Empire Paintball

Empire Paintball is an American paintball equipment brand established by National Paintball Supply (NPS) in the early 2000s. The brand produces paintball markers, electronic loaders, protective goggles, clothing and accessories for recreational and competitive paintball.[1][2]

Empire became particularly associated with the Reloader and Prophecy electronic loaders, Mini and Axe marker platforms, and the EVS protective goggle system.

Originally owned by National Paintball Supply, Empire became part of KEE Action Sports in 2006 and GI Sportz in 2015. Following GI Sportz's financial restructuring in 2020, the brand continued under Kore Outdoor.[3][4]

History

Establishment

Empire was developed as an equipment brand by National Paintball Supply, an American paintball manufacturer and distributor established by Eugenio Postorivo.

United States trademark records document the first commercial use of the Empire name on 1 November 2002.[1]

By 2003, Empire was being promoted as a separate equipment range within National Paintball Supply.

Contemporary reporting from the 2003 Paintball Sports Promotions Philadelphia Open described Empire as NPS's new product line and documented its dedicated trade-show trailer.[2]

Empire initially developed a range of tournament clothing, accessories and electronic paintball loaders.

Electronic loaders

One of Empire's earliest significant product ranges was the Reloader.

The original ReLoad system was developed by National Paintball Supply as an electronic upgrade for existing ViewLoader Revolution loaders.

Unlike conventional optical loader systems, ReLoad used a microphone to detect the sound of a marker firing and activate the loader's motor.

The system was subsequently incorporated into a complete loader marketed as the Empire Reloader.

In autumn 2004, National Paintball Supply introduced the Reloader 2, incorporating an updated shell and internal components.[5]

The range subsequently expanded to include the Reloader B and other force-fed electronic loaders.

Following the acquisition of the HALO loader technology associated with Odyssey Paintball, Empire developed additional products based on the established force-feed mechanism.

The Magna Drive loader was introduced at the 2007 Paintball World Cup, incorporating a magnetic clutch system and optional radio-frequency activation.[6]

In 2009, Empire introduced the Prophecy loader, which incorporated a redesigned drive mechanism and modular shell construction.[7]

Protective equipment

Empire expanded into protective goggles during the mid-2000s.

In 2005, National Paintball Supply relaunched the Vents goggle brand, with engineering work led by Simon "Manike" Stevens.

The new range included the Vents Helix, Cylus and Avatar, alongside the Empire E-Vent.

The systems shared interchangeable components, including lenses and straps.[8]

Empire subsequently developed additional protective equipment, including the E-Flex and EVS goggle systems.

In January 2016, Empire and Recon Instruments demonstrated an EVS prototype incorporating a heads-up display at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The integrated concept received an Engadget Best of CES award in the wearable technology category.

The conventional EVS goggle system subsequently entered commercial distribution during 2016.[9]

Formation of KEE Action Sports

In November 2006, National Paintball Supply sold substantially all its assets to AJ Intermediate Holdings.

The acquired assets were combined with those of Pursuit Marketing Inc. (PMI) to establish KEE Action Sports.

The transaction transferred National Paintball Supply's Empire business into the new organisation.

The ownership and transaction structure were documented in subsequent Delaware Court of Chancery proceedings involving Eugenio Postorivo and the acquiring companies.[3]

KEE continued developing and distributing Empire products alongside other established paintball brands.

Expansion into paintball markers

During the late 2000s, Empire expanded its association with electronic paintball markers.

The Invert Mini, introduced in 2007 under the Invert Paintball brand, became the foundation for a family of compact electropneumatic markers subsequently developed under the Empire name.[10]

Empire later introduced the Axe, a larger marker based on the Mini's operating system.

The company also developed the Empire Sniper pump marker, drawing on the mechanical design of the original WGP Sniper.

In 2013, Empire introduced the Resurrection, a modern mechanical Autococker incorporating redesigned pneumatic components and a slide-trigger frame.[11]

The same year, Empire introduced the Vanquish, a high-end electronic marker incorporating a pressure-balanced spool-valve firing system and integrated electronic controls.[12]

Later models included the Axe 2.0, Axe Pro, Mini GS and Vanquish GT.

Acquisition by GI Sportz

On 24 July 2015, GI Sportz announced its acquisition of KEE Action Sports.

The transaction brought Empire together with brands including JT USA, Spyder and RPS Paintball.

At the time, GI Sportz was led by Richmond Italia, who described the acquisition as part of a wider effort to consolidate equipment manufacturing and distribution.[4]

Empire continued operating as a separate consumer-facing brand within the GI Sportz portfolio.

Kore Outdoor

In October 2020, GI Sportz and associated businesses entered receivership as part of a financial restructuring.

The restructuring concluded on 1 December 2020 with the sale of the business to the newly established Kore Outdoor.

Empire was among the brands transferred into the new organisation, alongside GI Sportz, Tippmann, JT, Spyder and VForce.[13]

In August 2022, Kore Outdoor announced that Canadian investment firm Ironbridge Equity Partners and the company's management had acquired a controlling interest from Fulcrum Capital Partners.[14]

Empire remained an active brand within the Kore Outdoor portfolio as of October 2026, with products including the Mini GS, Axe 2.0 and HALO Pro loader.[15]

Products

Empire has marketed several major categories of paintball equipment.

Category	Notable products
Electronic markers	Mini, Mini GS, Axe, Axe Pro, Axe 2.0, Vanquish, Vanquish GT
Mechanical markers	Resurrection Autococker
Pump markers	Empire Sniper
Electronic loaders	Reloader, Reloader B, Reloader 2, Magna Drive, Prophecy, Prophecy Z2, HALO Pro
Protective goggles	E-Vent, E-Flex, EVS
Clothing and accessories	Tournament jerseys, playing trousers, gloves, protective clothing and pod harnesses

The brand's equipment range has served recreational, mechanical and professional tournament paintball.

Tournament involvement

Empire maintained a prominent presence in competitive paintball through equipment sponsorship and event promotion.

During the early 2000s, Empire and National Paintball Supply sponsored tournament playing fields and maintained trade-show displays at major PSP and National Professional Paintball League events.

At the 2003 PSP World Cup, Empire sponsored one of the tournament's five-player and 10-player playing fields.[16]

Empire later continued its involvement in competitive paintball through professional team equipment sponsorships and product development.

Its electronic markers, loaders and goggles have been used in professional and amateur speedball competition.

Significance

Empire's development reflected the consolidation of paintball equipment manufacturing during the 2000s and 2010s.

The brand expanded from clothing and loaders into a broad equipment range incorporating electronic markers, mechanical markers and protective goggles.

Its Reloader, Magna Drive and Prophecy systems formed part of the development of modern electronically assisted paintball loading equipment.

The Mini and Axe platforms also established Empire as a manufacturer of compact electronic tournament markers.

References

External links