Thief (Video Game Series)

Thief is a landmark stealth video game series that originally debuted in 1998, revolutionizing the genre with its focus on light, sound, and non-confrontational gameplay. The series follows Garrett, a cynical master thief in a dark fantasy industrial setting often referred to as 'The City.' The original trilogy was developed by the now-defunct Looking Glass Studios and Ion Storm, setting a high bar for immersive sim experiences.

Following the closure of the original studios, the intellectual property was acquired by Eidos Interactive, which was later absorbed by Square Enix. In 2014, a reboot of the series was released, developed by Eidos-Montréal. The brand's ownership saw a significant shift in May 2022 when Embracer Group entered into an agreement to acquire the development studios and the extensive catalog of IPs from Square Enix, including Thief.

As of 2024 and looking toward the future, the Thief franchise is managed under the umbrella of CDE Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Swedish conglomerate Embracer Group. While no new titles have been released recently, the legacy of the brand remains a cornerstone of stealth gaming history, with manufacturing of physical media taking place in various global regions including North America and Europe.