Reto-Moto

Reto-Moto was a Danish video-game developer headquartered in Copenhagen. The company was founded in 1997 by a group of developers who had previously participated in Danish demo groups and had spent time in the United States. Its early history was closely connected to IO Interactive: in September 1998, Reto-Moto and the Danish film company Nordisk Film established IO Interactive as a joint venture. The venture initially included seven Reto-Moto members, while Nordisk Film held a 40.3 percent stake. IO Interactive achieved rapid recognition after the release of Hitman: Codename 47 in 2000. As attention and development activity shifted toward IO Interactive, Reto-Moto's own operations were placed on hold. The company's interests in IO Interactive were ultimately sold to Eidos Interactive in March 2004. Reto-Moto therefore remained inactive for roughly a decade, although its founders and former staff continued to shape the Danish game-development sector through their work at IO Interactive. On 11 April 2008, four of the original IO Interactive founders—Jesper Vorsholt Jørgensen, Martin Munk Pollas, Jacob Andersen, and David Guldbrandsen—announced that they had reformed Reto-Moto as an active development studio. They were joined by Neil Donnell, a former executive producer at Eidos Interactive. Guldbrandsen became chief technology officer and Donnell became chief executive officer. Six additional IO Interactive employees joined Reto-Moto in December 2008, and by April 2012 the studio had approximately 25 employees, most of whom had previously worked at IO Interactive. The reformed company focused on Heroes & Generals, an online World War II action and strategy game. Reto-Moto announced the project in October 2011 and reached a temporary publishing arrangement with Square Enix in November 2012. The game was formally released on 23 September 2016. It combined large-scale first-person combat with a strategic layer in which players could influence campaigns and territorial operations. The title became Reto-Moto's principal commercial and organizational focus and reportedly reached 10 million registered users by January 2017. Reto-Moto changed its leadership in August 2017, appointing Jean-Marc Broyer as chief executive officer. In December of the same year, Nordisk Film announced a minority investment of US$5 million in the studio. This investment reconnected Reto-Moto with the Danish entertainment company that had participated in the creation of IO Interactive nearly two decades earlier. The company's independent operation did not continue indefinitely. On 4 February 2022, TLM Partners announced that it had acquired Heroes & Generals and related businesses from Reto-Moto. A bankruptcy notice for Reto-Moto was published on 7 March 2022. These events mark the end of the company's documented active period as an independent game developer. Its principal legacy is the development of Heroes & Generals and its role in the formation of IO Interactive.

Reto-Moto was established in Copenhagen in 1997 by developers who had been involved in demo groups before returning from a period in the United States. The founding group included Jesper Vorsholt Jørgensen, Rasmus Guldberg-Kjær, Martin Munk Pollas, Karsten Lemann Hvidberg, Jacob Andersen, Janos Flösser, and David Guldbrandsen. The company soon became involved in the creation of IO Interactive. In September 1998, Reto-Moto and Nordisk Film launched IO Interactive as a joint venture. Nordisk Film held a 40.3 percent share, while the Reto-Moto side was represented by its seven founders. IO Interactive's success with Hitman: Codename 47, released in 2000, led to a shift in activity away from Reto-Moto. The company placed its operations on hold, and its interests in IO Interactive were sold to Eidos Interactive in March 2004. Reto-Moto was reactivated on 11 April 2008. Four original founders—Vorsholt Jørgensen, Pollas, Andersen, and Guldbrandsen—joined with former Eidos Interactive executive producer Neil Donnell to restart the studio. Donnell became chief executive officer, while Guldbrandsen took the chief technology officer role. Six more former IO Interactive employees joined in December 2008. By April 2012, the company had grown to approximately 25 employees, with most staff coming from IO Interactive. The revived studio announced Heroes & Generals on 7 October 2011. The project was designed as an online World War II game combining direct combat with a broader strategic campaign structure. A temporary publishing agreement with Square Enix was reached in November 2012. Heroes & Generals was officially released on 23 September 2016 and reportedly had 10 million registered users by January 2017. In August 2017, Jean-Marc Broyer became Reto-Moto's chief executive officer. In December 2017, Nordisk Film announced that it had acquired a minority stake in the company through a US$5 million investment. The deal was notable because Nordisk Film had also been involved in the original IO Interactive joint venture established by Reto-Moto's founders. Reto-Moto's later history was shaped by the transfer of its principal game business. On 4 February 2022, TLM Partners announced that it had acquired Heroes & Generals and related businesses from the company. A bankruptcy notice was published on 7 March 2022, indicating the collapse of Reto-Moto as an operating independent developer.

• 2022

  Game business transferred and bankruptcy notice published

  [1]Reto-Motoen.wikipedia.org

  TLM Partners acquired Heroes & Generals and related businesses in February, followed by publication of a bankruptcy notice in March.

• 2017

  Nordisk Film invests in Reto-Moto

  [1]Reto-Motoen.wikipedia.org

  Nordisk Film announced a minority investment valued at US$5 million.

• 2016

  Heroes & Generals released

  [1]Reto-Motoen.wikipedia.org

  The studio officially released Heroes & Generals on 23 September.

• 2011

  Heroes & Generals announced

  [1]Reto-Motoen.wikipedia.org

  Reto-Moto announced its first documented game project after the company's revival.

• 2008

  Reto-Moto reactivated

  [1]Reto-Motoen.wikipedia.org

  Former IO Interactive founders and Neil Donnell restarted Reto-Moto as an active developer.

• 2004

  Reto-Moto interests in IO Interactive sold to Eidos Interactive

  [1]Reto-Motoen.wikipedia.org

  The founders' stakes in IO Interactive were ultimately sold to Eidos Interactive.

• 2000

  Hitman: Codename 47 accelerates IO Interactive's success

  [1]Reto-Motoen.wikipedia.org

  The success of IO Interactive's first Hitman game contributed to Reto-Moto placing its own operations on hold.

• 1998

  IO Interactive launched as a joint venture

  [1]Reto-Motoen.wikipedia.org

  Reto-Moto and Nordisk Film established IO Interactive, with Nordisk Film holding a 40.3 percent stake.

• 1997

  Reto-Moto founded in Copenhagen

  [1]Reto-Motoen.wikipedia.org

  A group of Danish demo-scene developers established Reto-Moto after returning from time in the United States.

An independent Danish game studio focused on online multiplayer games, with an emphasis on large-scale World War II combat and persistent strategic interaction.

• Online World War II action and strategy game · 2016

  Heroes & Generals

  Heroes & Generals was Reto-Moto's principal and first documented game after its 2008 revival. Announced in 2011 and released officially on 23 September 2016, it combined first-person combat with a persistent strategic layer. Players participated in World War II battles while a broader campaign structure connected individual engagements to territorial and operational objectives. The game reportedly reached 10 million registered users by January 2017. TLM Partners acquired the title and related businesses from Reto-Moto in 2022.

• 2022

  Transfer Heroes & Generals and related businesses to TLM PartnersM&A

  Background

  Reto-Moto's principal game and related business assets were transferred during the company's final period of operation.

  Action taken

  TLM Partners announced on 4 February 2022 that it had acquired Heroes & Generals and related businesses from Reto-Moto.

  Aftermath

  A bankruptcy notice for Reto-Moto was published on 7 March 2022.

  Source

• 2017

  Accept minority investment from Nordisk FilmM&A

  Background

  Reto-Moto sought investment while operating its online game business.

  Action taken

  Nordisk Film acquired a minority stake in exchange for a US$5 million investment.

  Aftermath

  The investment renewed the relationship between Nordisk Film and the founders of Reto-Moto, who had previously worked together on the IO Interactive joint venture.

  Investment. US$5 million (2017)

  Source

• 2011

  Develop Heroes & GeneralsProduct launch

  Background

  Reto-Moto needed a flagship project for its reactivated development business.

  Action taken

  The company announced Heroes & Generals as an online World War II game combining action gameplay and strategic campaign elements.

  Aftermath

  The project became Reto-Moto's main commercial product and was formally released in 2016.

  Source

• 2008

  Reactivate Reto-Moto as an independent developerStrategy

  Background

  After years of inactivity connected to the founders' work at IO Interactive, former founders decided to restart the original studio.

  Action taken

  Four founders and Neil Donnell reformed Reto-Moto in April 2008, later recruiting six additional former IO Interactive employees.

  Aftermath

  The studio grew to approximately 25 employees by April 2012 and began development of Heroes & Generals.

  Source

• 1998

  Establish IO Interactive with Nordisk FilmStrategy

  Background

  Reto-Moto's founders sought to create a larger development venture with Danish film company Nordisk Film.

  Action taken

  The parties launched IO Interactive as a joint venture in September 1998, with Nordisk Film holding a 40.3 percent stake.

  Aftermath

  IO Interactive's success, particularly after Hitman: Codename 47, led Reto-Moto to suspend its own operations. The Reto-Moto interests were later sold to Eidos Interactive in 2004.

  Source

• 2022.02.03

  Reported2022.02.04

  TLM Partners acquires Heroes & Generals operations[2]TLM Partners收购《Heroes & Generals》业务运营gamesindustry.biz

  TLM Partners announced on February 3 that it had acquired the business operations of Heroes & Generals from developer RETO MOTO. TLM said it intended to expand the game’s commercial activity and continue development.

Read more

1. 1Reto-Motoen.wikipedia.org
2. 2TLM Partners收购《Heroes & Generals》业务运营gamesindustry.biz