Focus Home Interactive

Focus Home Interactive was a French video game publisher founded in 1996 and headquartered in Paris. The company built its reputation publishing mid-budget games across a wide range of genres, partnering with independent developers to bring titles to market that larger publishers would not typically take on. In 2022 the company rebranded as Focus Entertainment, the name under which it now operates. Call of Cthulhu, A Plague Tale: Innocence, MudRunner, Vampyr, and The Surge are among the most recognized titles published under the Focus Home Interactive name.

History and Publishing Identity

Focus Home Interactive started as a French distributor before expanding into publishing. The company found its identity in the mid-budget space, backing games with production values higher than typical indie releases but budgets smaller than AAA titles. That positioning allowed it to take creative risks that larger publishers avoided, resulting in a catalog of games in niches including simulation, survival horror, action RPGs, and tactical games. The company listed on the Paris stock exchange and grew through acquisitions including Cyanide Studio in 2018 and Deck13 Interactive in 2020.

Notable Published Games

A Plague Tale: Innocence, developed by Asobo Studio and released in May 2019, was Focus Home Interactive’s most critically acclaimed release and the title that elevated the publisher’s reputation significantly. A narrative adventure set in 14th century France during the Black Death, it received strong reviews for its story, characters, and atmosphere. The Surge, developed by Deck13 Interactive and released in 2017, was a soulslike set in a near-future industrial environment that found a dedicated audience. Vampyr, developed by Dontnod Entertainment and released in 2018, cast players as a doctor who becomes a vampire in 1918 London. Call of Cthulhu, developed by Cyanide Studio and released in 2018, adapted H.P. Lovecraft’s mythology into an investigation-focused horror game. MudRunner and its successor SnowRunner, both developed by Saber Interactive, built a sustained following around off-road vehicle simulation.

Rebrand to Focus Entertainment

In 2022 Focus Home Interactive rebranded as Focus Entertainment, reflecting a broader strategic repositioning of the company. Under the Focus Entertainment name, the publisher has continued backing mid-budget titles while expanding its studio acquisitions. A Plague Tale: Requiem, the sequel to Innocence developed by Asobo Studio, released in October 2022 under the Focus Entertainment name rather than Focus Home Interactive, receiving critical acclaim and winning multiple awards. The rebrand did not change the fundamental publishing model, but signaled a shift in ambition toward a broader entertainment identity.