In the video game industry, a third-party developer is a developer that is not only a separate entity from a console manufacturer, but also not affiliated or held by any contractual agreement to make exclusive games for any specific console. There are numerous third-party developers in the industry that make games for all systems as well as some third-party developers that make games for specific systems. The computer and video game industry is the economic sector involved with the development, marketing and sale of video and computer games. ... The Nintendo GameCube is an example of a current generation video game console. ...

Many third parties publish the games they develop, such as Electronic Arts and Ubisoft, while others only develop games to be published under other companies, such as BioWare (2nd party Xbox and 3rd party PC) and Raven Software. Furthermore, third party developers can be owned by larger third parties, such as the relationship between Neversoft (creators of the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series) and Activision. Because of this, much larger third parties that also publish their own games are typically referred to as publishing houses and not third party developers even though they do develop many of their own games internally. Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) is a leading video game developer and publisher. ... Ubisoft Entertainment (formerly Ubi Soft) is a computer and video game publisher and developer headquarters in Montreuil-sous-Bois, France. ... BioWare Corp. ... Raven Software is a computer game software developer based in Madison, Wisconsin. ... Neversoft is a video game developer, founded in 1994 by Joel Jewett, Mick West and Chris Ward. ... Activision, Inc. ...

Examples of third-party developers

• Activision
• Atari — formerly a first-party developer
• Capcom
• Electronic Arts — the largest third party developer
• Konami
• LucasArts
• Namco
• Pi Studios
• SEGA — formerly a first-party developer
• Ubisoft

Activision, Inc. ... For the concept Atari (当たり) in the board game of Go, see Atari (go term). ... Capcom (カプコン in Japanese) (TYO: 9697) is a leading Japanese developer and publisher of computer and video games. ... Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) is a leading video game developer and publisher. ... Konami Corporation (コナミ) TYO: 9766 (NYSE: KNM) (SGX: K20) is a leading developer and publisher of numerous popular and strong-selling computer and video games. ... LucasArts Entertainment Company (sometimes shortened to LEC), is a video game developer and publisher. ... Namco TYO: 9752 is a company based in Japan, best known for developing video games. ... Pi Studios is a computer game software developer based in Houston, Texas. ... Sega (セガ) is a video game software and hardware developer, and a former home computer and console manufacturer. ... Ubisoft Entertainment (formerly Ubi Soft) is a computer and video game publisher and developer headquarters in Montreuil-sous-Bois, France. ...

See also

• first-party developer
• second-party developer