The Embracer Group is back yet again doing what it does best: acquiring a load of studios all at once. The new wave of acquisitions sees MMO developer Perfect World Entertainment bought up by the company as well as DIGIC, Spotfilm Networx, and Shiver Entertainment. Embracer Group has also added Dark Horse to its roster, which produces comic books and is very popular for doing so.
Perfect World Entertainment cost Embracer Group $125 million, acquiring 100 per cent of its shares. Known for the Neverwinter and Star Trek Online MMOs, its publishing department has also helped to put out Torchlight and Remnant: From the Ashes. And on the topic of the Dark Horse pickup, founder and CEO Mike Richardson said: "I can’t express the excitement I feel as Dark Horse moves into this new chapter in our history. The synergies that exist with the Embracer network of companies promises exciting new opportunities not only for Dark Horse, but also for the creators and companies we work with."
This latest wave of acquisitions takes the company's total up to a frankly absurd 40. Try and match that, Sony and Microsoft. The crazy thing is Embracer Group wants to match that total in 2022. This is only the beginning as the company continues to expand.
[source embracer.com]
Comments 27
wow the developer of the neverwinter mmo is actually a big get for them.
What will they buy next? Sony? Xbox? Where do they get all this money too?
Who?
must just be me never heard of them.
@ThorsHammer
They also recently purchased Asmodee, the world biggest board games distributor.
Wouldn't surprise me if Microsoft buy the embracer group themselves meaning they get 40 studios and was planned all along lol
What's the biggest studio these guys own
Don't give Microsoft any ideas.
Gotta keep buying.
Yay for consolidation! /s
Also, the statements CEO's put out when companies are bought are just grating, empty drivel.
Anyone else hoping that they make a Hellboy game or is it just me??
WTF Dark Horse?!
This is (to me at least) the most important purchase they've done. Dark Horse has been so incredibly good at publishing comics and manga that seeing them being bought can only make me dread what will happen. Hopefully, only better things, but these kind of acquisition often go sideways...
@suikoden Formerly THQ Nordic (after acquiring the bankrupt THQ brand). They're Swedish and they like acquisitions.
At least it isn't Tencent...
@Voltan oh this is thq nordic?
They announced a bunch of projects at the game awards.
Well, they certainly are growing into a big 3rd party publisher.
@Nem I guess it's THQ Nordic, Gearbox, Saber and Koch Media. But the whole thing used to be called THQ Nordic too
I hope they keep at their AA niche and work to synergies between brands/franchises. Comic/Board Game/Video Game crossovers and coordinated releases would be really cool for their bigger franchises.
I want to be the very biggest
Like no one ever was
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Searching far and wide
Each game studio to understand
The talent that's inside
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Gotta buy 'em all
It's you and me
I know it's my destiny
Game studio!
You're my money maker
In an industry we must conquer
Game studio!
Gotta buy 'em all
A bank so big
Our money will pull us through
You make games and I'll fund you
Game studio!
Gotta buy 'em all
Gotta buy 'em all
Gotta buy 'em all
@UltimateOtaku91 Gearbox I guess.
This is a bet that one day a bigger fish like Tencent, Google or Amazon which wants to get big in gaming is eating them. Otherwise, their extremly high depts could kill them before. At least this story is very interesting to follow!
@UltimateOtaku91 most of their game studios are mid to low key. Unless im mistaken, Gearbox is the only one pretty well know, for good and bad reasons though.
I really like Star Trek Online but haven't had time to play it in a long time. I wonder if this means the end of it given that the game has been going since 2009?
This is one publisher I would throw my money to no questions asked.
I am scared, soon there won't be any independent studios. And we will have to buy individual consoles for each major studio. I already hate this for streaming platforms, can't imagine gaming... ☠️
@Olmaz Nice to see someone else who cares about comic books!
Whatcha been reading most recently from Dark Horse?
@KidBoruto On the top of my head, these last years I have liked with varied enthusiasm :
Cats! Purrfect Strangers
Mazebook
Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman (or anything by Gaiman!)
The Critical Role RPG adaptation
Blacksad
Also some licensed adaptations of The Witcher, God of War or Cyberpunk 2077 have been interesting.
But I'm even more a manga fan, and the fact that Dark Horse has the license for some of my favorites like Berserk, Gantz, Elfen Lied and Hellsing makes my question whether or not we could see them being adapted in videogame form by a studio in the Embraced Group... I know manga/anime licensing is a big headache, but still.
@Olmaz That would be amazing to see, depending on how the proposed video game adaptations would be handled.
I sadly don't read much manga anymore, just easier for me to watch anime.
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