Focus Entertainment
Corporate brand
UnclaimedFrench video game publisher and development group known for narrative, independent, simulation, and genre-focused games.
Last updated October 16, 2026
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Overview
Focus Entertainment is a French video game publishing and development group headquartered in Paris. Established in 1996 as Focus Home Interactive, it initially operated as a software distributor before moving into video game publishing around 2000. The company built its reputation by working with external studios and bringing distinctive PC and console games to international markets, rather than by relying primarily on a single internally owned franchise. During the 2000s, Focus expanded its catalogue across adventure, strategy, simulation, action, and sports-related software. Its publishing history includes series and properties such as Runaway, TrackMania, Cycling Manager, Virtual Skipper, Cossacks, Sherlock Holmes, and Farming Simulator. The company became particularly associated with specialist and mid-to-high-budget projects that combined strong creative identities with international distribution. Its role often included funding, marketing, localization, physical distribution, and digital release management for partner studios. Focus also developed expertise in simulation and management games. Its relationship with Giants Software helped establish a durable publishing connection around the Farming Simulator series, while the company’s broader catalogue demonstrated an ability to serve both enthusiast audiences and wider console markets. In 2010, it acquired the Cities XL property after developer Monte Cristo entered bankruptcy, and in 2012 it began publishing games developed by Giants Software. A major strategic change began in the 2020s, when Focus moved beyond a primarily publisher-oriented model and invested in development studios. The group acquired or brought under its control companies including Deck13, Streum On Studio, Dotemu, Douze Dixièmes, Leikir Studio, BlackMill Games, and Dovetail Games. These transactions broadened Focus’s internal production capabilities and gave it access to studios working in action games, retro-inspired titles, strategy, simulation, and other specialist genres. The resulting organization combined publishing services with a growing network of development teams. On 6 September 2021, Focus Home Interactive adopted the name Focus Entertainment. The rebrand reflected a wider business scope encompassing publishing, development, studio ownership, and related entertainment activities. The company continued to publish projects such as the A Plague Tale series and Atomic Heart, alongside titles developed by its affiliated studios and external partners. In 2024, the wider corporate structure was reorganized under the PulluP Entertainment name. Focus Entertainment Publishing continued as the group’s publishing subsidiary, while PulluP Entertainment became the holding and support structure for the group’s publishing and development operations. Accordingly, Focus Entertainment is best understood as an active publishing and development brand within the PulluP group, rather than as a standalone corporate name representing the entire parent organization.
History
Focus Entertainment traces its origins to Focus Home Interactive, founded in Paris in 1996. The business began as a software distributor and subsequently shifted toward video game publishing around 2000. This transition placed the company in the expanding European PC and console market, where it worked with independent developers and specialist studios to bring games to French and international audiences. Throughout the 2000s, Focus developed a broad catalogue rather than concentrating on one proprietary series. It published adventure titles such as Runaway and Sherlock Holmes, racing and online-oriented properties such as TrackMania, simulation and management games including Cycling Manager and Virtual Skipper, and strategy titles such as Cossacks. Its publishing relationship with Farming Simulator later strengthened its profile in the simulation category. The company’s operating model combined partner-studio relationships with marketing, localization, distribution, and platform-release expertise. In June 2010, Focus acquired the Cities XL franchise from Monte Cristo after the developer entered bankruptcy. The transaction illustrated the company’s willingness to preserve and develop identifiable game properties even when their original production company was no longer operating. In 2012, Focus began publishing games developed by Giants Software, adding an important long-term relationship in the simulation market. The company experienced a leadership transition in 2018 when Cédric Lagarrigue, who had led the business for approximately two decades, left the chief executive role. In the following years, Focus adopted a more acquisitive strategy. From 2020 onward it acquired or integrated a number of development studios, including Deck13, Streum On Studio, Dotemu, Douze Dixièmes, Leikir Studio, BlackMill Games, and Dovetail Games. The acquisitions diversified the group’s development base and expanded its capabilities in action games, strategy, simulation, retro-inspired games, and other specialist genres. On 6 September 2021, Focus Home Interactive was renamed Focus Entertainment. The new identity signaled that the business was no longer defined only by the traditional publishing function. It increasingly operated as a group combining publishing, development investment, studio management, and international commercialization. During this period, the Focus label was associated with high-profile releases including A Plague Tale: Innocence, A Plague Tale: Requiem, and Atomic Heart, as well as projects from its wider studio and partner network. In 2024, the organization was restructured under PulluP Entertainment. Focus Entertainment Publishing remained the publishing arm, while PulluP Entertainment served as the group-level holding and support entity for publishing and development activities. The change clarified the distinction between the Focus operating brand and the broader corporate group. Focus therefore remains an active video game publishing and development business, with a catalogue spanning narrative games, action titles, simulation, strategy, and independent productions.
- 2024
Corporate reorganization under PulluP Entertainment
[1]PulluP Entertainment becomes the parent structure, while Focus Entertainment Publishing continues as the publishing subsidiary.
- 2024
PulluP Entertainment structure adopted
[1]The organization was reorganized under PulluP Entertainment, with Focus Entertainment Publishing continuing as the publishing subsidiary.
- 2021
Focus Home Interactive is renamed Focus Entertainment
[1]The rebrand reflects the company’s wider publishing, development, and studio activities. On 6 September, the company adopted the Focus Entertainment name to reflect its broader activities.
- 2020
Acquisition-led expansion begins
[1]Focus starts acquiring and integrating development studios, changing its profile from publisher toward publisher-developer group. The group began a sustained expansion through acquisitions of development studios and specialist video game companies.
- 2018
Cédric Lagarrigue leaves the company
[1]The long-serving chief executive departs after approximately two decades of leadership.
- 2012
Publishing relationship with Giants Software begins
[1]The company began publishing games developed by Giants Software, expanding its strength in simulation titles.
- 2010
Cities XL franchise acquired
[1]The company acquired the Cities XL franchise from bankrupt developer Monte Cristo.
- 2000
Shift toward video game publishing
[1]Focus moves from distribution into publishing PC and console games. The company moved from primarily distributing software to making video game publishing its central business activity.
- 1996
Focus Home Interactive is founded
[1]The company is established in Paris and initially operates as a software distributor.
Products and positioning
A European publisher and development group focused on distinctive, creator-led games across narrative adventure, action, simulation, strategy, and independent production. Its positioning combines international publishing infrastructure with a growing portfolio of owned or affiliated studios. An internationally oriented French publisher and video game group focused on partnering with specialist developers, building recognizable franchises, and combining third-party publishing with an expanding network of owned or controlled studios.
Narrative action-adventure game · 2019
A Plague Tale: Innocence
Developed by Asobo Studio and published by Focus, A Plague Tale: Innocence is a story-driven action-adventure game set during the Hundred Years’ War and a plague outbreak. It follows siblings Amicia and Hugo and emphasizes stealth, environmental problem-solving, survival, and cinematic storytelling. The title became one of the publisher’s best-known narrative releases and established the A Plague Tale property as a key part of Focus’s modern catalogue.
Narrative action-adventure game · 2022
A Plague Tale: Requiem
The sequel to A Plague Tale: Innocence continues the story of Amicia and Hugo with a larger production scale, expanded environments, and more developed stealth and combat systems. Published by Focus Entertainment, it reinforced the company’s association with ambitious, narrative-led European game projects and continued its collaboration with Asobo Studio.
First-person action role-playing game · 2023
Atomic Heart
Atomic Heart is a first-person action role-playing game developed by Mundfish and published by Focus Entertainment in multiple markets. It combines combat, exploration, environmental puzzles, and an alternate-history science-fiction setting. The game represents Focus’s role in bringing a large-scale international release to market outside the company’s earlier core of European independent and simulation titles.
Simulation game franchise
Farming Simulator publishing
Focus’s publishing relationship with Giants Software helped establish a substantial presence in agricultural and vehicle simulation. Farming Simulator games center on operating a virtual farm, managing equipment, cultivating crops, and expanding a business. The franchise illustrates Focus’s long-running strength in specialist simulation software and its ability to support internationally distributed recurring releases. A farming and agricultural management simulation series developed by Giants Software and published internationally through the company’s publishing operation. The franchise became a major example of the group’s ability to build a durable specialist property through a long-term developer-publisher relationship.
Adventure game franchise
Sherlock Holmes games
Focus has published Sherlock Holmes titles among its catalogue of adventure properties. These games generally emphasize investigation, evidence gathering, deduction, and narrative exploration, reflecting the publisher’s longstanding interest in distinctive story-led and character-driven software. A detective-adventure game property associated with the company’s publishing catalog. Its investigative format represents the publisher’s long-standing interest in narrative and genre-focused games created with specialist development partners.
City-building simulation game franchise
Cities XL
Cities XL is a city-building and urban-management property acquired by Focus in 2010 after Monte Cristo’s bankruptcy. The franchise gave Focus control of a recognizable simulation brand and complemented its wider portfolio of management and strategy games. A city-building simulation franchise acquired by the company in 2010 from Monte Cristo after the developer’s bankruptcy. The acquisition gave the publisher control of an existing management-simulation property.
Action role-playing game franchise · 2017
The Surge
The Surge is an action role-playing property developed by Deck13, a studio acquired by Focus during its expansion into development ownership. The games use demanding close-quarters combat, targeted enemy-part dismemberment, and a science-fiction industrial setting. The series exemplifies the group’s move toward publishing and controlling internally affiliated development projects.
Off-road driving simulation game · 2020
SnowRunner
SnowRunner is an off-road driving and vehicle-management game developed by Saber Interactive and published by Focus. Players operate trucks and other vehicles across difficult terrain while completing logistics and exploration tasks. Its emphasis on physical simulation, progression, and open-ended vehicle work fits Focus’s broader interest in simulation-oriented and specialist enthusiast games.
Racing
TrackMania
A racing game series included among the company’s notable publishing properties during its development as a PC and console publisher.
Sports and management simulation
Cycling Manager
A cycling management series reflecting the company’s early specialization in sports and management-oriented software. Players manage teams and competitive programs rather than participating only as direct racers.
Sports simulation
Virtual Skipper
A sailing-oriented sports game property published during the company’s expansion across specialized PC and console categories.
Adventure
Runaway
A narrative adventure series included in the publisher’s catalog during the 2000s. It exemplifies the company’s practice of working with external developers on distinctive, genre-specific games.
Real-time strategy
Cossacks
A strategy game property associated with the company’s historical publishing portfolio and its broader range of PC-focused releases.
Brand decisions
2024
Separate the Focus publishing brand from the parent structureStrategyBackground
The group needed a corporate structure capable of accommodating both publishing and a growing network of development studios.
Action taken
The wider organization adopted the PulluP Entertainment name, while Focus Entertainment Publishing continued as the publishing subsidiary.
Aftermath
Focus remained the operating publishing brand within the PulluP Entertainment group.
2024
Reorganization under PulluP EntertainmentStrategyBackground
The company had developed from a publisher into a wider organization containing publishing activities and a network of development studios.
Action taken
The group adopted PulluP Entertainment as its corporate name, while Focus Entertainment Publishing continued as the publishing subsidiary.
Aftermath
PulluP Entertainment became the holding and support structure for the group’s publishing and development businesses.
2021
Adopt the Focus Entertainment identityStrategyBackground
The company had expanded beyond traditional publishing through studio acquisitions and a larger role in game development.
Action taken
Focus Home Interactive changed its name to Focus Entertainment on 6 September 2021.
Aftermath
The new name positioned the business as a broader video game publishing and development group.
2021
Corporate rebrand to Focus EntertainmentStrategyBackground
The company’s activities had expanded beyond its earlier identity as Focus Home Interactive and increasingly included wider publishing and development operations.
Action taken
On 6 September 2021, it changed its name to Focus Entertainment.
Aftermath
The new name provided a broader identity for the company’s publishing, studio, and entertainment activities.
2012
Publishing partnership with Giants SoftwareStrategyBackground
The company was developing a broader portfolio of specialist games and sought to strengthen its position in simulation software.
Action taken
It began publishing games developed by Giants Software.
Aftermath
The relationship strengthened the company’s simulation portfolio and supported the international publishing of Farming Simulator.
2010
Acquire the Cities XL intellectual propertyM&ABackground
Monte Cristo, the developer associated with Cities XL, entered bankruptcy, creating an opportunity for the property to be transferred.
Action taken
Focus acquired the Cities XL franchise and added it to its simulation and management portfolio.
Aftermath
The transaction preserved the property under a new owner and demonstrated Focus’s willingness to acquire game intellectual property as part of its publishing strategy.
2010
Acquisition of the Cities XL franchiseM&ABackground
Monte Cristo, the developer associated with Cities XL, entered bankruptcy proceedings, creating an opportunity to acquire the franchise.
Action taken
The company acquired the Cities XL intellectual property and added it to its publishing portfolio.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded the company’s involvement in city-building and management simulation properties.
Recent events
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