Embracer Group, the parent company to such publishers as THQ Nordic and Koch Media, has acquired several new development studios. The most notable among them is 4A Games, developers of the very popular Metro series.
Matt Karch, CEO of Saber Interactive and Director of the Embracer Board, made the following formal statement on the acquisition.
With the acquisition of 4A Games, Saber Interactive is locking-up one of the best indie studios in the industry with the potential and capacity to take on another AAA project and are also internalizing the value of existing and future IPs into the Group. Saber solidifies its position as a leader in the CIS and Ukrainian game developer market. Combining our technology and capabilities with 4A Games presents tremendous opportunity for growth and expansion.
According to the acquisition report, 4A Games is currently working on a new, AAA IP. Dean Sharpe, CEO of 4A Games, had the following to say:
Embracer Group and Saber Interactive are the perfect partners for 4A Games and for our next phase of growth. Together we will continue to build on the Metro franchise and will focus on bringing a multiplayer experience to our fanbase. We look forward to building a new and even more ambitious AAA IP in the near future.
Our Take
Such is the nature of the gaming industry today. As it grows and total revenue increases substantially year over year, larger players will want a piece of the pie. Hopefully this is a good move for 4A Games and they are able to retain their studio culture and have full developmental freedom. We’re excited to see what they do next given the success and scope of Metro Exodus.
