Embracer Group, the parent company of THQ Nordic and Deep Silver, is still on a hiring spree. The company announced a whopping eight studio acquisitions today, including 4A Games, the developers of the well-received Metro series. These latest acquisitions come after Embracer purchased Koch Media, Saber Interactive, and THQ Nordic (along with all of their own subsidiaries). In total, Embracer owns 33 game studios and has more than 4,000 employees.
The 150-plus person team at 4A Games in Malta and Ukraine will now work for Embracer Group. Additionally, the deal includes some of 4A’s technology, along with the Metro IP.
Embracer is paying $36 million USD in cash for 100 percent of shares in 4A Games, along with extra pay-outs based on milestones that could pay 4A a further $35 million. The purchase was completed by Embracer’s subsidiary, Saber Interactive.
4A Games CEO Dean Sharpe said the studio will make a multiplayer Metro game next, in addition to a “more ambitious new IP.”
“Embracer Group and Saber Interactive are the perfect partners for 4A Games and for our next phase of growth,” Sharpe said. “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.”
4A had been working with Embracer’s Deep Silver for a long time already on the Metro series. Going forward, the companies will work with author Dmitry Glukhovsky on new Metro projects
Embracer said the acquisition will help its bottom line because owning 4A will lead to a reduction in royalty costs. Additionally, Embracer gets 4A’s technology, development resources, and more, which should help save costs in the long run, the company said.
Embracer also purchased Insurgency developer New World Interactive for an undisclosed sum, mobile game studio Deca Games for €25 million, and Crisol: Theater of Idols studio Vermila Studios for €900,000. Additionally, Embracer is buying Rare Earth Games for €300,000, Palindrome Interactive for SEK 21.5 million, Pow Wow Entertainment for an undisclosed sum, and Sola Media for €2.3 million. In most cases, the acquired studios stand to make a significant amount of extra money if they reach certain performance targets.
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