Bose buys the company behind FMOD
Bose Corporation has acquired Firelight Technologies, the Melbourne company behind the FMOD interactive audio platform, according to an announcement dated Oct. 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab). Financial and other transaction terms remain confidential. Bose has operated for over six decades.
- Works with
- Unity, Unreal and custom technology
- Formats
- Real-time responsive game audio
- Connections
- Game consoles, desktop, mobile and web
- Price
- Transaction terms confidential
- Available
- Announced Oct. 1, 2026
FMOD pairs the FMOD Studio authoring tools with a cross-platform FMOD Engine, and it has served developers for 25 years. The platform integrates with Unity and Unreal game engines as well as custom technology, and it supports game consoles, desktop, mobile and web. It lets developers build real-time responsive audio for games.
Bose says the platform will stay open and broadly supported, and the company commits to continued investment in FMOD and its community. Bose also plans to look at longer-term uses for interactive audio beyond games, naming VR and AR, automotive and other areas.
What this means for game audio teams
For developers and sound designers already building on FMOD, the practical question is whether their tools and workflows change. Bose's stated commitment is to keep the platform open and broadly supported while investing in it. Firelight has spent more than two decades building tools for creators, according to Brett Paterson.
Nick Smith called the deal "The acquisition of Firelight is a meaningful step forward in the Audio Technology business we're building at Bose". Bose's portfolio already includes the Bose, McIntosh and Sonus faber brands, and the company sells home, on-the-go and car audio products. The FMOD website remains at fmod.com.
Continued FMOD support is the key commitment for game developers; Bose's plans beyond gaming remain exploratory.