor, which the first game almost completely lacked.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" />

=== Return to ''Red Faction'', ''Saints Row: The Third'' and ''Insane'' (2009–2012) ===
Kulas had wished to return to developing a game centered around destruction, either through ''Red Faction'' or through a new [[Social:Intellectual property|intellectual property]], now that console hardware had been advanced enough to handle such gameplay.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> Thus, the studio decided to develop a new ''Red Faction'' game, ''[[Software:Red Faction: Guerrilla|Red Faction]]''.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> From the poor reception of ''Red Faction II'', the team had learned that destruction-based gameplay was not a good fit for a shooter set in narrow, enclosed corridors, wherefore the team opted for an open world instead.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> The game's development cycle lasted roughly five years.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> While ''Guerrilla'' was set on [[Astronomy:Mars|Mars]], the next installment in the franchise, ''[[Software:Red Faction: Armageddon|Red Faction]]'', went in the other direction by being set inside a cave.<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History" /> A third game in the [[Software:Saints Row|Saints Row]] franchise, ''Saints Row 3'', was announced in February 2009.<ref name="GameSpot: Saints Row 3" /> The game stripped away many features included in its predecessor to make for a more focused but overall still "over-the-top" experience.<ref name="Gamasutra: Saints Row postmortem" /> Under the name ''[[Software:Saints Row: The Third|Saints Row]]'', the game was released in November 2011.<ref name="GameSpot: Saints Row 3 sales" />

In December 2010, at that year's Spike Video Game Awards, film director Guillermo del Toro took the stage to announce ''[[Software:Insane (cancelled video game)|Insane]]'', a [[Software:Survival horror|horror]] game developed in partnership with Volition, projecting a 2013 release date.<ref name="Shacknews: del Toro" /> del Toro later revealed that ''Insane'' would become a trilogy, with total development time spanning one decade.<ref name="Digital Spy: InSane" /> However, in August 2012, THQ announced that ''Insane'' had been canceled.<ref name="Polygon: del Toro canceled" />

In April 2011, it was announced that Kulas was retiring from the company, effective on May 2, with Cermak taking over his position as [[Social:General manager|general manager]].<ref name="GameSpot: Kulas departure" /> Following his retirement, he "goofed off" for about four years before he got back together with Toschlog, founding a new studio, Revival Productions, in 2014.<ref name="MCV: Descent successor" /><ref name="GIbiz: Kulas return" /> The new company went to develop a [[Social:Spiritual successor|spiritual successor]] to ''Descent'' named ''[[Software:Overload (video game)|Overload]]'', which was funded through a [[Crowdfunding|crowdfunding]] campaign held on Kickstarter and released in May 2018.<ref name="GIbiz: Kulas return feature" /><ref name="RPS: Overload" />

=== Acquisition by Deep Silver (2013) ===
In December 2012, THQ filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.<ref name="Ars Technica: THQ bankruptcy" /> As the publisher's assets were to be sold off, Koch Media offered a {{US$|22.3&nbsp;million|long=no}} bid for Volition.<ref name="Polygon: Bidding" /> While a total of six groups—Warner Bros., [[Company:Electronic Arts|Electronic Arts]], [[Company:Take-Two Interactive|Take-Two Interactive]], [[Company:Ubisoft|Ubisoft]], Koch Media, and an unnamed group from Chicago—were interested in purchasing the studio, the only other bid submitted was Ubisoft's for {{US$|5.4&nbsp;million|long=no}}.<ref name="GameSpot: Six buyers" /> As the sale closed, Volition and the ''Saints Row'' IP were sold to Koch Media for a total of {{US$|22,312,925|long=no}}, and became part of its [[Company:Deep Silver|Deep Silver]] division.<ref name="Engadget: Deep Silver acquisition" /><ref name="Eurogamer: THQ dissolved" /> As a result, Volition's operations were transitioned into a new legal entity, named Deep Silver Volition, LLC.<ref name="Gamasutra: Koch Media" /> In April 2014, DS Volition sought "incentives" from Champaign to remodel.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Patrick |first1=Wade |title=Officials back incentives for DS Volition |url=https://www.news-gazette.com/news/officials-back-incentives-for-ds-volition/article_d24667c2-dcb0-5d56-a7a4-461fdc2c713a.html |publisher=The News-Gazette |language=en |date=18 April 2014 |access-date=May 21, 2021 |archive-date=May 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521152324/https://www.news-gazette.com/news/officials-back-incentives-for-ds-volition/article_d24667c2-dcb0-5d56-a7a4-461fdc2c713a.html |url-status=live }}</ref> If it met the city's goals, it could have received up to $200,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.news-gazette.com/news/officials-back-incentives-for-ds-volition/article_d24667c2-dcb0-5d56-a7a4-461fdc2c713a.html |last1=Patrick |first1=Wade |title=Officials back incentives for DS Volition |publisher=The News-Gazette |language=en |date=22 April 2014 |access-date=May 21, 2021 |archive-date=May 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521152324/https://www.news-gazette.com/news/officials-back-incentives-for-ds-volition/article_d24667c2-dcb0-5d56-a7a4-461fdc2c713a.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Several IPs owned by THQ, including Volition's ''Summoner'' and ''Red Faction'', were acquired by Nordic Games (later known as THQ Nordic) for {{US$|4.9&nbsp;million|long=no}} in a second auction held in April.<ref name="Polygon: Franchises acquired" /> With the purchase of Koch Media by THQ Nordic (now Embracer Group) in February 2018, Volition and their IPs were reunited under one company;<ref name="IGN: Koch Media acquired" /> responsibility for  the ''Red Faction'' franchise would be moved directly into Deep Silver in May 2020.<ref name="GamesRadar+: IP trade" />

=== ''Saints Row IV'' and ''Agents of Mayhem'', layoffs (2013–2019) ===
A fourth ''Saints Row'' game, ''[[Software:Saints Row IV|Saints Row IV]]'', was released in August 2013.<ref name="VG247: Saints Row 4" /> In September 2014, [[Social:Creative director|creative director]] Steve Jaros left Volition to join [[Company:Valve Corporation|Valve]].<ref name="Engadget: Jaros departure" /> An expansion to ''Saints Row IV'', titled ''[[Software:Saints Row: Gat out of Hell|Saints Row]]'' and developed in partnership with [[Company:High Voltage Software|High Voltage Software]], was released in January 2015.<ref name="IGN: Agents of Mayhem release" />

Following ''Saints Row IV'', Volition developed ''[[Software:Agents of Mayhem|Agents of Mayhem]]'', a game set in the ''Saints Row'' universe, featuring similar gameplay mechanics while being unconnected to the main series.<ref name="GameSpot: Agents of Mayhem" /> The game released in August 2017 to mixed reviews and poor sales.<ref name="GameSpot: Agents of Mayhem reviews" /><ref name="Kotaku: Layoffs" /> As a result, about 30 positions, including Cermak, were cut from the studio's previously 200-people-strong workforce.<ref name="Kotaku: Layoffs" /> Jim Boone, who had been part of Parallax in 1994, succeeded Cermak as [[Social:Business development|studio development director]] in October.<ref name="GIbiz: Life after Agents of Mayhem" /> On December 31, Volition's staff count was 148.<ref name="Embracer: Koch Media acquired" /> In January 2019, Kulas announced his return to Volition as general manager.<ref name="GIbiz: Kulas return" /> At the time, Revival Productions was winding down, and when Kulas wondered what to do next, fearing he would end up not doing anything for four years, he decided to re-join the studio after eight years.<ref name="GIbiz: Kulas return" /> According to Kulas, his time as an [[Software:Independent video game development|indie developer]] at Revival helped him "come up to speed on all kinds of stuff".<ref name="GIbiz: Kulas return" />

=== ''Saints Row'' reboot, transfer to Gearbox, closure (2019–2023)===
By August 2019, Volition was "deep in development" on a new installment in the ''Saints Row'' franchise,<ref name="Polygon: New Saints Row" /> later revealed to be a [[Software:Saints Row (2022 video game)|reboot of the franchise]]. At this time, it had 174 employees,<ref name="Cision: Annual Report 2019" /> and had close to 230 in March 2021.<ref name="YouTube: Employees" /> In November 2022, after the ''Saints Row'' reboot was met with a mixed and "polarized" response from fans, Embracer announced that it would transfer Volition from [[Company:Deep Silver|Deep Silver]] to [[Company:Gearbox Software|Gearbox]] (which it acquired in 2021) to leverage its resources and expertise. It marked the first time that Embracer Group had transferred a studio between one of its operative groups.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.eurogamer.net/gearbox-acquires-risk-of-rain-ip | title = Gearbox acquires Risk of Rain IP | first = Matt | last = Wales | date = November 17, 2022 | accessdate = November 18, 2022 | work = Eurogamer | archive-date = November 18, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221118002228/https://www.eurogamer.net/gearbox-acquires-risk-of-rain-ip | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/volition-will-become-part-of-gearbox-after-disappointing-reception-to-saints-row/ | title = Volition will become part of Gearbox after disappointing reception to Saints Row | first = Chris | last = Scullion | date = November 17, 2022 | accessdate = November 18, 2022 | work = Video Games Chronicle | archive-date = November 17, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221117174203/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/volition-will-become-part-of-gearbox-after-disappointing-reception-to-saints-row/ | url-status = live }}</ref> In June 2023, Volition's parent company Embracer, following the collapse of a multi-billion dollar deal, announced wide-ranging plans to restructure the company that would include studio closures and staff layoffs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Embracer Group announces comprehensive restructuring program with immediate implementation |url=https://embracer.com/mfn_news/embracer-group-announces-comprehensive-restructuring-program-with-immediate-implementation/ |access-date=2023-08-31 |website=Embracer Group |language=en-US}}</ref> Volition was shut down on August 31, 2023, as part of Embracer's restructuring,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-31 |title=Volition shuts down after 30 years |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2023/08/volition-shuts-down-after-30-years |access-date=2023-08-31 |website=Gematsu}}</ref> with Embracer moving the company's IP including ''Red Faction'' and ''Saints Row'' over to another subsidiary, Plaion.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.gamesradar.com/series-like-saints-row-and-red-faction-will-live-on-at-a-new-developer-after-volition-shutdown/ | title = Series like Saints Row and Red Faction "will live on" at a new developer after Volition shutdown | first = Austen | last = Wood | date = September 1, 2023 | accessdate = September 1, 2023 | work = Games Radar }}</ref>

== Games developed ==

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=

<ref name="Ars Technica: THQ bankruptcy">{{cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2012/12/thq-files-for-chapter-11-bankruptcy-will-continue-to-operate/ |title=THQ files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, will continue to operate |first=Kyle |last=Orland |date=December 19, 2012 |website=[[Ars Technica]] |access-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216143737/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2012/12/thq-files-for-chapter-11-bankruptcy-will-continue-to-operate/ |archive-date=December 16, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="CDMag: Descent 3">{{cite web |url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/020/144/descent3_retail.html |title=Descent III Hits Retail |first=James |last=Fudge |date=June 17, 1999 |website=Computer Games Magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030703232752/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/020/144/descent3_retail.html |archive-date=July 3, 2003 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="Cision: Annual Report 2019">{{cite web |url=https://mb.cision.com/Main/15049/2890795/1096896.pdf |title=THQ Nordic Annual Report 2018/19 |first=Lars |last=Wingefors |date=August 27, 2019 |website=[[Company:Cision|Cision]] |access-date=September 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903202650/https://mb.cision.com/Main/15049/2890795/1096896.pdf |archive-date=September 3, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Digital Spy: InSane">{{cite web |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/a293896/insane-trilogy-could-span-a-decade/ |title='InSane' trilogy could span a decade |first=Mark |last=Langshaw |date=December 18, 2010 |website=Kotaku |access-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209143456/https://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/a293896/insane-trilogy-could-span-a-decade/ |archive-date=February 9, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Embracer: Koch Media acquired">{{cite web |url=https://embracer.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Investor-presentation-THQ-Nordic-AB-acquires-Koch-Media-GmbH-b.pdf |title=THQ Nordic AB (publ) acquires Koch Media |date=February 14, 2018 |website=Embracer Group |access-date=September 17, 2019 |archive-date=March 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326072720/https://embracer.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Investor-presentation-THQ-Nordic-AB-acquires-Koch-Media-GmbH-b.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Engadget: Deep Silver acquisition">{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2013/01/23/deep-silver-confirms-acquisition-of-saints-row-metro-and-voliti/ |title=Deep Silver confirms acquisition of Saints Row, Metro and Volition |first=Alexander |last=Sliwinski |date=January 23, 2013 |website=[[Software:Engadget|Engadget]] |access-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215204016/https://www.engadget.com/2013/01/23/deep-silver-confirms-acquisition-of-saints-row-metro-and-voliti/ |archive-date=February 15, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Engadget: Jaros departure">{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2014/09/15/saints-row-creative-director-jaros-leaving-volition-for-valve/ |title=Saints Row creative director Jaros leaving Volition for Valve |first=Sinan |last=Kubba |date=September 15, 2014 |website=[[Software:Engadget|Engadget]] |access-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209143456/https://www.engadget.com/2014/09/15/saints-row-creative-director-jaros-leaving-volition-for-valve/ |archive-date=February 9, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Eurogamer: Red Faction">{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/article_47207 |title=Xbox, Cube and PC see Red |first=Tom |last=Bramwell |date=January 13, 2003 |website=Eurogamer |access-date=June 8, 2019 |archive-date=June 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608224744/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/article_47207 |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Eurogamer: THQ dissolved">{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-01-23-thq-is-no-more-this-is-where-its-assets-went |title=THQ is no more. This is where its assets went |first=Jeffrey |last=Matulef |date=January 24, 2013 |website=Eurogamer |access-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171029015445/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-01-23-thq-is-no-more-this-is-where-its-assets-went |archive-date=October 29, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Gamasutra: Descent 3">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/131788/postmortem_outrages_descent_3.php |title=Postmortem: Outrage's Descent 3, Page 1 of 4 |first1=Craig |last1=Derrick |first2=Jason |last2=Leighton |date=October 8, 1999 |website=Gamasutra |access-date=February 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190204014350/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/131788/postmortem_outrages_descent_3.php |archive-date=February 4, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Gamasutra: Koch Media">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/185966/How_Saints_Row_and_Metro_ended_up_with_Koch_Media.php |title=How ''Saints Row'' and ''Metro'' ended up with Koch Media |first=Kris |last=Graft |date=February 5, 2013 |website=Gamasutra |access-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008144153/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/185966/How_Saints_Row_and_Metro_ended_up_with_Koch_Media.php |archive-date=October 8, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Gamasutra: Outrage acquisition">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/92162/THQ_Acquires_Outrage_Launches_New_Studio_In_Seattle.php |title=THQ Acquires Outrage, Launches New Studio In Seattle |date=April 4, 2002 |website=Gamasutra |access-date=June 8, 2019 |archive-date=June 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608224744/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/92162/THQ_Acquires_Outrage_Launches_New_Studio_In_Seattle.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Gamasutra: Saints Row postmortem">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/165134/GDC_2012_What_makes_a_Saints_Row_game_anyway.php |title=GDC 2012: What makes a ''Saints Row'' game, anyway? |first=Tom |last=Curtis |date=March 8, 2012 |website=Gamasutra |access-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109034349/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/165134/GDC_2012_What_makes_a_Saints_Row_game_anyway.php |archive-date=November 9, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Game Informer: Secret History">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/03/30/the-secret-history-of-volition.aspx |title=The Secret History of Volition |first=Ben |last=Hanson |date=March 30, 2011 |magazine=Game Informer |access-date=February 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181111160638/https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2011/03/30/the-secret-history-of-volition.aspx |archive-date=November 11, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="GameSpot: Agents of Mayhem">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/why-agents-of-mayhem-feels-like-saints-row-and-cou/1100-6449147/ |title=Why Agents Of Mayhem Feels Like Saints Row, And Could Be A Missed Opportunity |first=Oscar |last=Dayus |date=April 3, 2017 |website=GameSpot |access-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919204917/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/why-agents-of-mayhem-feels-like-saints-row-and-cou/1100-6449147/ |archive-date=September 19, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="GameSpot: Agents of Mayhem reviews">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/agents-of-mayhem-review-roundup/1100-6452526/ |title=Agents Of Mayhem Review Roundup |first=Oscar |last=Dayus |date=August 18, 2017 |website=GameSpot |access-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171030025144/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/agents-of-mayhem-review-roundup/1100-6452526/ |archive-date=October 30, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="GameSpot: Kulas departure">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/volition-founder-leaving-company/1100-6310560/ |title=Volition founder leaving company |first=Brendan |last=Sinclair |date=April 28, 2011 |website=GameSpot |access-date=February 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203085030/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/volition-founder-leaving-company/1100-6310560/ |archive-date=February 3, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="GameSpot: Saints Row 3">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/saints-row-3-revealed/1100-6200120/ |title=Saints Row 3 revealed |first=Tor |last=Thorsen |date=February 24, 2009 |website=GameSpot |access-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919192053/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/saints-row-3-revealed/1100-6200120/ |archive-date=September 19, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="GameSpot: Saints Row 3 sales">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/saints-row-the-third-sells-55-million/1100-6401640/ |title=Saints Row: The Third sells 5.5 million |first=Eddie |last=Makuch |date=December 17, 2012 |website=GameSpot |access-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919223228/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/saints-row-the-third-sells-55-million/1100-6401640/ |archive-date=September 19, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="GameSpot: Six buyers">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/volition-had-six-interested-buyers-report/1100-6403122/ |title=Volition had six interested buyers – Report |first=Eddie |last=Makuch |date=January 30, 2013 |website=GameSpot |access-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908053815/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/volition-had-six-interested-buyers-report/1100-6403122/ |archive-date=September 8, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="GameSpy: Origins">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespy.com/articles/697/697083p7.html |title=GameSpy Retro: Developer Origins, Page 7 of 19 |first=John |last=Keefer |date=March 31, 2006 |website=GameSpy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609133133/http://www.gamespy.com/articles/697/697083p7.html |archive-date=June 9, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="GamesRadar+: IP trade">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/red-faction-painkiller-risen-and-more-get-closer-to-home-in-thq-nordic-and-koch-media-ip-trade/ |title=Red Faction, Painkiller, Risen and more get closer to home in THQ Nordic and Koch Media IP trade |last=Wood |first=Austin |website=GamesRadar+ |date=May 5, 2020 |access-date=May 15, 2020 |archive-date=May 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516024508/https://www.gamesradar.com/red-faction-painkiller-risen-and-more-get-closer-to-home-in-thq-nordic-and-koch-media-ip-trade/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="GIbiz: Kulas return">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-01-29-founder-mike-kulas-returns-to-volition-after-eight-years |title=Founder Mike Kulas returns to Volition after eight years |first=James |last=Batchelor |date=January 29, 2019 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |access-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129194135/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-01-29-founder-mike-kulas-returns-to-volition-after-eight-years |archive-date=January 29, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="GIbiz: Kulas return feature">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2016-02-23-the-joy-of-unretirement |title=The joy of unretirement |first=Brendan |last=Sinclair |date=February 23, 2016 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |access-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823105559/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2016-02-23-the-joy-of-unretirement |archive-date=August 23, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="GIbiz: Life after Agents of Mayhem">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-10-09-life-after-agents-of-mayhem-where-now-for-volition |title=Life after Agents of Mayhem: Where now for Volition? |first=Christopher |last=Dring |date=October 9, 2017 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |access-date=April 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225010403/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-10-09-life-after-agents-of-mayhem-where-now-for-volition |archive-date=February 25, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="IGN: Agents of Mayhem release">{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/01/20/out-this-week-january-20-2015 |title=Out This Week: January 20, 2015 |first=Lucas M. |last=Thomas |date=January 20, 2015 |website=IGN |access-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818104035/http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/01/20/out-this-week-january-20-2015 |archive-date=August 18, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="IGN: Koch Media acquired">{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/02/14/thq-nordic-buys-saints-row-metro-dead-island-owner-koch-media |title=THQ Nordic Buys Saints Row, Metro, Dead Island Owner, Koch Media |first=Shabana |last=Arif |date=February 18, 2018 |website=IGN |access-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710000732/http://www.ign.com/articles/2018/02/14/thq-nordic-buys-saints-row-metro-dead-island-owner-koch-media |archive-date=July 10, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Kotaku: Layoffs">{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/big-layoffs-hit-agents-of-mayhem-developer-volition-1818844285 |title=Big Layoffs Hit ''Agents of Mayhem'' Developer Volition |first=Jason |last=Schreier |date=September 27, 2017 |website=Kotaku |access-date=September 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928013202/https://kotaku.com/big-layoffs-hit-agents-of-mayhem-developer-volition-1818844285 |archive-date=September 28, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="LATimes: THQ acquisition">{{cite news |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2000/sep/12/local/me-19795 |title=THQ Acquires Volition in Stock Transaction |date=September 12, 2000 |newspaper={{wipe|Los Angeles Times}} |access-date=December 10, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025153545/http://articles.latimes.com/2000/sep/12/local/me-19795 |archive-date=October 25, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="MCV: Descent successor">{{cite web |url=https://www.mcvuk.com/development-news/parallax-founders-get-back-together-for-descent-successor/ |title=Parallax founders get back together for Descent successor |first=Matthew |last=Jarvis |date=February 11, 2016 |website=MCV |access-date=July 26, 2021 |archive-date=July 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726192052/https://www.mcvuk.com/development-news/parallax-founders-get-back-together-for-descent-successor/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

<ref name="Neowin: Outrage closure">{{cite web |url=https://www.neowin.net/news/outrage-closed-down |title=Outrage Closed Down |first=Marcel |last=Klum |date=July 16, 2004 |website=Neowin |access-date=June 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021234038/http://www.neowin.net/news/outrage-closed-down |archive-date=October 21, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Outrage: Split">{{cite web |url=http://www.outrage.com/3c_press_release.html#reorg |title=Parallax Software Reorganizes Into Two New Companies Announces Descent 3 and Descent: FreeSpace – The Great War |date=December 1, 1997 |website=Outrage Entertainment |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000818044326/http://www.outrage.com/3c_press_release.html#reorg |archive-date=August 18, 2000 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

<ref name="Polygon: Bidding">{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2013/1/23/3908254/koch-media-bidding-on-volition-and-metro-franchise |title=Koch Media offers $22.3M for Volition and $5.8M for 4A Games' Metro franchise in THQ auction |first=Alexa Ray |last=Corriea |date=January 23, 2013 |website=Polygon |access-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730235109/https://www.polygon.com/2013/1/23/3908254/koch-media-bidding-on-volition-and-metro-franchise |archive-date=July 30, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Polygon: del Toro canceled">{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/gaming/2012/8/6/3224188/thq-cancels-production-on-guillermo-del-toros-insane-video-game |title=THQ cancels production on Guillermo del Toro's 'Insane' video game |first=Michael |last=McWhertor |date=August 6, 2012 |website=Polygon |access-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228151917/http://www.polygon.com/gaming/2012/8/6/3224188/thq-cancels-production-on-guillermo-del-toros-insane-video-game |archive-date=December 28, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Polygon: Franchises acquired">{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2013/4/22/4252414/nordic-games-thq-ip-auction-darksiders-red-faction-homeworld |title=Nordic Games acquires THQ's Darksiders, Red Faction and more in $4.9M bid |first=Michael |last=McWhertor |date=April 22, 2013 |website=Polygon |access-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123052709/https://www.polygon.com/2013/4/22/4252414/nordic-games-thq-ip-auction-darksiders-red-faction-homeworld |archive-date=January 23, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Polygon: New Saints Row">{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/8/14/20805385/new-saints-row-game-thq-nordic-volition-timesplitters-dead-island |title=New Saints Row game 'deep in development' at Volition |first=Michael |last=McWhertor |date=August 14, 2019 |website=Polygon |access-date=August 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814180804/https://www.polygon.com/2019/8/14/20805385/new-saints-row-game-thq-nordic-volition-timesplitters-dead-island |archive-date=August 14, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="RPS: Overload">{{cite web |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/05/31/descents-true-spiritual-successor-overload-is-out-today/ |title=Descent's true spiritual successor Overload is out today |first=Dominic |last=Tarason |date=May 31, 2018 |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |access-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819041802/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/05/31/descents-true-spiritual-successor-overload-is-out-today/ |archive-date=August 19, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Shacknews: del Toro">{{cite web |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/66804/guillermo-del-toro-reveals-insane |title=Guillermo del Toro Reveals 'Insane' from Volition |first=Xav |last=de Matos |date=December 11, 2010 |website=Shacknews |access-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112004947/https://www.shacknews.com/article/66804/guillermo-del-toro-reveals-insane |archive-date=November 12, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="VG247: Saints Row 4">{{cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/2013/08/21/saints-row-4-out-now-in-us-launch-trailer-suggests-we-get-this-shit-started/ |title=Saints Row 4 out now in US, launch trailer suggests we "get this shit started" |first=Brenna |last=Hillier |date=August 21, 2013 |website=VG247 |access-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003043102/https://www.vg247.com/2013/08/21/saints-row-4-out-now-in-us-launch-trailer-suggests-we-get-this-shit-started/ |archive-date=October 3, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="Volition: Parallax founding">{{cite web |url=https://www.dsvolition.com/1993/06/ |title=Parallax is Born |website=Volition |access-date=February 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315112005/http://www.dsvolition.com/1993/06/ |archive-date=March 15, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="YouTube: Employees">{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvlLPdc_vTw  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/PvlLPdc_vTw |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Will this really last more than three weeks? |publisher=Embracer Group |date=March 2, 2021 |via=[[Company:YouTube|YouTube]] |access-date=March 19, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

<!-- <ref name="YouTube: Join Us">{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bcd1MALQzLA  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/Bcd1MALQzLA |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Join Us – Deep Silver Volition |publisher=Volition |date=February 10, 2020 |via=[[Company:YouTube|YouTube]] |time=1:12}}{{cbignore}}</ref> -->

}}

== External links ==
*[https://www.dsvolition.com/ Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230723031324/https://www.volitiongames.com/ |date=July 23, 2023 }}

{{Volition}}
{{Gearbox Software}}
{{Embracer Group}}

[[Category:Video game development companies]]

{{Sourceattribution|Volition (company)|1}}