Game Developer Researched has released its annual list of the Top 50 Developers according to the number of studios, sales from 2008 as well as SKU (Stock-Keeping Unit) numbers and metacritic ratings for each. A survey in Game Developer magazine asked 600 industry professionals from the magazine and Gamasutra to express their opinions on more than 150 game developers.
For the second year in a row Nintendo claimed first place, with Blizzard Entertainment taking second. Ubisoft Montreal skyrocketed from 12th place in 2008 to third place in this year"s list.
The full list of the Top 50 Developers is posted below.
1. Nintendo
2. Blizzard Entertainment
3. Ubisoft Montreal
4. Rockstar North
5. EA Canada
6. Konami
7. Valve Software
8. Epic Games
9. EA Tiburon
10. Treyarch
11. Hal Laboratory
12. Capcom
13. Traveller"s Tales
14. Bethesda Game Studios
15. Insomniac Games
16. Namco Bandai Games
17. EA Redwood Shores
18. Koei
19. Kojima Productions
20. Harmonix Music Systems
21. Media Molecule
22. Lionhead Studios
23. Vicarious Visions
24. Maxis
25. Neversoft Entertainment
26. Game Freak
27. Square Enix
28. Digital Illusions CE (Dice)
29. Success
30. Ready At Dawn
31. Atlus
32. Criterion Games
33. TOSE
34. Mythic Entertainment
35. Firaxis Games
36. Volition
37. Sega
38. SCE Japan Studio
39. Ironclad Games
40. Marvelous Interactive
41. Yuke"s Future Media Creators
42. SCE London Studio
43. Visual Concepts
44. Intelligent Systems
45. Omega Force
46. Monolith Productions
47. Funcom
48. SCE Studios San Diego
49. Rare
50. Treasure