# Lionhead Studios

> British video game developer

**Wikidata**: [Q765389](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q765389)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionhead_Studios)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/lionhead-studios

## Summary
Lionhead Studios was a British video game developer founded in 1996. The studio specialized in the creation of video games and was later acquired by Microsoft, operating under Xbox Game Studios. Lionhead Studios was dissolved on April 29, 2016.

## Key Facts
*   **Type:** Video game developer
*   **Country:** United Kingdom
*   **Founded:** 1996
*   **Dissolved:** April 29, 2016
*   **Founders:** Peter Molyneux, Steve Jackson, Mark Webley
*   **Headquarters:** Guildford, Surrey
*   **Industry:** Interactive entertainment, video game industry
*   **Owned by:** Xbox Game Studios, Microsoft
*   **Key Person:** Peter Molyneux
*   **Notable Games Developed:** Black & White: Creature Isle, The Movies: Stunts & Effects

## FAQs
### Q: What was Lionhead Studios?
A: Lionhead Studios was a British video game developer established in 1996. It was known for creating video games and was eventually owned by Xbox Game Studios and Microsoft before its dissolution in 2016.

### Q: Who founded Lionhead Studios?
A: Lionhead Studios was founded by Peter Molyneux, Steve Jackson, and Mark Webley. Peter Molyneux was also a key figure affiliated with the studio.

### Q: When was Lionhead Studios active?
A: Lionhead Studios was founded in 1996 and operated until its dissolution on April 29, 2016.

### Q: Who owned Lionhead Studios?
A: Lionhead Studios was owned by Xbox Game Studios, which is an American video game company, and ultimately by its parent company, the American multinational technology corporation Microsoft.

### Q: Where was Lionhead Studios headquartered?
A: Lionhead Studios had its headquarters located in Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom.

## Why It Matters
Lionhead Studios holds significance in the video game industry as a prominent British developer, particularly due to its founding by influential figures like Peter Molyneux. Its establishment in 1996 marked the beginning of a studio that contributed to the interactive entertainment landscape. The studio's later acquisition by Microsoft and integration into Xbox Game Studios highlights its importance within a major technology corporation's gaming division, demonstrating its role in the broader industry's consolidation and evolution. While the provided data lists specific titles like "Black & White: Creature Isle" and "The Movies: Stunts & Effects," its overall impact stems from its creative output and its position as a subsidiary within one of the world's largest technology companies. Its eventual dissolution in 2016 also serves as a notable event in the history of game development, reflecting the dynamic nature of the industry.

## Notable For
*   **Founding by Industry Veterans:** Co-founded by Peter Molyneux, a recognized English video game designer and game programmer.
*   **Acquisition by Microsoft:** Became a subsidiary of Xbox Game Studios and Microsoft, integrating it into a major global technology and gaming enterprise.
*   **British Development Hub:** Operated as a significant video game developer based in the United Kingdom.
*   **Specific Game Development:** Developed titles such as the 2002 expansion "Black & White: Creature Isle" and "The Movies: Stunts & Effects."

## Body

### Overview
Lionhead Studios was a British video game developer. It was classified as a software development organization specializing in the creation of video games. The studio operated within the interactive entertainment and video game industry.

### Founding and Location
The studio was founded in 1996. Its founders included Peter Molyneux, Steve Jackson, and Mark Webley. The location of its formation was Guildford, United Kingdom, which also served as its headquarters, specifically in Surrey.

### Ownership and Affiliations
Lionhead Studios was owned by Xbox Game Studios, an American video game company established in March 2000. Xbox Game Studios, in turn, is owned by Microsoft, an American multinational technology corporation founded on April 4, 1975. Lionhead Studios was considered a subsidiary company. Peter Molyneux, one of its founders, was also a key person affiliated with the studio.

### Developed Products
Lionhead Studios was responsible for the development of video games. Specific titles include:
*   Black & White: Creature Isle (a 2002 video game expansion)
*   The Movies: Stunts & Effects (a video game expansion)

### Industry Context
The studio's primary industry was interactive entertainment and the video game industry. Its products were video games.

### Dissolution
Lionhead Studios was dissolved, abolished, or demolished on April 29, 2016.

### Online Presence and Identifiers
*   **Aliases:** Lionhead Studios Limited, ライオンヘッド･スタジオ
*   **Website:** http://www.lionhead.com (archived on April 28, 2016)
*   **Twitter:** @lionheadstudios
*   **Identifiers:**
    *   Golden ID: Lionhead_Studios-KV8B
    *   Freebase ID: /m/04gyn
    *   Quora Topic: Lionhead-Studios
    *   VG247 Game ID: lionhead-studios
    *   Lastdodo Area ID: 6535843, 456383
    *   Mod DB Company ID: lionhead-studios
    *   MobyGames Company ID: 1894 (and former scheme: lionhead-studios-ltd)
    *   VideoGameGeek Company ID: 11794
    *   Crunchbase Organization ID: lionhead-studios
    *   GamesIndustry.biz Tag ID: companies/lionhead-studios
    *   Media Arts Database ID: C44746

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "VideoGameDeveloper",
  "name": "Lionhead Studios",
  "description": "British video game developer",
  "url": "http://www.lionhead.com",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionhead_Studios"
  ],
  "foundingDate": "1996",
  "dissolutionDate": "2016-04-29",
  "headquarters": {
    "@type": "Place",
    "name": "Guildford, Surrey"
  },
  "parentOrganization": [
    {
      "@type": "Organization",
      "name": "Xbox Game Studios"
    },
    {
      "@type": "Organization",
      "name": "Microsoft"
    }
  ],
  "founder": [
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "name": "Peter Molyneux"
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "name": "Steve Jackson"
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "name": "Mark Webley"
    }
  ],
  "industry": [
    "interactive entertainment",
    "video game industry"
  ],
  "countryOfOrigin": "United Kingdom"
}

## References

1. LastDodo
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. [Source](http://km.aifb.kit.edu/services/crunchbase/)
4. Quora
5. [Source](https://golden.com/wiki/Lionhead_Studios-KV8B)
6. VideoGameGeek