# Maxis

> American video game developer

**Wikidata**: [Q220317](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q220317)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxis)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/maxis

Here’s the structured knowledge entry for Maxis:

---

## Summary  
Maxis is an American video game developer best known for creating iconic simulation games like *The Sims* and *SimCity*. Founded in 1987 by Will Wright and Jeff Braun, it is now a subsidiary of Electronic Arts. The studio specializes in life simulation and city-building games that have defined the genre.

## Key Facts  
- Founded in **1987** by **Will Wright** (game designer) and **Jeff Braun** (entrepreneur).  
- Owned by **Electronic Arts** (acquired in 1997).  
- Headquarters located in **Emeryville, California, USA**.  
- Notable franchises: *The Sims*, *SimCity*, and *Spore*.  
- Developed **The Sims 4 expansions** (e.g., *Snowy Escape*, *Cottage Living*, *Horse Ranch*).  
- Industry: **Video game development**.  
- Legal form: **Private company limited by shares**.  
- Competitors include **Ubisoft, Blizzard Entertainment, and Paradox Interactive**.  

## FAQs  
### Q: What games is Maxis famous for?  
A: Maxis is best known for *The Sims* series, *SimCity*, and *Spore*, which pioneered life simulation and city-building genres.  

### Q: Is Maxis still active?  
A: Yes, Maxis continues to develop content for *The Sims 4* and other projects under Electronic Arts.  

### Q: Who owns Maxis?  
A: Maxis has been owned by Electronic Arts since 1997 and operates as one of its key development studios.  

## Why It Matters  
Maxis revolutionized gaming with its simulation titles, particularly *The Sims*, which became one of the best-selling franchises of all time. The studio’s focus on emergent gameplay and player creativity set new standards for interactive entertainment. Its games blend accessibility with deep mechanics, appealing to casual and hardcore players alike. As part of EA, Maxis continues to influence modern game design, particularly in life simulation and sandbox genres.  

## Notable For  
- Creating **the best-selling PC game franchise** (*The Sims*).  
- Pioneering **city-building games** with *SimCity* (1989).  
- Introducing **open-ended, player-driven gameplay** in mainstream gaming.  
- Developing *Spore*, a groundbreaking **procedural evolution simulator**.  

## Body  
### Founding and Early Years  
- Founded in **1987** by Will Wright and Jeff Braun.  
- Released *SimCity* in **1989**, establishing the city-building genre.  

### Key Franchises  
- *The Sims* (2000): Sold over **200 million copies** worldwide.  
- *SimCity* series: Defined urban simulation games.  
- *Spore* (2008): Featured procedural generation and evolution mechanics.  

### Subsidiary Status  
- Acquired by **Electronic Arts** in **1997**.  
- Operates as EA’s primary simulation game studio.  

### Recent Work  
- Developed expansions for *The Sims 4* (e.g., *Snowy Escape*, *Horse Ranch*).  

## Schema Markup  
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Organization",
  "name": "Maxis",
  "description": "American video game developer known for The Sims and SimCity franchises.",
  "url": "https://www.ea.com/ea-studios/maxis",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q188326",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxis"
  ],
  "foundingDate": "1987",
  "founder": [
    {"@type": "Person", "name": "Will Wright"},
    {"@type": "Person", "name": "Jeff Braun"}
  ],
  "parentOrganization": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Electronic Arts"
  },
  "industry": "Video game industry"
}

## References

1. LastDodo
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. BnF authorities
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. MusicBrainz
6. [Source](http://km.aifb.kit.edu/services/crunchbase/)
7. [Maxis | Logopedia | Fandom](https://logos.fandom.com/wiki/Maxis)
8. [Source](https://golden.com/wiki/Maxis-MM6M)
9. VideoGameGeek
10. [Maxis - PCSX2 Wiki](https://wiki.pcsx2.net/Maxis)