Embracer Group will now own Tomb Raider, Deus Ex, and dozens of other IPs thanks to a $300 million acquisition.
The Embracer group is known for the mass of game publishers they already own which includes: Gearbox, Saber Interactive, Koch Media, Deep Silver, Coffee Stain Studios, and THQ Nordic.
They have also expanded beyond video games and own tabletop game publisher Asmodee and Comic book publisher Dark Horse. They’ve recently announced that they’ll be acquiring a number of storied Square Enix studios and properties.
This deal isn’t finalized yet because it’s still just “an agreement to acquire” until later this year when everything is signed off.
When the deal is finalized the Embracer Group will have more than 14000 employees, 10,000 game developers, and 124 internal studios
Square Enix says the sale will establish “a more efficient allocation of resources” and enable “the launch of new businesses by moving forward with investments in fields including blockchain, AI, and the cloud.”
Lars Wingefors, co-founder and Group CEO of Embracer Group, said in a press release:
“We are thrilled to welcome these studios into the Embracer Group. We recognize the fantastic IP, world-class creative talent, and track record of excellence that have been demonstrated time and again over the past decades. It has been a great pleasure meeting the leadership teams and discussing future plans for how they can realize their ambitions and become a great part of Embracer.”
He also stated:
“Going forward, the company’s development function will comprise its studios in Japan, Square Enix External Studios, and Square Enix Collective. The Company’s overseas studios will continue to publish franchises such as Just Cause, Outriders, and Life is Strange.”
It’s worth mentioning that Crystal Dynamics’ sale includes the upcoming Tomb Raider game, which is being developed with Unreal Engine 5. More than 50 games from Square Enix’s international studios’ back catalogs are also included in the deal.
These huge gaming corporations appear to be attempting to outdo each other with ever-larger acquisitions. What will happen next, or should we say who will follow next? Regarding this news, we’ll make sure to keep our ears to the ground and let our readers be the first to know of any other big acquisitions that may occur.