What studio acquisitions do you predict we could see this year and why?

[ignition365]

https://blog.bandcamp.com/2022/03/02/bandcamp-is-joining-epic/

*shrug*

[weirdfeline]

https://blog.bandcamp.com/2022/03/02/bandcamp-is-joining-epic/

*shrug*

Imagining a world where Rock Band 5 exists and they could release songs from featured Bandcamp artists.

[ignition365]

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2022-03-09-atari-purchases-moby-games

[martymcfly]

welp Sony got another one

https://blog.playstation.com/2022/03/21/welcoming-haven-studios-to-the-playstation-studios-family/

[ignition365]

https://www.gematsu.com/2022/05/embracer-group-to-acquire-crystal-dynamics-eidos-montreal-and-square-enix-montreal-from-square-enix

Embracer buying studios/IPs from Squeenix

[Cartagia]

https://www.gematsu.com/2022/05/embracer-group-to-acquire-crystal-dynamics-eidos-montreal-and-square-enix-montreal-from-square-enix

Embracer buying studios/IPs from Squeenix

Sounds like those studios / IPs (Crystal Dynamics, Squenix Montreal, Eidos - Tomb Raider, Deus Ex) might actually be better off?  Square said this enables them to do "the launch of new businesses by
moving forward with investments in fields including blockchain, AI, and the cloud."  And these are all studios that have had moderate success that just hasn't been seen as "big enough" by Squenix who not content with making some of the money, wanted to make all of the money.

[ignition365]

https://www.gematsu.com/2022/05/embracer-group-to-acquire-crystal-dynamics-eidos-montreal-and-square-enix-montreal-from-square-enix

Embracer buying studios/IPs from Squeenix

Sounds like those studios / IPs (Crystal Dynamics, Squenix Montreal, Eidos - Tomb Raider, Deus Ex) might actually be better off?  Square said this enables them to do "the launch of new businesses by
moving forward with investments in fields including blockchain, AI, and the cloud."  And these are all studios that have had moderate success that just hasn't been seen as "big enough" by Squenix who not content with making some of the money, wanted to make all of the money.

Allegedly the profit margins of these studios is extremely small.  Like less than 5%.

https://twitter.com/ZhugeEX/status/1521091428574769155

[Cartagia]

https://www.gematsu.com/2022/05/embracer-group-to-acquire-crystal-dynamics-eidos-montreal-and-square-enix-montreal-from-square-enix

Embracer buying studios/IPs from Squeenix

Sounds like those studios / IPs (Crystal Dynamics, Squenix Montreal, Eidos - Tomb Raider, Deus Ex) might actually be better off?  Square said this enables them to do "the launch of new businesses by
moving forward with investments in fields including blockchain, AI, and the cloud."  And these are all studios that have had moderate success that just hasn't been seen as "big enough" by Squenix who not content with making some of the money, wanted to make all of the money.

Allegedly the profit margins of these studios is extremely small.  Like less than 5%.

https://twitter.com/ZhugeEX/status/1521091428574769155

I wonder how much of that is due to top level corporate demands for bloated features that no one wants, IE The Avengers.  They've all generally shown that when they've been left alone they do pretty well.

[telekill]

Geez what a year.

Look, my stance is that so long as Tomb Raider continues to release on Playstation day and date with any other platforms with the same content... then I don't care who owns the IP. I've been a fan of the series since it started in '96 and have bought every Tomb Raider game that has released on a Playstation. If they want to keep me buying the games... then they need to do the above. Nothing more... nothing less.

With a newer Tomb Raider already announced for the new generation of systems, hopefully we'll get confirmation soon on this not having a negative affect to the platforms it was already being made for.

[ignition365]

Geez what a year.

Look, my stance is that so long as Tomb Raider continues to release on Playstation day and date with any other platforms with the same content... then I don't care who owns the IP. I've been a fan of the series since it started in '96 and have bought every Tomb Raider game that has released on a Playstation. If they want to keep me buying the games... then they need to do the above. Nothing more... nothing less.

With a newer Tomb Raider already announced for the new generation of systems, hopefully we'll get confirmation soon on this not having a negative affect to the platforms it was already being made for.

Weren't all of the recent Raider games MS timed exclusive?

[dhaabi]

Look, my stance is that so long as Tomb Raider continues to release on Playstation day and date with any other platforms with the same content... then I don't care who owns the IP.

Weren't all of the recent Raider games MS timed exclusive?

From the rebooted trilogy, only Rise of the Tomb Raider was given a Microsoft timed-exclusive window. Tomb Raider and Shadow of the Tomb Raider were released for numerous platforms at their releases.

[telekill]

Look, my stance is that so long as Tomb Raider continues to release on Playstation day and date with any other platforms with the same content... then I don't care who owns the IP.

Weren't all of the recent Raider games MS timed exclusive?

From the rebooted trilogy, only Rise of the Tomb Raider was given a Microsoft timed-exclusive window. Tomb Raider and Shadow of the Tomb Raider were released for numerous platforms at their releases.

Yep... what he said. That deal cost them me buying day one of the last two games. Waited for a price drop on both even buying the second game (Rise) used so they didn't see a cent from me. Glad I did too as Rise had a horrible and predictable script.

[weirdfeline]

Congrats to Embracer! What an amazing deal for them! Now Gex will definitely return! I'd also like to see Kane & Lynch and Mini Ninjas on modern consoles if those were included.

When I first read this I thought it was just Tomb Raider and Deus Ex IP's but the studios being included is pretty insane. Embracer paid $1.3 BILLION for Gearbox WITHOUT THE BORDERLANDS IP but just $300 million for Crystal Dynamics and Eidos-Montréal with their IP.

I also find it a bit strange that Square Enix felt the need to keep Just Cause, Life is Strange and Outriders. They don't own any of the developers of those IP and Just Cause devs are currently working on a game for Xbox. I guess they kept them.. just cause.

[weirdfeline]

I don't think Sony has acquired Ember Lab yet but seems odd they posted this on their corporate SIE blog the other day: https://www.sie.com/en/blog/studio-spotlight-ember-lab/

A quick browse currently shows no other "Studio Spotlight" posts.

[ignition365]

Hello hello hello

Embracer acquires Limited Run Games, Singtrix, Middle-Earth Enterprises (LotR and Hobbit IPs), Tuxedo Labs, Tripwire Interactive, Tatsujin, Bitwave Games, and Gioteck; along with an undisclosed game company

Embracer also stands up an 11th operating group Freemode

https://embracer.com/release/embracer-group-enters-into-an-agreement-to-acquire-limited-run-games/
https://embracer.com/release/embracer-group-enters-into-an-agreement-to-acquire-singtrix/
https://embracer.com/release/embracer-group-enters-into-agreement-to-acquire-ip-rights-to-the-lord-of-the-rings-and-the-hobbit-literary-works-by-j-r-r-tolkien/
https://embracer.com/release/embracer-group-acquires-tuxedo-labs/
https://embracer.com/release/embracer-group-enters-into-agreement-to-acquire-tripwire-interactive/
https://embracer.com/release/embracer-group-announces-the-11th-operating-group-embracer-freemode/