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{{Short description|American game publisher}}
{{for|the Angolan footballer named Salomão Manuel Troco|Paizo (footballer)}}
{{Infobox publisher
| name         = Paizo Inc.
| image        = 
| caption      = 
| parent       = 
| status       = 
| traded_as    = 
| predecessor  = 
| founded      = 2002
| founders     = {{Unbulleted list|[[Lisa Stevens]]<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://paizo.com/threads/rzs2jpqh?The-History-of-Paizo|title=paizo.com - Forums / PaizoCon: General Discussion: The History of Paizo|website=paizo.com}}</ref>|Vic Wertz<!--- do not link to the baseball player --->|Johnny Wilson}}
| successor    = 
| country      = United States
| headquarters = [[Redmond, Washington]]
| distribution = [[Diamond Book Distributors]]<ref>{{cite web | title=Publishers | website=diamondbookdistributors.com | date=2015-01-07 | url=http://www.diamondbookdistributors.com/default.asp?t=2&m=1&c=53&s=660 | access-date=2020-06-16}}</ref>
| keypeople    = {{Unbulleted list|[[Lisa Stevens]] ([[Adviser|Advisory]] CEO)|Jim Butler ([[President (corporate title)|President]])}}
| publications = [[Role-playing game]]s, [[board game]]s, books
| topics       = 
| genre        = [[science fiction]], [[fantasy]]
| imprints     = 
| revenue      = 
| owner        = 
| numemployees = 
| website      = {{url|http://paizo.com}}
}}

'''Paizo Inc.''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|aɪ|z|oʊ}}; originally '''Paizo Publishing''')<ref>{{cite web | title=Paizo / Press / Archive / 2013 | website=paizo.com | date=2013-01-17 | url=https://paizo.com/paizo/press/archive/2013/v5748eaic9q7k?Pathfinder-Comics-Issue-4-Out-Now | access-date=2020-06-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Paizo / Press / Archive / 2014 | website=paizo.com | date=2014-03-11 | url=https://paizo.com/paizo/press/archive/2014/v5748eaic9rsk?Victoria-Jaczko-Wins-RPG-Superstar-2014 | access-date=2020-06-16}}</ref> is an American [[role-playing game]] [[publishing company]] based in [[Redmond, Washington]], best known for the [[tabletop role-playing game]]s ''[[Pathfinder Roleplaying Game|Pathfinder]]'' and ''[[Starfinder Roleplaying Game|Starfinder]]''. The company's name is derived from the Greek word {{wikt-lang|el|παίζω}} {{transliteration|grc|paízō}}, which means 'I play' or 'to play'. Paizo also runs an [[Online shop|online retail store]] selling [[role-playing game]]s [[board game]]s, [[comic book]]s, [[toy]]s, [[clothing]], accessories and other products, as well as an [[internet forum]] community.

== History ==
Paizo was formed by [[Lisa Stevens]], Vic Wertz<!--- do not link to the baseball player --->, and Johnny Wilson in 2002 to take over the publication of the ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' magazines ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' and ''[[Dungeon (magazine)|Dungeon]]'', formerly published in-house by [[Wizards of the Coast]].<ref name="auto"/> Paizo publisher [[Erik Mona]] is the former editor-in-chief of ''Dragon'', while former editor-in-chief of ''Dungeon'' [[James Jacobs (game designer)|James Jacobs]] oversees the [[Pathfinder (periodical)|''Pathfinder'' periodicals]].

The company started producing a bimonthly magazine called ''Undefeated'' in 2003,<ref>{{cite web| author = Magazine Publishers of America| title = New & Noted 2003 Magazines: January-December 2003| work = MPA Website:The Definitive Source of the Magazine Industry| publisher = Magazine Publishers of America| year = 2003| url = http://www.magazine.org/Finance_and_Operations/Finance_Operations_Trends_and_Magazine_Handbook/1269.cfm| access-date = 2008-02-05| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080210054544/http://www.magazine.org/Finance_and_Operations/Finance_Operations_Trends_and_Magazine_Handbook/1269.cfm| archive-date = 2008-02-10| url-status = dead}}</ref> and in 2004, resurrected the venerable [[science fiction]] title ''[[Amazing Stories]]''.<ref>{{cite news |first=Ben |last=Bova |author-link=Ben Bova |title=Local action can change the world, one word at a time |work=Naples Daily News |date=December 26, 2004 |url=http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2004/dec/26/ndn_ben_bova__local_action_can_change_the_world__o/ |access-date=2008-02-05 |archive-date=2012-02-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207163414/http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2004/dec/26/ndn_ben_bova__local_action_can_change_the_world__o/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The two publications were placed on hiatus in 2005, and finally canceled in 2006.<ref>{{cite news|title=Amazing Stories Ends Run |journal=Sci Fi Weekly |date=March 27, 2006 |url=http://www.scifi.com/sfw/news/sfw_news_20060327.html |issue=563 |access-date=2008-02-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070101192339/http://www.scifi.com/sfw/news/sfw_news_20060327.html |archive-date=January 1, 2007 }}</ref>

In early 2007, Wizards of the Coast announced it would not renew Paizo's license to publish ''Dragon'' and ''Dungeon'', leaving a five-year run from September 2002 to September 2007.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/news/20070419a| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070429003554/http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/news/20070419a| url-status = dead| archive-date = April 29, 2007| title = Paizo Publishing to Cease Publication of Dragon and Dungeon| publisher = [[Wizards of the Coast]]| access-date = 2007-04-19| date = 2007-04-19}} (press release)</ref><ref>{{cite web| author = Magazine Publishers of America| title = Defunct or Suspended Magazines 2007| work = MPA Website:The Definitive Source of the Magazine Industry| publisher = Magazine Publishers of America| year = 2003| url = http://www.magazine.org/finance_and_operations/finance_operations_trends_and_magazine_handbook/20924.cfm| access-date = 2008-02-05| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070626112240/http://www.magazine.org/finance_and_operations/finance_operations_trends_and_magazine_handbook/20924.cfm| archive-date = 2007-06-26| url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Paige Wiser |title=Found: A subscription for happiness in life |work=[[Chicago Sun Times]] |page=A18 |date=2007-07-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Julie Bartel |title=The Good, The Bad, and the Edgy |work=[[School Library Journal]] |url=http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA621754.html?q=The+Good%2C+The+Bad%2C+and+the+Edgy|page=35 |date=2005-07-01}}</ref>

Paizo's subsequently began the periodical ''[[Pathfinder (periodical)#Adventure Paths|Pathfinder]] [[Adventure Path]]'', which continues the concept featured in ''Dungeon'' of monthly installments of adventures that tell a self-contained story. These Adventure Paths are set in the world of Golarion, the official ''Pathfinder'' [[campaign setting]]. 
Paizo announced on March 18, 2008 that they would be launching the ''[[Pathfinder Roleplaying Game]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG |title=Paizo Publishing Announces the Pathfinder RPG |access-date=2008-07-10}}</ref> Through the new product line, Paizo would modify and update the [[System Reference Document]] version 3.5 under the terms of [[Wizards of the Coast]]'s [[Open Gaming License]]. The ''Pathfinder Roleplaying Game'' would also support Paizo's ''Pathfinder'' campaign setting. In March 2008, Paizo also announced that it was introducing an organized play program called "Pathfinder Society Organized Play". The program was loosely modeled on the [[RPGA]]s [[RPGA#Campaigns|"Living" campaigns]]. Additional products in the ''Pathfinder'' line include [[Pathfinder (periodical)#Pathfinder Modules|''Pathfinder'' modules]] and ''Pathfinder Tales'' novels.

In May 2016, Paizo announced a new space fantasy role-playing game, ''[[Starfinder Roleplaying Game]]'', released in August 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=Announcing the Starfinder Roleplaying Game!|url=http://paizo.com/paizo/blog/v5748dyo5litw?Announcing-the-Starfinder-Roleplaying-Game|website=Paizo.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/starfinder-brings-fan-favorite-fantasy-tabletop-rpg-to-space/|title='Starfinder' Brings Fan Favorite Fantasy Tabletop RPG to Space|date=2017-08-17|work=Waypoint|access-date=2018-07-06|language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://geekdad.com/2017/05/retrieve-starfinder-rpg/|title=Retrieve 'Starfinder RPG.' Priority One. All Other Priorities Rescinded. - GeekDad|date=2017-05-20|work=GeekDad|access-date=2018-07-06|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.polygon.com/features/2016/11/17/13625140/starfinder-rpg-pathfinder|title=Starfinder hopes to do for space opera what D&D has done for fantasy|work=Polygon|access-date=2018-07-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/8/28/16215278/starfinder-core-rulebook-review-pathfinder-paizo-gen-con|title=Starfinder is here, and it's fantastic|work=Polygon|access-date=2018-07-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://gameosity.com/2017/03/16/syrinscape-picks-up-license-for-starfinder|title=Syrinscape Picks Up License for Starfinder! {{!}} Gameosity|date=2017-03-16|work=Gameosity|access-date=2018-07-06|language=en-US}}</ref> It is set in a possible future of the ''Pathfinder'' setting where Golarion has disappeared.

In May 2018, Paizo announced it was working on a second edition of ''Pathfinder'' to refine elements of the rule set to reflect feedback and clarification on the original system over the prior years. The preliminary ruleset was published in August 2018 as ''Pathfinder Playtest'' so that players could test out and provide feedback.<ref name="polygon playtest">{{cite web | url = https://www.polygon.com/2018/5/10/17337396/pathfinder-playtest-interview-jason-bulmahn-erik-mona-availability | title = Pathfinder, with roots in a decades-old strain of D&D, is launching a second edition | first = Charlie | last = Hall | date = May 10, 2018 | access-date = May 10, 2018 | work = [[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] }}</ref> The final rule set was released on August 1, 2019.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Gavin Sheenan |title=Paizo Officially Announces Pathfinder Second Edition Release Date |url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2019/03/06/paizo-officially-announces-pathfinder-second-edition-release-date/ |website=BleedingCool.com |access-date=April 29, 2019 |date=March 6, 2019}}</ref>

On June 15, 2020, Paizo announced CEO Lisa Stevens was going to step down from daily operations in preparation for her retirement.<ref>{{cite web | title=Paizo / Press | website=paizo.com | date=2020-06-15 | url=https://paizo.com/paizo/press/v5748eaidgt3z?Leadership-Transition-at-Paizo | access-date=2020-06-16}}</ref>

Other Paizo products include the ''Titanic Games'' line of board games such as ''[[Kill Doctor Lucky]]'',<ref>{{cite news |author=Edwin Wong |title=Oddball diversions |work=[[New Straits Times]] Local |page=16 |date=2008-01-19}}</ref> and the ''Planet Stories'' line of classic fantasy, science fiction and science fantasy novels.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://archive.wired.com/geekdad/2008/02/planet-stories/ |title=Geekdad - "Planet Stories" Revives the Best of Pulp Fiction |author=John Baichtal |magazine=[[Wired News]] |date=2008-02-05 |access-date=2008-02-09}}</ref>

[[File:President Joe Biden meets with grassroots worker organizers (01).jpg|thumb|right|Alex Speidel (3rd from right) of the United Paizo Workers and other grassroot union organizers meet with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in May 2022]]
On October 14, 2021, an organization representing over 30 Paizo employees announced the formation of the United Paizo Workers, a [[labor union]] allied with the [[Communications Workers of America]],<ref>{{cite web | title=Paizo Employees Unionize | website=unitedpaizoworkers.org | date=2021-10-14 | url=https://unitedpaizoworkers.org/press-release/ | access-date=2021-10-14}}</ref> becoming the first such tabletop game company to have such a union. The employees stated that recent issues related to "managerial impropriety" was a driver for the unionization effort.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.polygon.com/tabletop-games/22726765/paizo-workers-form-union-demands-cwa-pathfinder-starfinder | title = Workers at Paizo unionize, a first for the tabletop role-playing game industry | first = Charlie | last = Hall | date = October 14, 2021 | accessdate = October 14, 2021 | work = [[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] }}</ref> Paizo voluntarily agreed to recognize the union, allowing collective bargaining negotiations between the company and union to commence.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.polygon.com/22740227/pathfinder-starfinder-voluntarily-recognized-workers-union | title = Pathfinder, Starfinder publisher voluntarily recognizes workers' union | first = Nicole | last =Carpenter | date = October 22, 2021 | accessdate = October 22, 2021 | work = [[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] }}</ref>

Leaked documents from Wizard of the Coast in January 2023 suggested that Wizards planned to change the [[Open Game License]] (OGL), developed for its ''Dungeons & Dragons'' products and which Paizo's products are predicated on, to be more restrictive and potentially harm third-party content creators, including Paizo. In response, Paizo announced plans for a new license called the [[Open gaming#Open RPG Creative License|Open RPG Creative License]] (ORC). Additional publishers, such as [[Kobold Press]], [[Chaosium]], [[Green Ronin Publishing|Green Ronin]], Legendary Games, and Rogue Genius Games, will be part of the ORC development process.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=January 12, 2023 |title=Paizo Announces System-Neutral Open RPG License |url=https://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo6si7v?Paizo-Announces-SystemNeutral-Open-RPG-License |access-date=January 12, 2023 |website=Paizo |type=[[Press release]]}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=January 12, 2023 |title=Paizo Announces Its Own Gaming License Amid D&D OGL Controversy |url=https://gizmodo.com/paizo-wizards-of-the-coast-dnd-open-rpg-ogl-1-1-1849982443 |access-date=January 13, 2023 |website=Gizmodo |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=January 12, 2023 |title=Paizo Addresses Pathfinder's Future, Announces New System-Neutral Open RPG License |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/paizo-addresses-pathfinders-future-announces-new-system-neutral-open-rpg-license/ |access-date=January 13, 2023 |website=[[ComicBook.com]] |language=en}}</ref> The ORC will be an open, perpetual, and irrevocable system-agnostic license<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> with legal development paid for by Paizo "under the legal guidance of Azora Law", however, the license "will not be owned by Paizo, nor will it be owned by any company who makes money publishing RPGs".<ref name=":2" /> Paizo plans to find a "nonprofit with a history of open source values to own this license" and stated that "Azora Law's ownership of the process and stewardship should provide a safe harbor against any company being bought, sold, or changing management in the future and attempting to rescind rights or nullify sections of the license".<ref name=":2" /> ''[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]'' reported that "in the weeks that Hasbro spent publicly flailing, customers spent an extraordinary amount of money investing in its competition".<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Charlie |date=2023-02-06 |title=D&D's OGL controversy turbocharges sales of virtually every other tabletop RPG |url=https://www.polygon.com/23587624/non-dnd-dungeons-dragons-ogl-controversy-indie-sales-numbers |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}</ref> Paizo stated that it had "sold through 'an 8-month supply' of the ''Pathfinder Core Rulebook''"<ref name="auto1"/> within two weeks; the company also reported high demand for other products such as the ''Pathfinder Beginner Box''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-26 |title=Paizo Sells Out Eight Months of Pathfinder Supply In Two Weeks |url=https://techraptor.net/tabletop/news/paizo-sells-eight-months-of-pathfinder-in-two-weeks |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=TechRaptor |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Julia |date=2023-01-26 |title=D&D's OGL Controversy Has Pathfinder Selling Out at a Mind-Blowing Rate |url=https://www.cbr.com/dnd-ogl-controversy-pathfinder-selling-out-core-rules-beginners-kits/ |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=CBR |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=January 30, 2023 |title=Paizo Runs Out of 'Pathfinder Core Rulebooks' until April 2023 |url=https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/53191/paizo-runs-out-pathfinder-core-rulebooks-april-2023 |access-date=2023-02-06 |website=icv2.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Reception==
Paizo Publishing won the 2005 Silver [[ENnies|Ennie Award]] for "Best Publisher",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ennie-awards.com/history/2005.asp |title=The ENnie Awards -- 2005 Awards |website=www.ennie-awards.com |access-date=19 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803184502/http://www.ennie-awards.com/history/2005.asp |archive-date=3 August 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and the 2012 Gold [[ENnies|Ennie Award]] for "Fan’s Favorite Publisher",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ennie-awards.com/blog/about-us/2012-noms-and-winners |title=2012 Noms and Winners &#124; ENnie Awards |website=www.ennie-awards.com |access-date=15 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829103719/http://www.ennie-awards.com/blog/about-us/2012-noms-and-winners |archive-date=29 August 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and again in 2013,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ennie-awards.com/blog/about-us/2013-noms-and-winners-2 |title=2013 Noms and Winners &#124; ENnie Awards |website=www.ennie-awards.com |access-date=15 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827110120/http://www.ennie-awards.com/blog/about-us/2013-noms-and-winners-2 |archive-date=27 August 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and the Silver in 2015,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ennie-awards.com/blog/about-us/2015-ennie-award-winners/ |title=2015 ENnie Award Winners &#124; ENnie Awards |website=www.ennie-awards.com |access-date=15 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831054410/http://www.ennie-awards.com/blog/about-us/2015-ennie-award-winners/ |archive-date=31 August 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and Gold again in 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ennie-awards.com/blog/about-us/2016-ennie-award-winners/ |title=2016 ENnie Award Winners &#124; ENnie Awards |website=www.ennie-awards.com |access-date=15 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190820223408/http://www.ennie-awards.com/blog/about-us/2016-ennie-award-winners/ |archive-date=20 August 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://paizo.com/ Paizo Publishing]
* [http://www.rpg.net/columns/briefhistory/briefhistory2.phtml A brief history of game #2: Paizo Publishing: 2002-present], by Shannon Appelcline

{{Pathfinder}}
{{D&D topics}}{{Tabletop game industry}}{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2002 establishments in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Companies based in Redmond, Washington]]
[[Category:Dungeons & Dragons]]
[[Category:ENnies winners]]
[[Category:Magazine publishing companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Online retailers of the United States]]
[[Category:Pathfinder]]
[[Category:Publishing companies established in 2002]]
[[Category:Role-playing game publishing companies]]