Vivox, Inc.
TypePrivate, Incorporation
IndustryVideo games, Voip
Founded2005
HeadquartersFramingham, Massachusetts, United States
Key people
Rob Seaver, CEO
OwnerUnity[1]
Number of employees
40+
Websitewww.unity.com/products/vivox/

Vivox Inc. is an American communications company that manages communication services in the form of integrated voice chat, Instant Messaging (IM) to online games, virtual worlds and other online communities. It is headquartered in Framingham, Massachusetts.

History

Vivox was founded by Jeff Pulver in 2005.[2] On September 19, 2005, Vivox announced they had received $6 million in venture capital funding from Canaan Partners and GrandBanks Capital.[3]

On November 13, 2007, Vivox announced they had secured $7.8 million in Series B financing. This funding was led by Benchmark Capital and supported by existing investors Canaan Partners and GrandBanks Capital. With the support of Benchmark Capital, former CEO of JAMDAT Mobile, Mitch Lasky, was added to the Vivox board of directors.[4]

On February 2, 2010, Vivox announced that they had raised $6.8 Million in funding for their Series C funding. The round was led by IDG Ventures and included follow-on investments from existing investors, Benchmark Capital, Canaan Partners and GrandBanks Capital. In addition, IDG Ventures managing director Phil Sanderson joined the Vivox Board.[5]

On January 29, 2019, Unity acquired Vivox for an undisclosed amount.[6]

Major announcements

On May 10, 2006, CCP Games and Vivox announced that EVE Online players would have real-time, in-game voice communication as the result of an agreement between the two companies. Vivox provided CCP with an integrated solution that allows players to speak with each other in-game, and create audio conference channels for their gang, corporation or alliance.[7]

On February 27, 2007, Vivox announced a partnership with Linden Lab and that they would provide integrated voice communications to the Second Life Grid. This included spatial audio that allows residents to hear each other based on their positions. This technology was licensed by DiamondWare Technologies.[8]

During the 2008 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, California, Vivox announced a partnership with Sony Online Entertainment.[9] The agreement between the two companies brought integrated voice chat into all existing and planned SOE products including SOE's out of game communication application, Station Launcher.[9] SOE games that use Vivox Voice include EverQuest, APB, EverQuest 2, Star Wars Galaxies, and Planetside 2.

On May 13, 2008, Vivox and NCsoft announced a partnership that would bring voice to the NCsoft player community.[10]

On September 16, 2008, it was announced that Vivox would provide voice technology for 38 Studios' upcoming MMO.[11]

On March 24, 2009, Vivox and Real Time Worlds declared that Vivox would provide a voice for Real Time Worlds' MMO, APB. Vivox's spatial 3D voice technology was also included within the game.[12]

Vivox provided its software for Epic Games' Fortnite Battle Royale on the Nintendo Switch (Vivox was already used by the game across other platforms), which otherwise lacked a voice chat function without using the Nintendo Switch Online companion phone app. Vivox's software provided a direct voice chat solution (not requiring the mobile app) that also supports cross-platform communications. Vivox announced in February 2019 it will provide its software development kit for Switch voice chat so that other games can take advantage of this approach.[13]

Controversy

Vivox has encountered backlash from the Linux community for encouraging game developers to drop Linux support, rather than making their software compatible with Linux. A developer for Alderon Games, working on the MMO dinosaur game Path of Titans, received this reply from Vivox when they asked about paying them to add Linux support:

"Have you considered eliminating Linux from your platforms? It might not be worth the cost to roll your own solution as evidenced by the amount of publishers and developers that use us. We don't have anything that is going to work in your use case, and wish you the best of luck with TS, but if you decide it's not worth the trouble to support what will likely be the smallest user base for your project, we're here to help. I'm going to close out this ticket but if you need anything else, please let me know."[14]

Integrations

Online games and virtual worlds

Known integrations of Vivox's communications platform in online games and virtual worlds.

Company Product Status
505 Games Hawken Live
Ammobox Studios Eximius: Seize the Frontline Live
Bethesda Game Studios[15] Fallout 76 Live
Bigpoint Games[16] Bigpoint N/A (TBD)
Black Matter Hell Let Loose Live
Blizzard Entertainment Overwatch Live
En Masse Entertainment

(formerly Bluehole Interactive)

 PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds Live
En Masse Entertainment

(formerly Bluehole Interactive)

 TERA N/A (TBD)
CCP Games[17] EVE Online Live
CCP Games Dust 514 Live
Cryptic Studios Neverwinter Live
Cryptic Studios Star Trek Online Live
Crytek Hunt: Showdown Live
Crytek Warface N/A (TBD)
CyberSports[18] Football Superstars Live
Daybreak Game Company[9] DC Universe Online Live
Daybreak Game Company EverQuest Live
Daybreak Game Company EverQuest II Live
Daybreak Game Company H1Z1: Just Survive Live
Daybreak Game Company H1Z1: King of the Kill Live
Daybreak Game Company PlanetSide 2 Live
Electronic Arts[19] Command & Conquer 4 Live
Epic Games Fortnite Live (Voice chat on Nintendo Switch only)
Epic Games Paragon N/A (TBD)
Epic Games Unreal Engine N/A (TBD)
Epic Games Unreal Tournament N/A (TBD)
EXBO Stalcraft Live
Gaia Online[20] zOMG! Removed
Gaijin Entertainment War Thunder Live
Grey Box Dreadnought N/A (TBD)
Hi-Rez Studios[21] Global Agenda Live
Hi-Rez Studios Paladins Live
Hi-Rez Studios Smite Live
Icarus Studios[22] Fallen Earth Live
IMVU[23] IMVU Removed[24]
Krafton PUBG Live
Linden Lab[25] Second Life Live
Lucky VR Inc. PokerStars VR Live
Mail.ru Allods Online N/A (TBD)
Mail.ru Skyforge N/A (TBD)
Metaversum[26] Twinity Live
Motiga Gigantic N/A (TBD)
Nexon Corporation[27] Combat Arms Removed[28]
Nexon War Rock N/A
Obsidian Entertainment Armored Warfare N/A (TBD)
Other Ocean Project Winter Live
Panzerdog Tacticool
Perfect World Arc Client Live
Piranha Games MechWarrior Online Removed
Red Duck Alliance of Valiant Arms N/A (TBD)
Red Duck Metro Conflict N/A (TBD)
Reloaded Productions APB: All Points Bulletin Early Release
Riot Games League of Legends Live
Riot Games Valorant Live
Runewaker Entertainment[29] Runes of Magic Live
Siege Camp (Formerly Clapfoot) Foxhole Live
VOID Interactive Ready or Not Live
Ubisoft Montreal Rainbow Six Siege Live
Wargaming World of Tanks since 0.7.5
Wargaming World of Warships Live
Wizards of the Coast[30] Dungeons & Dragons Insider N/A (TBD)
ZeniMax Online Studios The Elder Scrolls Online Live

Middleware platforms

Known middleware integrations of Vivox's communications platform.

Company Product
BigWorld Technology[31] BigWorld Technology Suite
Icarus Studios[32] Icarus Developer Tools Suite
Monumental Games[33] Monumental Technology Suite
Multiverse Network[34][35] Multiverse Platform
Simutronics[26] HeroEngine

Other products

C3 - Command, Control, Communicate

C3 is a standalone voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) client where computer users are able to connect and speak with fellow computer users. C3 allows users to chat both through text and voice by creating chat channels with a maximum capacity of 100 users in each channel.

The target audience of C3 is gamers who can use the software to communicate with other gamers among the same guild, team, clan, etc. on an online multiplayer game (MMO). Voice communication allows for players to use teamwork to their advantage while creating a sense of online community.[36]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Unity Technologies Acquires Vivox, Provider of the World's Best Game Voice and Text Chat Services". January 29, 2019.
  2. ↑ Viscarolasaga, Efrain (September 19, 2005). "VON founder launches VoIP venture: Vivox". The Business Journals. Retrieved December 8, 2022.
  3. ↑ Matney, Lucas (January 29, 2019). "Unity acquires Vivox, which powers voice chat in Fortnite and League of Legends". TechCrunch. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Benchmark Capital joins Vivox in 7.8 million USD deal". Engadget. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Vivox Raises $6.8 Million in Series C Round of Funding". siliconindia. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  6. ↑ Technologies, Unity. "Unity Technologies Acquires Vivox, Provider of the World's Best Game Voice and Text Chat Services". unity.com. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  7. ↑ CCP. "Press Releases". EVE Online. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Vivox". Vivox. February 27, 2007. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
  9. 1 2 3 "Vivox Press Release February 20, 2008: Ma Bell, Meet Joe Gamer: Sony Online Entertainment Ushers in New Era of Voice Chat for Online Games with Powerful Suite of Communication Services". Retrieved March 4, 2008.
  10. ↑ "News – NCsoft, Vivox Partner For Voice Middleware Deal". Gamasutra. May 13, 2008. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
  11. ↑ "Vivox to Provide Voice Technology for 38 Studios' Upcoming Online Entertainment Experience". 38studios.com. September 16, 2008. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
  12. ↑ "All Points Bulletin – Vivox Adds Voice to APB". MMORPG.com. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
  13. ↑ Gartenburg, Chaim (February 5, 2019). "Switch games are finally getting proper voice chat thanks to Vivox". The Verge. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  14. ↑ Dawe, Liam (May 1, 2019). "After suggesting a developer drop Linux support, Vivox have released a statement". GamingOnLinux. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Fallout 76 May Be the Sandbox MMO We've Been Waiting For". MMORPG.com. November 5, 2018. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  16. ↑ "BigPoint, Vivox Games Announces Voice Chat on Social Games". Socialtimes.com. February 10, 2010. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
  17. ↑ "Vivox Press Release May 10, 2006: Eve Online Screams with Vivox Real-Time Voice Technology". Retrieved October 29, 2007.
  18. ↑ "Vivox Press Release June 10, 2008: CyberSports Ltd. Scores with Voice from Vivox". Retrieved June 13, 2008.
  19. ↑ "Vivox, Bringer of Voice to Virtual Worlds, Strikes Major Deal with Electronic Arts". Xconomy. September 15, 2009. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
  20. ↑ "'zOMG!' Adds Vivox Voice Chat". Worthplaying. October 19, 2009. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
  21. ↑ "Global Agenda to feature Vivox voice integration". Massively. November 10, 2009. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
  22. ↑ "Vivox Press Release September 5, 2006: Vivox Gives Voice to the Battle for Fallen Earth". Retrieved October 30, 2007.
  23. ↑ "IMVU Adds Voice From Vivox". Virtual Worlds News. March 11, 2010. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
  24. ↑ "Notice regarding removal of voice chat feature". IMVU. March 4, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
  25. ↑ "Vivox Press Release February 27, 2007: Vivox Gives Voice to Second Life". Archived from the original on April 29, 2016. Retrieved October 29, 2007.
  26. 1 2 "Vivox Press Release February 13, 2008: Metaversum, Simutronics & Stratics Select Vivox for Integrated Voice". Retrieved February 13, 2008.
  27. ↑ "[Content Update] Patch Notes 11/25, New Map, Specialist, and more!". Archived from the original on January 26, 2010. Retrieved November 26, 2009.
  28. ↑ "Vivox Removal". Archived from the original on February 18, 2015. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  29. ↑ "'Runes of Magic' Integrates Vivox Voice Chat". Worthplaying. March 8, 2010. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
  30. ↑ "Vivox Press Release August 21, 2007: Vivox Powers Voice Chat for Wizards of the Coast's New Dungeons & Dragons Insider". Retrieved October 29, 2007.
  31. ↑ "Vivox Press Release September 5, 2006: Vivox and BigWord Pty Ltd Announce Partnership". Retrieved October 30, 2007.
  32. ↑ "Vivox Press Release June 5, 2007: Icarus Studios Selects Vivox to Deliver Voice to 3D Online Worlds". Retrieved October 30, 2007.
  33. ↑ "Vivox Press Release May 8, 2007: Monumental Games Chooses Vivox to Deliver Proven and Scalable Voice to MMOG Customers". Retrieved October 30, 2007.
  34. ↑ "Vivox Press Release April 1, 2008: Multiverse Selects Vivox to Deliver Voice to Virtual World Developers". Retrieved April 1, 2008.
  35. ↑ "Gamasutra Product News April 1, 2008: Multiverse Adds Vivox To Virtual World Platform". Retrieved April 1, 2008.
  36. ↑ Hamilton, Kirk. "Good News: Online Games Are Getting Less Obnoxious". Retrieved August 24, 2015.
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