DICE (company)

Swedish video game developer owned by Electronic ArtsTemplate:SHORTDESC:Swedish video game developer owned by Electronic Arts[[Category:**Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Pagetype/config' not found.**s with short description]]

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* Markus Nyström
* Fredrik Liljegren
* *Battlefield* series
* *Mirror's Edge* series
* *Star Wars Battlefront* series
* **Game engines**

**EA Digital Illusions CE AB** (**DICE**) is a Swedish video game developer based in Stockholm. The company was founded in 1992 and has been a subsidiary of Electronic Arts since 2006. Its releases include the *Battlefield*, *Mirror's Edge* and *Star Wars Battlefront* series. Through their Frostbite Labs division, the company also develops the Frostbite game engine.

## History

### Foundation (1992)

Digital Illusions was founded in May 1992 by Olof "Olle" Gustafsson, Markus Nyström, Fredrik Liljegren and Andreas Axelsson, four friends and former members of The Silents, a demogroup that developed for Amiga systems. The four studied at Växjö University, thus DICE was established in Växjö.

### Expansion (2000–2004)

 File:DICE logo (2000).svg
In 2000, DICE acquired developer Refraction Games (developers of *Codename Eagle*). From the acquisition, DICE inherited the in-development *Battlefield 1942*. Patrick Söderlund, who had founded Refraction Games in 1997, subsequently joined DICE as chief executive officer. This was followed with the merger of Sandbox Studios April 2001. Sandbox Studios added 50 employees to DICE's staff, amounting to 150 total employees. In September 2004, DICE also merged with Trauma Studios in New York City. Trauma Studios employed nine people at the time.

### Acquisition by Electronic Arts (2006–present)

In November 2004, Electronic Arts (EA) announced their intent to purchase all outstanding shares in DICE at a price of Template:SEK per share, with the deal's closing deadline scheduled for 27 December. At the time, EA owned 18.9% in DICE. Initially, the offer was rejected by shareholders representing 28% of DICE's ownership on 15 December, after which EA adjusted its offer on 20 December, intending to only purchase 44.5% at the same price per share, extending the offer deadline to 20 January 2005. On 25 January 2005, shareholders agreed to the acquisition, and EA raised their ownership in DICE to 59.8%.

In March 2006, EA announced a new plan to acquire all outstanding shares in DICE for Template:SEK per share. The acquisition was completed on 2 October, with 2.6 million shares in DICE transferred to EA in exchange for a total of Template:SEK. Shortly following the acquisition, on 5 October, EA closed Digital Illusions Canada, DICE's Ontario-based studio. The 25 employees working at the studio at the time were given the option to transfer to DICE's headquarters in Stockholm or any other EA studio. DICE co-founder Liljegren announced on 16 October that he established RedJade as a successor to Digital Illusions Canada.

In May 2013, EA opened a new Los Angeles-based division for DICE known as DICE LA, helmed by former senior staff of EA's previously closed studio Danger Close Games. DICE LA had generally been involved with support of DICE and other EA games and had not generated any title on their own. Vince Zampella of Respawn Entertainment (another EA studio) was named as the studio's new lead in January 2020; Zampella announced that the studio will become separate from DICE and will likely change its name in association with an unannounced game they are working on.

## References

1. ↑ Sinclair, Brendan (25 May 2018). "DICE GM pushes back against Battlefield V anger". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2018-05-25-dice-gm-pushes-back-against-angry-battlefield-v-fans.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Gunner (9 September 2017). "Digital Illusions fyller 25 år". https://hype.se/2017/09/09/digital-illusions-fyller-25-ar/.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 nnirvi (2 November 2006). "Digital Illusions – taisteluni". https://www.pelit.fi/artikkelit/digital-illusions-taisteluni/.
4. ↑ Crecente, Brian (14 August 2018). "EA Chief Design Officer Patrick Soderlund Leaves Company". https://variety.com/2018/gaming/news/ea-chief-design-officer-patrick-soderlund-leaves-company-1202904465/.
5. ↑ IGN Staff (6 April 2001). "Digital Illusions and Sandbox Studios Merge". https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/04/06/digital-illusions-and-sandbox-studios-merge.
6. ↑ IGN Staff (11 April 2001). "Digital Illusions Nabs Sandbox Studios". https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/04/11/digital-illusions-nabs-sandbox-studios.
7. ↑ Carless, Simon (1 September 2004). "Digital Illusions Acquires Trauma Studios". https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/95192/Digital\_Illusions\_Acquires\_Trauma\_Studios.php.
8. ↑ Goldstein, Maarten (1 September 2004). "DICE Buys Trauma Studios". https://www.shacknews.com/article/33345/dice-buys-trauma-studios.
9. ↑ Adams, David (1 September 2004). "Digital Illusions Embraces Trauma". https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/09/01/digital-illusions-embraces-trauma.
10. ↑ Adams, David (15 November 2004). "EA to Buy Digital Illusions". https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/11/15/ea-to-buy-digital-illusions.
11. ↑ GamesIndustry International (15 November 2004). "EA tables bid to take over Digital Illusions". https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/news151104eadice.
12. ↑ Fahey, Rob (15 December 2004). "Digital Illusions shareholders reject EA buyout". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/digital-illusions-shareholders-reject-ea-buyout.
13. ↑ Brunes, Andrew (20 December 2004). "EA Adjusts Offer For Digital Illusions". https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/12/20/ea-adjusts-offer-for-digital-illusions.
14. ↑ Bloodworth, Daniel (25 January 2006). "EA Gains Controlling Interest of Digital Illusions". http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/10235/ea-gains-controlling-interest-of-digital-illusions.
15. ↑ Fahey, Rob (26 January 2006). "Digital Illusions shareholders accept EA offer". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/digital-illusions-shareholders-accept-ea-offer.
16. ↑ Bramwell, Tom (17 March 2006). "EA and DICE announce new merger plan". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/ea-and-dice-announce-new-merger-plan.
17. ↑ Thorsen, Tor (2 October 2006). "EA rolls DICE for $23 million". https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ea-rolls-dice-for-23-million/1100-6159171/.
18. ↑ Martin, Matt (2 October 2006). "EA completes DICE acquisition". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/ea-completes-dice-acquisition.
19. ↑ Martin, Matt (5 October 2006). "EA confirms DICE Canada closure". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/ea-confirms-dice-canada-closure.
20. ↑ Adams, David (5 October 2006). "Digital Illusions Canada Closes". https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/10/05/digital-illusions-canada-closes.
21. ↑ GamesIndustry International (16 October 2006). "REDJADE Opens for Business". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/redjade-opens-for-business.
22. ↑ Dyer, Mitch (May 16, 2013). "DICE LA: From the Ashes of Medal of Honor". https://www.ign.com/articles/2013/05/16/dice-la-from-the-ashes-of-medal-of-honor.
23. ↑ Marten, Todd (January 2, 2020). "From ‘Titanfall’ to ‘Star Wars,’ the evolution of game studio Respawn mirrors our search for story". *The Los Angeles Times*. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2020-01-02/respawn-went-from-titanfall-to-star-wars-and-is-just-getting-started. Retrieved January 2, 2020.

## External links

* Template:Official website
* Template:Curlie

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