StarCitizen:Cloud Imperium Games Ltd.: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 11:19, 6 October 2026

Template:InfoboxNeue Cloud Imperium Games Ltd, also informally called Cloud Imperium Games UK, or CIG UK, is an independent [[StarCitizen::Category:Video game development companies|video game development company]] and a subsidiary of StarCitizen:Cloud Imperium UK Ltd. It works on the development of Squadron 42 and Star Citizen in the UK, while also working on the game engine, the facial pipeline and the cinematic experience in Squadron 42 amongst other things.

History

Foundry 42

What later became the current Cloud Imperium Games Ltd was initially founded on 2013-09-24 as Foundry 42 due to focusing on the development of Squadron 42 and because Cloud Imperium Games UK Limited already existed at the time, having been created a few days earlier.<ref>Around the Verse: Episode 2.24</ref>

Cloud Imperium Games Ltd rebranding

Foundry 42 later rebranded to 'Cloud Imperium Games Ltd.' on 2019-03-06 for better brand unification.<ref name=":0">Foundry 42 Ltd Rebrands to Cloud Imperium Games Ltd</ref><ref name="CIG-LTD">Cloud Imperium Games Limited - Companies House UK</ref>

Studios

It opened its first office in Wilmslow, Cheshire, UK around January 2014. Additional studios were opened in Frankfurt, Germany in July 2015 and Derby, UK in March 2017.<ref>Around the Verse: Episode 2.05. YouTube, 29 Oct 2015</ref><ref>Inside CIG: Foundry 42 Germany, YouTube, 10 Apr 2015</ref><ref>ATV Interview: Brian Chambers, YouTube, 3 May 2016</ref>

Wilmslow

Frankfurt office

Cloud Imperium Games Frankfurt is its branch office, not a separate company.<ref>"Cloud Imperium Games Limited - Frankfurt Office [...]. Registered in England and Wales, Companies House registration 8703814.", Legal, cloudimperiumgames.com, retrieved September 2026</ref>

Derby office

Formerly known as Foundry 42, Ltd. An official satellite studio of Foundry 42 Manchester, the Derby office is a small team looking after all aspects of the facial pipeline. From taking delivery of the Face Rigs from StarCitizen:3Lateral, implementing them in-game, taking all the face animation from StarCitizen:Cubic Motion and also creating all the Facial animation for the PU that Cubic aren't doing.<ref>Development comments on Foundry 42 Derby</ref>

On 2018-02-16, F42 Derby had a total of 15 staff working on Star Citizen.<ref name="ds1" />

Manchester HQ

In 2022 Cloud Imperium Games opened a new lead studio in Manchester, moving from the offices in Wilmslow. The new office can accommodate up to 1000 employees.<ref>[1]. CIG, 2024-01-01 </ref> In early 2024, a relocation of staff to the Manchester studio took place.<ref>Some Star Citizen devs reportedly laid off as Cloud Imperium restructures, videogameschronicle.com, 28th Feb 2024</ref> The building is shared by companies such as Booking.com.<ref>Booking.com moves into £80m Manchester office, uktech.news, Fri 16 Dec 2022</ref>

CIG UK numbered 693 employees as of December 2024,<ref name=":1">Cloud Imperium Games Limited, Annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024, UK companies house, 20 Aug 2025</ref> more than half the total number, with a further unknown number being relocated to it in early 2025 from abroad.

It has solar panels to supplement electricity.<ref name=":2" />

Financials

Financials	2025	2024
Turnover	£84.0m<ref name=":2" />	£77.0m<ref name=":2" />
Development costs	£83.3m<ref name=":2" />	£80.0m<ref name=":2" />
Net assets	£53.9m<ref name=":2" />	£41.4m<ref name=":2" />

Employee count

Employee count	2025	2024	2018
Derby studio			15<ref name="ds1" />
Wilmslow studio
Frankfurt studio
Manchester studio
Total	688<ref name=":2">Cloud Imperium Games Limited annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025, Companies House</ref>	693<ref name=":1" />

External links

Companies House

Trivia

CIG has won the Massively OP’s Best of 2015 Awards: StarCitizen:MMO Studio of the Year.<ref>Massively OP’s Best of 2015 Awards: MMO Studio of the Year, massivelyop.com, December 10, 2015 </ref>
Several items in the game StarCitizen:Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues are named after Cloud Imperium due to a cross promotion.

References

<references /> Template:Short description

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{InfoboxNeue
 |title = Cloud Imperium Games Ltd
-|image = Cloud Imperium logo.svg
+|image = Org-CIG.jpg
 |label1 = Company type
 |content1 = Subsidiary
@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 |content2 = [[StarCitizen::Category:Video game companies|Video games]]
 |label3 = Formerly
-|content3 = Foundry 42 Ltd (2013-2019)
+|content3 = Foundry 42 Ltd (2013-09-24 to 2019-03-07)
 |label4 = Founded
 |content4 = 2013-09-24 as Foundry 42 Ltd
@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 |content5 = [[StarCitizen:Chris Roberts]], [[StarCitizen:Sandi Gardiner]], [[StarCitizen:Ortwin Freyermuth]]
 |label6 = Headquarters
-|content6 = 6 Goods Yard St, Manchester M3 3BG, United Kingdom
+|content6 = 6 Goods Yard St, [[StarCitizen:Manchester]] M3 3BG, United Kingdom
 |label7 = Products
 |content7 = [[StarCitizen:Star Citizen]], [[StarCitizen:Squadron 42]]
@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 |content8 = [[StarCitizen:Cloud Imperium UK Ltd]]
 |label9 = Number of locations
-|content9 =
+|content9 = 4
 |label10 = Number of employees
-|content10 = 693 (2024)
+|content10 = 688 (2025)
-|label11 = Website
+|label11 = Company number
-|content11 = [https://cloudimperiumgames.com/ cloudimperiumgames.com]
+|content11 = [https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08703814 08703814]
-|label12 = |content12 = }}
+|label12 = Website
+|content12 = [https://cloudimperiumgames.com/ cloudimperiumgames.com]
+}}
 '''Cloud Imperium Games Ltd''', also informally called '''Cloud Imperium Games UK''', or '''CIG UK''', is an independent [[StarCitizen::Category:Video game development companies|video game development company]] and a subsidiary of [[StarCitizen:Cloud Imperium UK Ltd]]. It works on the development of [[StarCitizen:Squadron 42|''Squadron 42'']] and [[StarCitizen:Star Citizen|''Star Citizen'']] in the UK, while also working on the [[StarCitizen:Star Engine|game engine]], the [[StarCitizen:Facial Pipeline|facial pipeline]] and the cinematic experience in ''Squadron 42'' amongst other things.
@@ Line 30: / Line 32: @@
 === Foundry 42 ===
 What later became the current Cloud Imperium Games Ltd was initially founded on 2013-09-24 as Foundry 42 due to focusing on the development of ''Squadron 42'' and because [[StarCitizen:Cloud Imperium UK Ltd.|Cloud Imperium Games UK Limited]] already existed at the time, having been created a few days earlier.<ref>[https://youtu.be/y2OVeUxfjuM?t=1791 Around the Verse: Episode 2.24]</ref>
-It opened its first office in Wilmslow, Cheshire, UK around January 2014. Additional studios were opened in Frankfurt, Germany in July 2015 and Derby, UK in March 2017.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-mifFQpeiw&t=562s Around the Verse: Episode 2.05]. YouTube, 29 Oct 2015</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yisaDxvBH9s&t=12s Inside CIG: Foundry 42 Germany], YouTube, 10 Apr 2015</ref><ref>[https://youtu.be/50-6vwYUNLY?t=1105 ATV Interview: Brian Chambers], YouTube, 3 May 2016</ref> The Frankfurt studio is under a 10 year lease agreement for around 3,000 sqm of office space in the ONE building.<ref>[https://www.one-frankfurt.de/en/cloud-imperium-games-rents-around-3000-sqm-of-office-space-at-one/ Cloud Imperium Games rents around 3,000 sqm of office space at ONE], one-frankfurt.de, 7. April 2021</ref>
 === Cloud Imperium Games Ltd rebranding ===
 Foundry 42 later rebranded to 'Cloud Imperium Games Ltd.' on 2019-03-06 for better brand unification.<ref name=":0">[https://cloudimperiumgames.com/blog/corporate/foundry-42-ltd-rebrands-to-cloud-imperium-games-ltd Foundry 42 Ltd Rebrands to Cloud Imperium Games Ltd]</ref><ref name="CIG-LTD">[https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/08703814 Cloud Imperium Games Limited - Companies House UK]</ref>
+== Studios ==
+It opened its first office in Wilmslow, Cheshire, UK around January 2014. Additional studios were opened in [[StarCitizen:Cloud Imperium Games Frankfurt Office|Frankfurt]], Germany in July 2015 and Derby, UK in March 2017.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-mifFQpeiw&t=562s Around the Verse: Episode 2.05]. YouTube, 29 Oct 2015</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yisaDxvBH9s&t=12s Inside CIG: Foundry 42 Germany], YouTube, 10 Apr 2015</ref><ref>[https://youtu.be/50-6vwYUNLY?t=1105 ATV Interview: Brian Chambers], YouTube, 3 May 2016</ref>
+=== Wilmslow ===
-In 2022 Cloud Imperium Games opened a new lead studio in Manchester, moving from the offices in Wilmslow. The new office will accommodate up to 1000 employees.<ref>[https://cloudimperiumgames.com/blog/latest-announcements/cloud-imperium-games-to-open-new-videogame-development-studio-in-manchester]. CIG, 2024-01-01 </ref> In early 2024, a relocation of staff to the Manchester studio takes place.<ref>[https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/some-star-citizen-devs-reportedly-laid-off-as-cloud-imperium-restructures/ Some Star Citizen devs reportedly laid off as Cloud Imperium restructures], videogameschronicle.com, 28th Feb 2024</ref> The building is shared by companies such as Booking.com.<ref>[https://www.uktech.news/tech-hubs/the-north-of-england/manchester/booking-moves-to-manchester-20221216 Booking.com moves into £80m Manchester office], uktech.news, Fri 16 Dec 2022</ref>
+=== Frankfurt office ===
 [[StarCitizen:Cloud Imperium Games Frankfurt Office|Cloud Imperium Games Frankfurt]] is its branch office, not a separate company.<ref>"[https://cloudimperiumgames.com/pages/legal <nowiki>Cloud Imperium Games Limited - Frankfurt Office [...]. Registered in England and Wales, Companies House registration 8703814.</nowiki>]", Legal, cloudimperiumgames.com, retrieved September 2026</ref>
+=== Derby office ===
+Formerly known as Foundry 42, Ltd. An official satellite studio of Foundry 42 Manchester, the Derby office is a small team looking after all aspects of the facial pipeline. From taking delivery of the Face Rigs from [[StarCitizen:3Lateral]], implementing them in-game, taking all the face animation from [[StarCitizen:Cubic Motion]] and also creating all the Facial animation for the PU that Cubic aren't doing.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/starcitizen/comments/43l1pr/so_whats_happening_with_this_new_foundry_42/ Development comments on Foundry 42 Derby]</ref>
+On 2018-02-16, F42 Derby had a total of 15 staff working on ''Star Citizen''.<ref name="ds1" />
+=== [[StarCitizen:Cloud Imperium Games Manchester|Manchester HQ]] ===
+In 2022 Cloud Imperium Games opened a new lead studio in Manchester, moving from the offices in Wilmslow. The new office can accommodate up to 1000 employees.<ref>[https://cloudimperiumgames.com/blog/latest-announcements/cloud-imperium-games-to-open-new-videogame-development-studio-in-manchester]. CIG, 2024-01-01 </ref> In early 2024, a relocation of staff to the Manchester studio took place.<ref>[https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/some-star-citizen-devs-reportedly-laid-off-as-cloud-imperium-restructures/ Some Star Citizen devs reportedly laid off as Cloud Imperium restructures], videogameschronicle.com, 28th Feb 2024</ref> The building is shared by companies such as Booking.com.<ref>[https://www.uktech.news/tech-hubs/the-north-of-england/manchester/booking-moves-to-manchester-20221216 Booking.com moves into £80m Manchester office], uktech.news, Fri 16 Dec 2022</ref>
+CIG UK numbered 693 employees as of December 2024,<ref name=":1">[https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/document-api-images-live.ch.gov.uk/docs/P-8K4kviHH18u4CWdKky3pdln4ll74pf6rXwLPXzBig/application-pdf?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=ASIAWRGBDBV3LXQHUMOA%2F20250824%2Feu-west-2%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20250824T071059Z&X-Amz-Expires=60&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEOb%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FwEaCWV1LXdlc3QtMiJHMEUCIGIrHdSXYVneKdpqEgtHh0hCx0oa9dTZ803Jx1WIzKZiAiEAkQgL3Ye5ABZdN8tpzpR898RYV%2F73qaDv1mockfbipWEquwUIPxAFGgw0NDkyMjkwMzI4MjIiDCyWBtRh3bvfXx0WwyqYBY45n%2FU2oMlPPeKCW%2BYpK3dt8Xp1V1Ny8s%2BO%2FVGhvdAKF7LoPv4wVBoC7mmxVS0UwHsZX38tgGf8q%2BHoIb54OPLTs3tdnm1Xag%2FLayPfz8TTyqc9xdoG3PGdQfFUiB1GO1p2NrAPE5Qhsw%2FbIEKXOzPMslMoaxyDbOXkAdsEyqIRtQ3N99dwJm9UwawRby%2FhRiyRelsQ82rHXiaimIaeogAP4F6AO%2BffCpBDm%2BkFS6BWYyfxbSRc2B85RSq8QWK9t6Ln6cAgH4GIn%2FClDVBxlNlQC6iYA6%2Fx1Ri4NKh1SHwnENpKDJojj3Fl3wflBOprdPZcyQchbpXJMP7q1OnW6Xz3kG9FiaIz1gBNkKzroYxiM3SX1vHjDaE6fBVAnxreA%2B3EA9i77FxKMiDTWUi2mzSrbC84V9vHMDel%2F6jHqN2qzP2RRJSg3%2Br%2F87Ctfr75u2u9L8dz8wxnBW2s1EQUXUeq%2FAFQQhlybAZj8jGuQUb%2Fw%2F3%2FGdICNGBSoN067IWxLT0CUvJrCRaynMQU7y2LVsGhA7EDueYhCJdJkeap9K90KQszNXQHdsAB%2FoKOLwaz9ZMXC4Vf%2FSbGVprMXL8adCvQ5l8PNUU0oZhzDQ9NUzRwWgM1mRT%2BZESzEQLYQH0F4agojmNc3j5uI%2BI1OkmDURrrKyOKwVAcCPYB8nnYJYxZ33IaS00s0rh9tIjjtBV6SDFoV4BuiSgWH%2BiyC5OauEoEhuZvsC3AG%2FabkosN2KZZjMA8E9j7q92ufLG0jyUgIyW9%2BB6xfOIe6eiXvw4Z2iEKZwrSurTZ%2FE7mNBRNoXHU4Q%2BbbeFjB7uUtBrQPRM9UuJVqQsNAkd3Wvto7vVeFs0f7EzS0uvTuZcHeKkYHRHo3q4rjk06Qegw%2B8OqxQY6sQH9c0Jrwkyx0dyXEhfsSsBdWuh%2BiLez3XEytIg3F6XYayiYnx8qy0gyhnnszUwnJqC%2FI2lQXOyitsAwzBEU%2B2rWtjSkORX3IDA3njidITgyNTExvuLa8edWDunjGlwOC8O93MtGbQwe7LdALJmFGg3hULH7%2FBic6Nd7Q2f4ZxLaEgkSuLHBbf3FMb4lGxOU8HHJe5R%2BDKx05WXF6EdMEUc4a1qmsaqapqzRWWyZN65Vx4E%3D&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&response-content-disposition=inline%3Bfilename%3D%22companies_house_document.pdf%22&X-Amz-Signature=8c3e3898d0f6b00dc7dd11a9f363f21745fa6d30a75c45ecea8fbd2209a7070b Cloud Imperium Games Limited, Annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024], UK companies house, 20 Aug 2025</ref> more than half the total number, with a further unknown number being relocated to it in early 2025 from abroad.
+It has solar panels to supplement electricity.<ref name=":2" />
+== Financials ==
+{| class="wikitable"
+!Financials
+|2025
+|2024
+|-
+|Turnover
+|''£''84.0m<ref name=":2" />
+|£77.0m<ref name=":2" />
+|-
+|Development costs
+|£83.3m<ref name=":2" />
+|£80.0m<ref name=":2" />
+|-
+|Net assets
+|£53.9m<ref name=":2" />
+|£41.4m<ref name=":2" />
+|}
+== Employee count ==
+{| class="wikitable"
+!Employee count
+|2025
+|2024
+|2018
+|-
+|Derby studio
+|
+|
+|15<ref name="ds1" />
+|-
+|Wilmslow studio
+|
+|
+|
+|-
+|[[StarCitizen:Cloud Imperium Games Frankfurt Office|Frankfurt studio]]
+|
+|
+|
+|-
+|[[StarCitizen:Cloud Imperium Games Manchester|Manchester studio]]
+|
+|
+|
+|-
+|Total
+|688<ref name=":2">[https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08703814/filing-history/MzU0Nzc4ODIwM2FkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0 Cloud Imperium Games Limited annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025], Companies House</ref>
+|693<ref name=":1" />
+|
+|}
+== External links ==
+* [https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08703814 Companies House]
 == See also ==
@@ Line 46: / Line 115: @@
 *[[StarCitizen:Cloud Imperium Games, LLC|Cloud Imperium Games LA]]
 *[[StarCitizen:Cloud Imperium Games Montréal]]
+*[[StarCitizen:Coutts & Co loan|Coutts and Co loan]]
+*[[StarCitizen:Video Games Tax Relief|Video Game Tax Relief]]
+*[[StarCitizen:Brexit]]
 == Trivia ==
 *CIG has won the Massively OP’s Best of 2015 Awards: [[StarCitizen:MMO]] Studio of the Year.<ref>[https://massivelyop.com/2015/12/10/massively-ops-best-of-2015-awards-studio-of-the-year/ Massively OP’s Best of 2015 Awards: MMO Studio of the Year], massivelyop.com, December 10, 2015 </ref>
@@ Line 52: / Line 124: @@
 <references />
-{{stub}}
 [[Category:Development]]
 [[Category:Video_game_development_companies]]
@@ Line 61: / Line 132: @@
 [[Category:Cloud Imperium Games development studios]]
 [[Category:Cloud Imperium (group)]]
+{{Short description|UK video game development company}}