No, Remedy Entertainment no longer owns the Max Payne franchise. The rights to the acclaimed video game series were sold to Take-Two Interactive in 2004.
The Evolution of Max Payne Ownership
Remedy Entertainment, a Finnish video game developer, was the original creator behind the iconic Max Payne series. They developed and released the first installment, Max Payne, in 2001, captivating audiences with its unique film noir atmosphere and bullet-time mechanics. This success was followed by the critically acclaimed sequel, Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne, which was released in 2003.
However, the ownership of the franchise shifted in 2004 when Remedy Entertainment sold the Max Payne rights to Take-Two Interactive. This sale meant that any subsequent developments, publications, or intellectual property decisions regarding the Max Payne series would fall under Take-Two Interactive's purview.
Following this acquisition, Take-Two Interactive's subsidiary, Rockstar Games, took over the development of future titles in the series. Most notably, Max Payne 3 was primarily developed by Rockstar Vancouver, released nearly a decade after the last Remedy-developed game.
Here's a breakdown of the key ownership and development milestones:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Original Developer | Remedy Entertainment |
| Original Titles | Max Payne (2001), Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne (2003) |
| Rights Transfer Year | 2004 |
| Current Rights Holder | Take-Two Interactive |
| Post-Transfer Development | Max Payne 3 (by Rockstar Vancouver, a Take-Two studio) |
This clarifies that while Remedy Entertainment laid the foundational groundwork for the Max Payne universe, the ownership of the intellectual property has since resided with Take-Two Interactive.
