Behaviour Interactive

Canadian video game development studio

Behaviour Interactive Inc.

Formerly|

* Megatoon (1992–1997)
* Artificial Mind & Movement (2000–2010)

Company type| Private
Industry| Video games
Founded| September 21, 1992; 32 years ago (1992-09-21) in Quebec City, Canada
Founder| Rémi Racine
Headquarters|

Montreal

Canada

Area served

| Worldwide

Key people

* Rémi Racine (President)
* Stephen Mulrooney (CTO)
* Wayne Meazza (EVP Studios)
* Roland Ribotti (CFO)

Products|

* Dead by Daylight
* Fallout Shelter

Number of employees

| >1,300[1] (2022)
Divisions|

* Behaviour Original Games
* Behaviour Services

Subsidiaries|

* Behaviour Rotterdam
* Behaviour UK
* Midwinter Entertainment
* Red Hook Studios

Website| bhvr.com

Behaviour Interactive Inc. (stylized as "bEHAVIOUR", sometimes shortened to "BHVR") is a Canadian video game developer and publisher based in Montreal. The studio is best known for the multiplayer horror game Dead by Daylight.

## History

[edit]

The company was founded in 1992 in Quebec City as Megatoon.[2] Two years later, the company's current CEO and executive producer, Rémi Racine, co-founded the Montreal-based Multimedia Interactive (MMI) to develop interactive entertainment software for CD-ROM.[3] Both companies were sold to Malofilm Communications in 1996, and a year later, they were merged into Behaviour Interactive with Racine as general manager.[3] In 1997, the studio released Jersey Devil on PlayStation and later Windows. The 3D platformer was the first console game made entirely in Quebec.[4] Distributed by Sony, Jersey Devil caught the eye of Infogrames Entertainment, which approached Behaviour to produce what would become Bugs Bunny: Lost in Time, released in 1999.

In 1999, Racine and some investors bought the studio back, but they had to rename it, changing the name in 2000 to Artificial Mind & Movement Inc. (A2M).[3][5] As A2M, the studio continued its work-for-hire projects, producing titles for clients including Konami, Sony Computer Entertainment, Ubisoft, Disney Interactive Studios, Nintendo, EA and Activision. In November 2008, the company acquired Santiago-based Wanako Games from Activision Blizzard,[6] which was the first and largest South American game studio.[3] As A2M, the studio maintained its focus on producing original titles, releasing Scaler (2004), Wet (2009) and Naughty Bear (2010). This last title had more than 800,000 console-unit sales and laid the groundwork for the studio's 2016 breakthrough original game, Dead by Daylight.[7]

On November 8, 2010, Artificial Mind & Movement announced its name was returning to Behaviour Interactive.[8] The change was partly due to increased production of original titles and thus stronger presence in the gaming community, partly due to the availability of the original name, and partly due to one particular obscene interpretation of the initialism "A2M".[5]

The studio has maintained its work-for-hire services with major clients while continuing to invest in original games. In 2016, Behaviour released Dead by Daylight, a multiplayer survival action horror game published by Sweden's Starbreeze. Dead by Daylight sold more than 1 million copies in its first two months[9][10] and by 2022 had more than 50 million players worldwide.[11] In 2018, Behaviour purchased the game's publishing rights from Starbreeze for US$16 million.[12] Thanks in large part to the game's success, Behaviour has seen its revenues grow from CAD $25 million in 2015 to CAD $225 million in 2021.[13][14]

In April 2022, Behaviour announced the opening of a new office in Toronto.[15] In May 2022, it was announced Behaviour Interactive had acquired the Seattle-based game development studio Midwinter Entertainment.[16]

In the summer of 2022, Behaviour released Hooked on You, a dating sim spinoff from the Dead by Daylight franchise, and the melee brawler Flippin Misfits. Both games were revealed alongside Meet Your Maker at the first Behaviour Beyond showcase of new and upcoming releases broadcast in August 2022.[17]

In February 2023, it was announced that Behaviour had acquired UK-based video game developer SockMonkey Studios,[18] which is now renamed Behaviour UK – North.

In March 2023, it was announced that a film based on Dead by Daylight is in development, with Blumhouse Productions, Atomic Monster and Striker Entertainment co-producing.[19]

Behaviour's next major original release, Meet Your Maker, was released in April 2023 on PC, PlayStation 4/5, and Xbox One, Series X/S. The game was billed as a "post-apocalyptic first-person building-and-raiding game where every level is designed by players for players".[20]

In May 2023, Concordia University in Montreal announced the creation of a new Behaviour-funded research chair in video game design in its Department of Design and Computation Arts. Behaviour will provide $2-million in funding for the research chair over the next 10 years.[21]

In July 2023, Behaviour announced the opening of a new studio in Truro, Cornwall, called Behaviour UK – South.[22] In August 2023, Behaviour acquired Netherlands-based video game developer Codeglue, renaming it Behaviour Rotterdam.[23] In November 2023, it was announced that Dead by Daylight had surpassed the 60-million player milestone.[24]

In January 2024, Behaviour laid off 45 employees from its Montreal location, which accounted for less than 3% of its total workforce.[25]

In March 2024, Behaviour announced its acquisition of Fly Studio, an award-winning multimedia experience designer and producer from Montreal. Behaviour said the acquisition was made to consolidate its position in the location-based entertainment (LBE) market.[26] Immersive Entertainment replaced the studio's Business Solutions unit, according to its website.[27]

In April 2024, Behaviour announced it would be partnering with Scandinavian independent game developer Haenir Studio to bring their action-horror co-op survival game Blight: Survival to life.[28] The company announced it would lay off an additional 95 employees, 70 of whom are based in Montreal.[29]

Behaviour announced the closure of Midwinter on September 18, 2024, and the cancellation of their Dead by Daylight spinoff codenamed "Project T".[30]

Behaviour acquired Red Hook Studios, the developers of Darkest Dungeon and its sequel, in September 2024; Red Hook would continue as an independent studio under Behaviour.[31]

### Business units

[edit]

Behaviour's operations are divided into two business units – Services and Original Games.[32] Its Services unit provides work-for-hire development services to major video game and entertainment industry brands such as Disney, Sony, Activision, Warner Bros. Discovery, Ubisoft, HBO and Nintendo and also includes an Immersive Entertainment vertical that has a primary focus on location-based entertainment (LBE). Behaviour's Original Games unit produces the studio's original IP including Dead by Daylight.[33]

### Abolition of crunch time

[edit]

Behaviour Interactive made headlines as one of the first video game studios to abolish crunch time, a controversial yet widespread practice in the video game industry that requires employees to work longer hours, often unpaid, to meet project milestones.[34][35][36] The policy helped Behaviour earn its designation as one of Canada's Best Workplaces by gamesindustry.biz in 2018 and again in 2021 and 2022.[35][37]

## Titles

[edit]

### As Artificial Mind & Movement

[edit]

Game title | Year released | Platform | Publisher

|
|
|

The Grinch | 2000 | PS, PC, DC | Konami
Bugs Bunny & Taz: Time Busters | 2000 | PS, PC | Infogrames
Smurf Racer! | 2001 | PS | Infogrames
Monsters, Inc. Scream Team | 2001 | PS, PS2, PC | Sony Computer Entertainment
Ice Age | 2002 | GBA | Ubisoft
Scooby-Doo! Mystery Mayhem | 2003 | GBA, PS2, GC, Xbox | THQ
Carmen Sandiego: The Secret of the Stolen Drums | 2004 | PS2, GC, Xbox | BAM! Entertainment
Home on the Range | 2004 | GBA | Buena Vista Games
Disney's Kim Possible 2: Drakken's Demise | 2004 | GBA | Buena Vista Games
Scaler | 2004 | PS2, GC, Xbox | Take-Two Interactive
Get On Da Mic | 2004 | PS2 | Eidos Interactive
Lizzie McGuire 2: Lizzie Diaries | 2004 | GBA | Buena Vista Games
Disney Move | 2004 | PS2 EyeToy | Buena Vista Games
Scooby-Doo! Unmasked | 2005 | GBA, PS2, GC, Xbox, DS | THQ
Disney's Kim Possible 3: Team Possible | 2005 | GBA | Buena Vista Games
That's So Raven 2: Supernatural Style | 2005 | GBA | Buena Vista Games
everGirl... your way to play! | 2005 | GBA, PC | THQ
Chicken Little | 2005 | GBA | Buena Vista Games
Teen Titans | 2005 | GBA | Majesco Entertainment
Ed, Edd n Eddy: The Mis-Edventures | 2005 | GBA, PC, PS2, GC, Xbox | Midway Games
Flow: Urban Dance Uprising | 2005 | PS2 | Ubisoft
Disney's Kim Possible: Kimmunicator | 2005 | DS | Buena Vista Games
Teen Titans | 2006 | PS2, GC, Xbox | THQ, Majesco Entertainment
Monster House | 2006 | PS2, GC, GBA, DS | THQ
The Ant Bully | 2006 | Wii, PS2, GC, GBA, PC | Midway Games
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody: Tipton Caper | 2006 | GBA | Buena Vista Games
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody: Tipton Trouble | 2006 | DS | Buena Vista Games
Teen Titans 2: The Brotherhood's Revenge | 2006 | GBA | Majesco Entertainment
Disney's Kim Possible: What's the Switch? | 2006 | PS2 | Buena Vista Games
The Sims 2: Pets | 2006 | GBA | EA
Happy Feet | 2006 | DS, Wii, PS2, GC, GBA, PC | Midway Games
Disney's Kim Possible: Global Gemini | 2007 | DS | Buena Vista Games
Drake & Josh | 2007 | GBA | THQ
Enchanted: Once Upon Andalasia | 2007 | GBA | Buena Vista Games
High School Musical: Livin' the Dream | 2007 | GBA | Buena Vista Games
High School Musical: Makin' the Cut! | 2007 | DS, Wii, PS2 | Buena Vista Games
Spider-Man: Friend or Foe | 2007 | DS, PSP | Activision
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody: Circle of Spies | 2007 | DS | Disney Interactive Studios
Power Rangers: Super Legends | 2007 | DS, PS2, PC | Disney Interactive Studios
High School Musical: Sing It! | 2007 | PS2, Wii | Disney Interactive Studios
The Golden Compass | 2007 | DS | Sega
High School Musical 2: Work This Out! | 2008 | DS | Disney Interactive Studios
Iron Man | 2008 | DS, Wii, PS2, PSP, PC | Sega
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor | 2008 | DS | Vivendi Games
Mercenaries 2: World in Flames | 2008 | PS2 | Electronic Arts
Transformers Animated: The Game | 2008 | DS | Activision
Kung Fu Panda: Legendary Warriors | 2008 | DS, Wii | Activision
The Lord of the Rings: Conquest | 2009 | DS | EA
MySims Racing | 2009 | DS, Wii | EA
Scene It? Bright Lights! Big Screen! | 2009 | PS3, X360, Wii | Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs | 2009 | DS | Activision
Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings | 2009 | DS, Wii, PS2 | LucasArts
Shorts | 2009 | DS | Majesco Entertainment
Tetris | 2009  | PSN (PSP)  | EA
Wet | 2009 | PS3, X360 | Bethesda Softworks
Dante's Inferno | 2010 | PSP | EA
Revenge of the Wounded Dragons | 2010 | PS3 | Sony Computer Entertainment
Naughty Bear | 2010 | PS3, X360 | 505 Games
3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures 2 | 2010 | PS3, X360 | Konami

### As Behaviour Interactive

[edit]

Game title | Year released | Platform | Publisher

|
|
|

Jersey Devil | 1997 | PS, PC |

* NA: Sony Computer Entertainment

* EU: Ocean Software

Bugs Bunny: Lost in Time | 1999 | PS, PC | Infogrames
MySims SkyHeroes | 2010 | X360, Wii, PS3, DS | EA
Doritos Crash Course | 2010 | X360 | Microsoft Studios
Tetris | 2011 | PSN (PS3) | EA
Monkey Quest | 2011  | PC | Nickelodeon
Ghostbusters: Sanctum of Slime | 2011 | PSN (PS3), XLA (X360), PC | Atari
Rango: The Video Game | 2011 | X360, Wii, PS3, DS | EA
Paramount Digital Entertainment
Transformers: Dark of the Moon | 2011 | Wii, 3DS, DS | Activision
Wipeout in the Zone | 2011 | X360 | Activision
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked | 2011 | Wii, DS, X360 |

* NA: Majesco Entertainment

* EU: 505 Games

Victorious: Hollywood Arts Debut | 2011 | DS | D3 Publisher
Voltron: Defender of the Universe | 2011 | PSN (PS3), XLA (X360) | THQ
Brave: The Video Game | 2012 | Wii, DS, PS3, X360, PC | Disney Interactive Studios
Ice Age: Continental Drift – Arctic Games | 2012 | Wii, 3DS, DS, X360 | Activision
Wipeout 3 | 2012 | Wii, Wii U, X360 | Activision
Naughty Bear: Panic in Paradise | 2012 | PSN (PS3), XLA (X360) | 505 Games
Monsters University | 2013 | iOS, Android | Disney Mobile
After Earth | 2013 | iOS, Android | Reliance Games
Doritos Crash Course 2 | 2013 | X360 | Microsoft Studios
Disney's Planes | 2013 | Wii, Wii U | Disney Interactive Studios
Pacific Rim: The Mobile Game | 2013 | iOS, Android |
Phineas and Ferb: Quest for Cool Stuff | 2013 | Wii, Wii U, 3DS, DS, X360 |

* NA: Majesco Entertainment

* EU: 505 Games

SpongeBob SquarePants: Plankton's Robotic Revenge | 2013 | Wii, Wii U, 3DS, DS, PS3, X360 | Activision
Zoo Tycoon: Friends | 2014 | Windows 8, Windows Phone | Microsoft Studios
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor | 2014 | PS3, X360 | Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Pro Feel Golf | 2015 | iOS, Android | Behaviour Interactive
SpongeBob HeroPants | 2015 | 3DS, PS Vita, X360 | Activision
Home: Boov Pop! | 2015 | iOS, Android | Behaviour Interactive
Fallout Shelter | 2015 | iOS, Android, PC, Switch, PS4, XOne | Bethesda Softworks
The Peanuts Movie: Snoopy's Grand Adventure | 2015 | 3DS, PS4, Wii U, X360, XOne | Activision
Dead by Daylight | 2016 | Android, iOS, PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Stadia, XOne, Xbox Series X/S | Starbreeze Studios (2016 - 2018) / Behaviour Interactive[38] (2018 - )
Warhammer 40,000: Eternal Crusade | 2016 | PC | Bandai Namco
Love & Hip Hop The Game | 2016 | iOS, Android | Behaviour Interactive
Halo Wars: Definitive Edition | 2016 | XOne, PC | Microsoft Studios
Assassin's Creed: Rebellion | 2017 | iOS, Android | Ubisoft
Westworld | 2018 | iOS, Android | Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Deathgarden | 2018–2019 | PS4, XOne, PC | Behaviour Interactive
Game of Thrones: Beyond the Wall | 2020  | iOS, Android | Behaviour Interactive
Hooked on You: A Dead by Daylight Dating Sim | 2022  | PC | Behaviour Interactive
Meet Your Maker | 2023  | PC, PS4, PS5, XOne, Xbox Series X/S | Behaviour Interactive
Silent Hill: Ascension | 2023–2024  | PC, iOS, Android[39] | Konami
What the Fog | 2024  | PC[40] | Behaviour Interactive
The Casting of Frank Stone | 2024  | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S | Behaviour Interactive
Publisher only; Developed by Supermassive Games

## Bethesda infringement lawsuit

[edit]

On June 21, 2018, Bethesda Softworks sued Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Behaviour Interactive over Westworld, a mobile game based on the science fiction television series Westworld, alleging that the game is a "blatant rip-off" of Fallout Shelter, another mobile game, co-developed by Behaviour.

In a suit filed in a United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Bethesda alleges that Westworld "has the same or highly similar game design, art style, animations, features and other gameplay elements" as Fallout Shelter. Bethesda sued for copyright infringement, breach of contract and misappropriating trade secrets, seeking a jury trial and damages.[41] The lawsuit also alleged that Westworld identically reproduced some software bugs that were originally present in Fallout Shelter.[42] The lawsuit was settled in January 2019 on friendly terms.[43]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "About". Behaviour Interactive. 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
2. ^ "History". Behaviour Interactive. Archived from the original on 14 November 2010. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
3. ^ a b c d "Behaviour Interactif célèbre 25 ans de succès en jeu vidéo et inaugure ses nouvelles installations du Mile-Ex à Montréal". Cision. CNW Group. Sep 28, 2017. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
4. ^ "Behaviour Interactif célèbre 25 ans de succès en jeu vidéo et inaugure ses nouvelles installations du Mile-Ex à Montréal". Cision. Sep 28, 2017. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
5. ^ a b Grant, Christopher (November 8, 2010). "Artificial Mind and Movement rebrands; (re)introducing Behaviour Interactive". Joystiq. Archived from the original on October 14, 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
6. ^ A2M (November 20, 2008). "A2M Acquires Chilean Developer Wanako Games" (Press release). Bloomberg. Retrieved September 7, 2014.`{{cite press release}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
7. ^ O'Kane, Josh (2022-04-25). "Montreal indie game studio Behaviour opens new Toronto office after decade-long turnaround". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
8. ^ Artificial Mind & Movement (A2M) Rebrands as Behaviour Interactive - With New Focus, A Return to Previous Name for Canada's Largest Independent Game Developer
9. ^ Kerr, Chris (2016-08-25). "Dead By Daylight sales top 1 million after two months". Game Developer. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
10. ^ "Le million pour Dead by Daylight". www.gamekult.com (in French). 2016-09-05. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
11. ^ "Behaviour Interactif, la culture et la résilience". www.lesaffaires.com (in French). Retrieved 2022-06-27.
12. ^ "Starbreeze sells rights to Dead by Daylight to Behaviour for USD 16 million – Starbreeze". Archived from the original on 2021-08-28. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
13. ^ McKenna, Alain (2022-01-22). "Une année pivot pour Behaviour Interactif en 2022". Le Devoir (in French). Retrieved 2022-06-27.
14. ^ O’Kane, Josh (2022-04-25). "Montreal indie game studio Behaviour opens new Toronto office after decade-long turnaround". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
15. ^ Frico (2022-04-25). "Behaviour Interactive, opens first studio in Toronto". Behaviour Interactive. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
16. ^ Pinheiro, Daniel (2022-05-18). "Dead by Daylight developer acquires Midwinter Entertainment, the studio behind Scavengers". PC Invasion. Retrieved 2022-05-18.
17. ^ "Five exciting game announcements from the Behaviour Beyond showcase". For The Win. 2022-08-03. Retrieved 2022-12-09.
18. ^ Dealessandri, Marie (February 23, 2023). "Behaviour Interactive acquires SockMonkey Studios". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
19. ^ Boulanger, Sandrine (2023-03-02). "Film adaptation of hit horror game Dead by Daylight". Behaviour Interactive. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
20. ^ "Meet Your Maker Launches April 4th, 2023 | Meet Your Maker". meetyourmakergame.com. 9 December 2022. Retrieved 2022-12-09.
21. ^ "Behaviour Interactive's $2-million gift to the Campaign for Concordia to spur innovation for Quebec's video game industry - Concordia University". www.concordia.ca. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
22. ^ Batchelor, James (2023-07-12). "Behaviour Interactive forms new UK studio with former AntiMatter Games staff". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
23. ^ Takahashi, Dean (August 22, 2023). "Behaviour acquires Codeglue to expand dev reach to the Netherlands". VentureBeat.
24. ^ McWhertor, Michael (2023-11-28). "Dead by Daylight hits 60 million players". Polygon. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
25. ^ Dealessandri, Marie (2024-01-18). "Report: Behaviour Interactive lays off 45 employees". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
26. ^ "Behaviour Interactive acquires Montreal's Fly Studio". Behaviour Interactive. 2024-03-14. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
27. ^ "Immersive Entertainment". Behaviour Interactive. Retrieved 2024-05-22.
28. ^ "Haenir Studio and Behaviour Interactive partner to bring Blight: Survival to life". Behavior Interactive. 2024-04-30. Retrieved 2024-04-30.
29. ^ Chalk, Andy (2024-06-04). "Less than 6 months after laying off 40 employees, Dead by Daylight studio Behaviour Interactive drops another 95". PC Gamer. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
30. ^ "Update: Behaviour Interactive confirms it has shut down Midwinter Entertainment". www.gamedeveloper.com.
31. ^ Romano, Sal (September 24, 2024). "Behaviour Interactive acquires Red Hook Studios". Gematsu. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
32. ^ "A Leading Independent Game Developer". Behaviour Interactive. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
33. ^ "Business Solutions". Behaviour Interactive. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
34. ^ Macgregor, Jody (May 27, 2019). "CEO of Dead by Daylight devs Behaviour Interactive explains why they abolished crunch". PC Gamer. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
35. ^ a b "What's the secret to becoming an award-winning employer?". www.hrreporter.com. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
36. ^ "CEO Blog - Why I Abolished Crunch Time and Never Looked Back". Behaviour Interactive. 2019-05-21. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
37. ^ "Meet the best places to work in Canada's games industry". GamesIndustry.biz. 8 November 2018. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
38. ^ "Starbreeze sells rights to Dead by Daylight to Behaviour for USD 16 million – Starbreeze". Archived from the original on 2021-08-28. Retrieved 2021-07-25.
39. ^ "You Can Play A New Silent Hill Game Starting Tonight -- Here's When". GameSpot. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
40. ^ X https://x.com/DeadbyDaylight/status/1790473704113054148. `{{cite web}}`: Missing or empty `|title=` (help)
41. ^ "Bethesda sues Warner Bros, calls its Westworld game 'blatant rip-off' of Fallout Shelter". Polygon. Retrieved 2018-06-23.
42. ^ "Bethesda sues Warner for ripping off Fallout Shelter in its Westworld game". PC Gamer. 22 June 2018.
43. ^ "Bethesda lawsuit alleging Westworld game was Fallout Shelter 'ripoff' resolved". Polygon. 3 January 2019. Retrieved 2020-03-30.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

Other|

* MusicBrainz label