# Press Play

> game development studio

**Wikidata**: [Q16967691](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16967691)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Press_Play_(company))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/press-play

## Summary
Press Play was a Danish video game development studio based in Copenhagen. Founded in 2006, the studio is best known for creating the 2010 platform puzzle game *Max & the Magic Marker*. It operated as a subsidiary of Xbox Game Studios under the ownership of Microsoft until its dissolution on March 7, 2016.

## Key Facts
- **Type:** Video game developer (software development organization).
- **Founded:** 2006.
- **Dissolved:** March 7, 2016.
- **Headquarters:** Copenhagen, Denmark.
- **Parent Organization:** Xbox Game Studios.
- **Owner:** Microsoft.
- **Notable Title:** *Max & the Magic Marker* (released in 2010).
- **Official Website:** http://pressplay.dk/
- **Alternate Name:** Press Play ApS.

## FAQs
### Q: When was Press Play founded and when did it close?
A: Press Play was founded in 2006 and was dissolved on March 7, 2016.

### Q: Who owned Press Play?
A: Press Play was owned by Microsoft and operated as a subsidiary of Xbox Game Studios (formerly Microsoft Studios).

### Q: What games is Press Play known for?
A: The studio is primarily identified with the 2010 video game *Max & the Magic Marker*.

### Q: Where was Press Play located?
A: The studio was headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark.

## Why It Matters
Press Play represents a notable chapter in the expansion of Microsoft's gaming presence within Europe. As a Danish studio operating under the Xbox Game Studios banner, it contributed to the diversification of the Xbox ecosystem's content lineup during the early 2010s. The studio's acquisition by a major multinational technology corporation highlighted the global nature of the video game industry, connecting European development talent with the resources of a US-based platform holder.

The studio's creation, *Max & the Magic Marker*, demonstrated the viability of puzzle-platformers in the digital distribution era. Although the studio was eventually dissolved in 2016, its history serves as a case study in the acquisition and consolidation strategies employed by large publishers within the interactive entertainment sector.

## Notable For
- **First Party Status:** Operating as a first-party development studio for Xbox under Microsoft.
- **Danish Game Development:** Being a significant entity within the Danish video game industry based in Copenhagen.
- **Platformer Innovation:** Developing *Max & the Magic Marker*, a title recognized for its drawing mechanics.
- **Corporate Consolidation:** Being one of the studios affected by Microsoft's strategic shifts in 2016, leading to its closure.

## Body
### Overview
Press Play ApS was a video game developer headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. Active within the video game industry, the organization specialized in the creation of video game software. It functioned as a subsidiary entity within a larger corporate structure.

### Ownership and Structure
The studio was directly owned by Microsoft, the American multinational technology corporation, and operated under the Xbox Game Studios (formerly Microsoft Studios) umbrella. This placed Press Play alongside other internal Microsoft development teams dedicated to creating content for Microsoft platforms. Xbox Game Studios itself was founded in March 2000 and is headquartered in Redmond, United States.

### Key Projects
The studio is credited with the development of *Max & the Magic Marker*, a video game released in 2010. This title stands as a key output of the studio during its operational history.

### Dissolution
Press Play ceased operations on March 7, 2016. The closure was part of a broader restructuring effort by its parent company, Microsoft, to focus resources on different gaming priorities. Despite the studio's dissolution, its titles and history remain a part of the Xbox Game Studios legacy.

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## References

1. VideoGameGeek