# Zynga Dallas

> video game company

**Wikidata**: [Q2510684](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2510684)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/zynga-dallas

## Summary
Zynga Dallas was an American video game developer based in Dallas, Texas, that operated as a subsidiary of the social game developer Zynga. Originally founded as Bonfire Studios in 2009, the company was established following the closure of Ensemble Studios. It specialized in video game software development until its dissolution in 2013.

## Key Facts
- **Entity Type:** Video game developer
- **Parent Organization:** Zynga
- **Founded:** February 1, 2009
- **Dissolved:** 2013
- **Headquarters:** Dallas, United States
- **Former Name:** Bonfire Studios (alias)
- **Predecessor:** Replaced Ensemble Studios
- **Employee Count:** Approximately 35
- **Legal Form:** Subsidiary company

## FAQs
### Q: What was Zynga Dallas originally called?
A: Zynga Dallas was originally founded as Bonfire Studios. It operated under this name before becoming a subsidiary of Zynga.

### Q: When did Zynga Dallas close?
A: The company was dissolved in 2013. It operated for approximately four years following its inception in early 2009.

### Q: What was the relationship between Zynga Dallas and Ensemble Studios?
A: Zynga Dallas is identified as the entity that replaced Ensemble Studios. It was formed by former members of the Ensemble team after that studio's closure.

### Q: Who owned Zynga Dallas?
A: The company was owned and operated by Zynga, an American social game developer headquartered in San Francisco.

## Why It Matters
Zynga Dallas represents a significant transition point in the video game industry, specifically regarding the shift from traditional PC game development to the social gaming era. By replacing the defunct Ensemble Studios, it preserved a concentrated hub of development talent in the Dallas area. Its acquisition by Zynga illustrated the parent company's strategy of absorbing established development teams to bolster its position in the social game market. Though its lifespan was relatively short, its formation and subsequent dissolution reflect the volatile corporate landscape of game development during the early 2010s.

## Notable For
- **Successor Entity:** Formed specifically to replace Ensemble Studios following its dissolution.
- **Strategic Regional Hub:** Served as the Dallas-based arm of Zynga’s global development network.
- **Specialized Workforce:** Maintained a lean professional team of 35 employees focused on software development within the video game industry.

## Body

### Origins and Foundation
Zynga Dallas was established on February 1, 2009. It was initially known as Bonfire Studios and was founded in Dallas, Texas. The studio's inception was closely tied to the closure of Ensemble Studios, acting as a successor organization to that entity.

### Corporate Integration
The studio operated as a subsidiary company of Zynga, a major American social game developer founded in 2007. While Zynga is headquartered in San Francisco, Zynga Dallas maintained its operations locally in Texas. During its years of operation, the studio maintained a staff of approximately 35 employees.

### Industry Role and Dissolution
As a video game developer, the company was a participant in the broader video game industry, focusing on the creation of software for personal use. It maintained an online presence through the domain bonfire-studios.com. The entity's active period concluded in 2013, when it was officially dissolved. Despite its closure, the studio remains documented in international records, with Wikipedia entries existing in French, Portuguese, Russian, and Vietnamese.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013