# Ubisoft Blue Byte

> German video game developer

**Wikidata**: [Q695299](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q695299)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubisoft_Blue_Byte)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ubisoft-blue-byte

## Summary
Ubisoft Blue Byte is a German video game developer founded in October 1988 by Thomas Hertzler. Headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany, it operates as a subsidiary of the French video game company Ubisoft. The studio is best known for developing strategy game franchises, specifically *Anno*, *The Settlers*, and *Battle Isle*.

## Key Facts
- **Type:** Video game developer.
- **Founded:** October 1988 (1988-10-00).
- **Founder:** Thomas Hertzler.
- **Headquarters:** Düsseldorf, Germany (additional location in Mainz, Germany).
- **Parent Organization:** Ubisoft (Owned by).
- **Legal Form:** Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (GmbH).
- **Industry:** Video game industry.
- **Employees:** Approximately 700 (as of 2021).
- **Key Products:** *Anno* (video game series), *The Settlers* (video game series), *Battle Isle*.
- **Memberships:** game – The German Games Industry Association; Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle (USK).

## FAQs
### Q: Who owns Ubisoft Blue Byte?
A: Ubisoft Blue Byte is owned by Ubisoft, a French video game company. It operates as a subsidiary of this parent organization.

### Q: What games is Ubisoft Blue Byte best known for?
A: The developer is best known for the *Anno* and *The Settlers* video game series. It also produced the *Battle Isle* franchise.

### Q: Where is Ubisoft Blue Byte located?
A: The company's headquarters are in Düsseldorf, Germany. It also has operations based in Mainz, Germany.

### Q: When was the company founded?
A: Ubisoft Blue Byte was founded in October 1988 by Thomas Hertzler.

## Why It Matters
Ubisoft Blue Byte is a significant entity in the European video game industry, particularly renowned for its contribution to the strategy and city-building genres. As one of Germany's established development studios, it has maintained relevance for decades, originally founded in 1988. Its acquisition by Ubisoft integrates it into a global publishing network, allowing its key franchises—*Anno* and *The Settlers*—to reach a worldwide audience. The studio plays a critical role in developing and maintaining these complex simulation games, serving a dedicated niche of strategy enthusiasts. Furthermore, its membership in "game – The German Games Industry Association" and the USK highlights its active participation in the regulatory and cultural landscape of the German gaming market.

## Notable For
- **Founding Franchises:** Creator of the enduring *The Settlers* and *Anno* strategy series.
- **Longevity:** Operational since 1988, making it a long-standing participant in the video game industry.
- **German Development Hub:** Serves as a major German development studio under the international Ubisoft umbrella.
- **Industry Compliance:** Holds membership in the Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle (USK), the German entertainment software self-regulation body.

## Body
### Corporate Structure and Ownership
Ubisoft Blue Byte functions as a video game developer organized under the legal form of a Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (GmbH). It is a subsidiary company wholly owned by Ubisoft, a French video game company established in 1986. The studio operates within the video game industry and had a reported workforce of approximately 700 employees as of 2021.

### History and Locations
The company was founded in October 1988 by Thomas Hertzler. While its primary headquarters is situated in Düsseldorf, Germany, the company also lists a location in Mainz, Germany.

### Products and Development
The studio specializes in strategy and simulation games. Its primary output includes the development of the *Anno* and *The Settlers* video game series, as well as the *Battle Isle* franchise. The company is also associated with the development of "Anno 1800 Console Edition," released in 2023.

### Digital and Industry Presence
Ubisoft Blue Byte maintains an official website at `https://bluebyte.ubisoft.com/en/` and operates social media profiles on platforms including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. It is listed in numerous gaming databases, holding ID 389 in MobyGames and the ID "blue-byte" in the Internet Game Database. The company is a member of "game – The German Games Industry Association" and is registered in the lobby register of the German Bundestag (ID: R003054).

## Schema Markup
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  "@type": "VideoGame",
  "name": "Ubisoft Blue Byte",
  "description": "German video game developer known for the Anno and The Settlers series.",
  "url": "https://bluebyte.ubisoft.com/en/",
  "sameAs": [
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  "foundingDate": "1988-10",
  "founder": {
    "@type": "Person",
    "name": "Thomas Hertzler"
  },
  "parentOrganization": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Ubisoft"
  },
  "numberOfEmployees": {
    "@type": "QuantitativeValue",
    "value": 700
  },
  "areaServed": "Global",
  "knowsAbout": ["Video Games", "Strategy Games", "City-building Games"],
  "legalName": "Ubisoft Blue Byte GmbH"
}

## References

1. LastDodo
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. BnF authorities
4. [Source](https://www.game.de/mitglieder/)
5. Bundestag Lobby Register
6. [Source](https://usk.de/fuer-unternehmen/service-angebot-der-usk/mitglieder/)
7. [GameStar](https://www.gamestar.de/artikel/die-geschichte-von-blue-byte-vom-dachgeschoss-nach-duesseldorf,3026349.html)
8. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
9. [Die größten Games-Studios in Deutschland 2021. GamesWirtschaft. 2021](https://www.gameswirtschaft.de/wirtschaft/groesste-games-studios-deutschland-2021/)
10. Quora
11. VideoGameGeek
12. Video Games Chronicle