It’s a working gag that Swedish conglomerate Embracer Group frequently purchase up massive chunks of the video games business, however now they’ve solely gone and purchased a complete universe. Embracer have acquired the rights to J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit properties from long-time proprietor The Saul Zaentz Firm. That features video games, together with films and different media content material, of us. Ol’ Embracer have additionally acquired seven corporations throughout the gaming realm.
The full upfront price of Embracer’s newest acquisitions is SEK 6 billion (£480 million), with an estimated additional deferred price of SEK 2.2 billion (£175 million) if targets are met. I feel that’s about how a lot my golden superyacht price in whole. Embracer mentioned the acquisitions will strengthen their portfolio – I’m not making this up, they actually did – with “worthwhile IPs and franchises”. There’s even one other gaming-related acquisition talked about in that investor assertion that they haven’t made public but attributable to “business causes”.
4 of the opposite video games corporations acquired by Embracer are:
- Tripwire Interactive (developer and writer recognized for Maneater, Killing Ground)
- Tuxedo Labs (the Swedish studio behind Teardown)
- Singtrix (the karaoke firm shaped by former Guitar Hero devs)
- Restricted Run Video games (the bodily media specialists)
Embracer additionally introduced they’re forming a brand new working group known as Freemode that is devoted to “retro, traditional and heritage gaming”. That is led by Lee Guinchard, a former VP of {hardware} at Activision Blizzard who oversaw work on Guitar Hero and Skylanders throughout his time there. Freemode will function Singtrix and Restricted Run Video games on behalf of Embracer, whereas Saber Interactive will steward Tripwire and Tuxedo Labs.
By means of Freemode, Embracer have additionally acquired Japanese arcade specialists Tatsujin and the again catalogue of their founder Masahiro Yuge from Toaplan studio. Sweden’s Bitwave Video games, one other acquisition, are bringing Toaplan’s shmups to PC. Embracer additionally introduced that Freemode have acquired gaming accent producers Gioteck.
Tolkien’s fantasy world and isn’t the one high-profile nice white that Embracer have landed this 12 months. Again in Could, I reported on their buy of loads of mental property and studios from Sq. Enix for $300 million. That deal included Tomb Raider, Deus Ex, Thief and Legacy Of Kain. The studios acquired by Embracer have been Crystal Dynamics, Eidos-Montréal and Sq. Enix Montréal. In April, Embracer scored Excellent World Leisure, Misplaced Boys Interactive and Beamdog.
The consolidation of the video games business continues apace. Now, in case you’ll excuse me, I’m off to colonise Mars in my purpose-built rocket ship. Ta-ra!