List of mergers and acquisitions by Embracer Group explained

Embracer Group is a Swedish video game holding company controlled by Lars Wingefors. In 2016, the company was spun out of Nordic Games Group and in 2019 it was renamed Embracer Group.

As of 2024 they own more than 108 internal studios in over 45 countries in Europe and the Americas. Its subsidiaries are organized under ten groups: Amplifier Game Invest, Asmodee, CDE Entertainment, Coffee Stain Holding, Dark Horse Media, DECA Games, Easybrain, Embracer Freemode, Plaion and THQ Nordic. Each group has its own operations, subsidiaries and development studios.

Acquisitions

DateCompanyCountryParent companyValue
Black Forest GamesTHQ Nordic€1,360,000[1] [2]
Pieces Interactive Sweden$350,000[3]
Experiment 101$8,900,000[4]
Koch Media Austria/ Germany Plaion$149,000,000[5]
HandyGames GermanyTHQ Nordic[6]
Coffee Stain Holding Sweden Coffee Stain Holding$34,900,000[7]
Bugbear Entertainment (90%) FinlandTHQ Nordic
18Point2 AustraliaPlaion€1,900,000[8]
Warhorse Studios Czech Republic€42,800,000[9]
Piranha Bytes GermanyTHQ Nordic[10]
KSMPlaion[11]
Gaya Entertainment[12]
Milestone Italy€44,900,000[13] [14]
Gunfire Games United StatesTHQ Nordic[15]
Goodbye Kansas Game Invest
  • Fall Damage (50%)
  • Framebunker (21%)
  • Kavalri (21%)
  • Neon Giant (24%)
  • Palindrome Interactive (50%)
Sweden Amplifier Game Invest$3,950,000[16]
Tarsier Studios Sweden$10,500,000[17]
Saber Interactive
  • Saber Belarus
  • Saber Porto
  • Saber Russia
  • Saber Spain
  • Saber Sweden
United States Saber Interactive$525,000,000[18]
Voxler FrancePlaion€1,900,000[19]
DestinyBit ItalyAmplifier Game Invest[20]
4A Games Malta/ UkraineSaber Interactive$45,000,000[21]
New World Interactive United States
Rare Earth Games AustriaAmplifier Game Invest€3,300,000
Vermila Studios Spain€900,000
Palindrome Interactive (remaining 50%) Sweden
Pow Wow Entertainment AustriaTHQ Nordic
DECA Games GermanyDECA Games€25,000,000
Sola MediaPlaion$2,700,000
Vertigo Games Netherlands€50,000,000[22]
Flying Wild Hog Poland$137,000,000[23]
Purple Lamp Studios AustriaTHQ Nordic
HungarySaber Interactive
Snapshot Games Bulgaria
Nimble Giant Entertainment Argentina
34BigThings Italy
Mad Head Games Serbia
Sandbox Strategies United States
A Thinking Ape Entertainment CanadaDECA Games$31,000,000
IUGO Mobile Entertainment
Coffee Stain North (remaining 40%) SwedenCoffee Stain Holding
Silent Games United KingdomAmplifier Game Invest
Quantic Lab (95%) Romania€4,500,000
Gearbox Software
  • Gearbox Studio Québec
United States Gearbox Software$1,300,000,000[24]
Easybrain Cyprus/ BelarusEasybrain$640,000,000[25]
Aspyr United StatesSaber Interactive$450,000,000[26]
SpringboardVR United StatesPlaion[27]
Kaiko GermanyTHQ Nordic[28]
Massive Miniteam
Appeal Belgium
Frame Break SwedenAmplifier Game Invest
3D Realms Denmark/ United StatesSaber Interactive[29]
Slipgate Ironworks Denmark
CrazyLabs IsraelDECA Games
DigixArt FrancePlaion
Force Field Netherlands
Ghost Ship Games (remaining 65%) DenmarkCoffee Stain Holding
Easy Trigger Sweden
Grimfrost (70%)THQ Nordic
Demiurge Studios United StatesSaber Interactive[30]
Fractured Byte Estonia
SmartPhone Labs
Bytex[31]
Jufeng Studio ChinaDECA Games[32]
Splatter Connect United KingdomPlaion[33]
Asmodee
  • Atomic Mass Games
  • Bezzerwizzer Studio
  • Catan Studio
  • Days of Wonder
  • Edge Entertainment
  • The Green Board Game Company
  • Libellud
  • Lookout Games
  • Mixlore
  • Pearl Games
  • Plan B Games
  • Purple Brain
  • Rebel Studio
  • Repos Production
  • Space Cow
  • Space Cowboys
  • Unexpected Games
France Asmodee€2,750,000,000[34]
Green Tile Digital SwedenAmplifier Game Invest[35]
Perfect World Entertainment China Gearbox Software$125,000,000[36]
Spotfilm Networkx GermanyPlaion[37]
Shiver Entertainment United States[38]
Digic Holdings Hungary [39]
Dark Horse Media United States Dark Horse Media [40]
A Creative Endeavour SwedenAmplifier Game Invest[41]
Metricminds GermanyTHQ Nordic[42]
Development Plus Inc. United StatesPlaion[43]
Invisible Walls DenmarkAmplifier Game Invest [44]
Beamdog CanadaSaber Interactive[45]
Lost Boys Interactive United StatesGearbox Software[46]
May 2022Assets of Square Enix Europe CDE Entertainment$300,000,000[47]
August 2022 United StatesSaber Interactive [48]
Tuxedo Labs Sweden
Middle-earth Enterprises United StatesEmbracer Freemode
Limited Run Games United States
Bitwave Games Sweden
Gioteck United Kingdom
Singtrix United States
Tatsujin Japan
October 2022Anime Limited United Kingdom / FrancePlaion Pictures[49] [50] [51]
VR Distribution Australia / Asmodee[52]
Captured Dimensions United StatesGearbox Software[53]

Divestitures

DateCompanyOperative groupBuyerPrice
November 2019Foxglove StudiosTHQ NordicManagement buyout[54]
July 2023Goose ByteAmplifier Game Invest[55]
October 2023Fall DamageFragbite$1,800,000[56]
November 2023River End GamesNordcurrent[57]
February 2024Saber Interactive Saber InteractiveBeacon Interactive$247,000,000 [58]
March 2024Gearbox SoftwareGearbox EntertainmentTake-Two Interactive$460,000,000[59]
Rainbow StudiosTHQ NordicManagement buyout[60]
May 2024Shiver EntertainmentSaber InteractiveNintendo[61]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: THQ Nordic acquires Black Forest Games . James . Brightman . 21 August 2017 . . 14 February 2020 . 24 August 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170824054606/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-08-21-thq-nordic-acquires-black-forest-games . live.
  2. Web site: German game studio Black Forest Games acquired by Swedish game developer THQ Nordic. 22 August 2017 .
  3. Web site: THQ Nordic buys Pieces Interactive, one of the veteran Swedish gaming companies, for $350k . Dragos . Novac . 28 August 2017 . Nordic 9 . 14 February 2020 . 20 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180620101348/https://nordic9.com/news/thq-nordic-buys-pieces-interactive-one-of-the-veteran-swedish-gaming-companies-for-350k-news2030848553/ . dead.
  4. Web site: Kerr . Chris . 17 November 2017 . THQ Nordic acquires Biomutant developer Experiment 101 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180512112242/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/309922/THQ_Nordic_acquires_Biomutant_developer_Experiment_101.php . 2018-05-12 . Gamessutra.
  5. Web site: De Blob publisher THQ Nordic buys Koch Media for €121m . 14 February 2018 . 2020-11-29 . 2018-02-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180214225833/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2018-02-14-de-blob-publisher-thq-nordic-buys-koch-media-for-121m . live.
  6. THQ Nordic acquires the German game developer and publisher HandyGames . Embracer Group . 9 July 2018 . 14 February 2020 . 14 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200214004042/https://embracer.com/release/thq-nordic-acquires-the-german-game-developer-and-publisher-handygames/ . dead.
  7. Web site: THQ Nordic acquires Coffee Stain and Bugbear Entertainment . Chris . Kerr . November 14, 2018 . . 14 February 2020 . 14 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181114174907/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/330658/THQ_Nordic_acquires_Coffee_Stain_and_Bugbear_Entertainment.php . live.
  8. Web site: Australian publishing partner 18Point2 acquired by THQ Nordic . Chris . Kerr . 13 February 2019 . . 14 February 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190214233350/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/336567/Australian_publishing_partner_18Point2_acquired_by_THQ_Nordic.php . 14 February 2019 . live .
  9. Web site: THQ Nordic acquire Kingdom Come: Deliverance makers Warhorse Studios . Sarah . James . 13 February 2019 . . 29 November 2020 . 19 February 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190219072844/https://www.pcgamer.com/thq-nordic-acquire-kingdom-come-deliverance-makers-warhorse-studios/ . live.
  10. Web site: THQ Nordic acquires Gothic developer Piranha Bytes . Mike . Jackson . 22 May 2019 . . 14 February 2020 . 29 May 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190529133042/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-05-22-thq-nordic-acquires-gothic-developer-piranha-bytes . live.
  11. Web site: Koch Films acquires German indie distributor KSM. Blaney2019-08-16T11:06:00+01:00. Martin. Screen. en. 2020-05-08.
  12. Koch Media acquires Gaya Entertainment as it continues rapid expansion of both its reach and breadth of services. 2019-08-23. MCV/DEVELOP. en-GB. 2020-05-08.
  13. Web site: Koch Media to acquire Milestone and all IPs, including MotoGP and Supercross . Vikki . Blake . 14 August 2019 . . 29 November 2020 . 5 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210905101749/https://www.mcvuk.com/business-news/koch-media-to-acquire-milan-studio-milestone-and-all-ips-including-motogp-and-supercross/ . live.
  14. Web site: THQ Nordic completes the acquisition of Milestone . Lars . Wingefors . 14 August 2019 . . 29 November 2020 . 14 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190814202115/https://news.cision.com/thq-nordic-ab/r/thq-nordic-completes-the-acquisition-of-milestone,c2880843 . live.
  15. Web site: THQ Nordic acquires Gunfire Games . Sal . Romano . 14 August 2019 . Gematsu . 29 November 2020 . 14 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190814054530/https://gematsu.com/2019/08/thq-nordic-acquires-gunfire-games . live.
  16. Web site: THQ Nordic strengthens portfolio with Goodbye Kansas Game Invest acquisition . Matthew . Handrahan . 14 August 2019 . . 14 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190814211643/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-08-14-thq-nordic-strengthens-portfolio-with-goodbye-kansas-game-invest-acquisition . 14 August 2019 . live.
  17. Embracer Group acquires critically acclaimed Tarsier Studios . Embracer Group . 20 December 2019 . 14 February 2020 . 20 December 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191220081135/https://embracer.com/release/embracer-group-acquires-critically-acclaimed-tarsier-studios/ . dead.
  18. Web site: Embracer Group acquires Saber Interactive in $525m deal . 19 February 2020 . 2020-11-29 . 2020-02-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200219212201/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-02-19-embracer-group-acquires-saber-interactive-in-usd525m-deal . live.
  19. Web site: Koch Media | Koch Media acquires singing game developer VOXLER .
  20. Web site: Amplifier Game Invest acquires DESTINYbit . Sal . Romano . 20 May 2020 . Gematsu . 22 May 2020 . 27 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200527061716/https://www.gematsu.com/2020/05/amplifier-game-invest-acquires-destinybit . live.
  21. Web site: THQ parent company Embracer has purchased Metro dev 4A Games and others . Chris . Kerr . 13 August 2020 . . 13 August 2020 . 15 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200815085909/https://gamasutra.com/view/news/368163/THQ_parent_company_Embracer_has_purchased_Metro_dev_4A_Games_and_others.php . live.
  22. Web site: Embracer Group acquires Vertigo Games . Gematsu . September 15, 2020 . September 16, 2020 . September 16, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200916094555/https://www.gematsu.com/2020/09/embracer-group-acquires-vertigo-games . live.
  23. Web site: Embracer Group acquires 13 studios: Here's everything you need to know . 18 November 2020 . 2020-11-29 . 2020-11-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201129223518/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-11-18-embracer-group-acquires-13-studios . live.
  24. Web site: Embracer Group acquires Borderlands maker Gearbox Entertainment for $1.3 billion . Dean . Takahashi . February 2, 2021 . February 2, 2021 . . February 3, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210203212853/https://venturebeat.com/2021/02/02/embracer-group-acquires-borderlands-maker-gearbox-entertainment-for-1-3-billion/ . live.
  25. Web site: Embracer Group acquires mobile game maker Easybrain for $640 million . Dean . Takahashi . February 2, 2021 . February 2, 2021 . . February 3, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210203064103/https://venturebeat.com/2021/02/02/embracer-group-acquires-mobile-game-maker-easybrain-for-640-million/ . live.
  26. Web site: Embracer Group acquires Aspyr Media for up to $450 million . Dean . Takahashi . February 2, 2021 . February 2, 2021 . . February 3, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210203071452/https://venturebeat.com/2021/02/02/embracer-group-acquires-aspyr-media-for-up-to-450-million/ . live.
  27. Web site: Feltham . Jamie . 2021-02-03 . Vertigo Games Buys VR Arcade Platform SpringboardVR . 2022-04-18 . en-US.
  28. Web site: Embracer Group acquires Appeal Studios, KAIKO, Massive Miniteam and FRAME BREAK . 2021-06-02 . 2021-05-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210512084736/https://embracer.com/release/embracer-group-acquires-appeal-studios-kaiko-massive-miniteam-and-frame-break/ . live.
  29. Web site: Embracer Group acquires 3D Realms, CrazyLabs, Digixart, Easy Trigger, Force Field, Ghost Ship Games, Grimfrost, and Slipgate Ironworks . Gematsu . August 4, 2021 . August 5, 2021 . August 5, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210805074808/https://www.gematsu.com/2021/08/embracer-group-acquires-3d-realms-crazylabs-digixart-easy-trigger-force-field-ghost-ship-games-grimfrost-and-slipgate-ironworks . live.
  30. Web site: Embracer's next three acquisitions are Demiurge Studios, Fractured Byte and SmartPhone Labs . 18 August 2021 . 2021-08-18 . 2021-08-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210818122340/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-08-18-embracers-next-three-acquisitions-are-demiurge-studios-fractured-byte-and-smartphone-labs . live.
  31. Web site: Embracer Group snaps up QA studio Bytex known for working on games like SnowRunner and World War Z . 22 September 2021 . 2021-09-22.
  32. Web site: Embracer Group acquires mobile game developer Jufeng Studio and eight mobile titles.
  33. Web site: Koch Media acquires Splatter Connect . 2022-04-18 . GamesIndustry.biz . 20 October 2021 . en.
  34. Web site: Embracer purchases Asmodee for €2.75bn. 15 December 2021 .
  35. Web site: AMPLIFIER ACQUIRES SWEDISH STUDIO GREEN TILE DIGITAL. 15 December 2021 .
  36. Web site: EMBRACER GROUP ENTERS INTO AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE PERFECT WORLD ENTERTAINMENT.
  37. Web site: EMBRACER GROUP ENTERS INTO AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE SPOTFILM NETWORX.
  38. Web site: EMBRACER GROUP ACQUIRES SHIVER ENTERTAINMENT.
  39. Web site: EMBRACER GROUP ENTERS INTO AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE DIGIC.
  40. Web site: EMBRACER GROUP ENTERS INTO AN AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE DARK HORSE AND FORMS THE TENTH OPERATIVE GROUP.
  41. Web site: AMPLIFIER GAME INVEST ACQUIRES A CREATIVE ENDEAVOR. 23 February 2022 .
  42. Web site: THQ Nordic acquires animated content studio metricminds . Gematsu . February 24, 2022.
  43. Web site: Koch Media acquires Game Merchandise Specialists "Development Plus Inc." and "DPI Logistics LLC".
  44. Web site: Amplifier Game Invest acquires Danish game studio Invisible Walls. 16 March 2022 .
  45. Web site: Knights of the Old Republic remake studio Aspyr has acquired Beamdog. 13 April 2022 .
  46. Web site: Gearbox to acquire Tiny Tina co-developer Lost Boys Interactive. 21 April 2022 .
  47. Web site: 2022-05-02 . Embracer Group enters into an agreement to acquire Eidos, Crystal Dynamics, and Square Enix Montréal amongst other assets . 2022-05-02 . Embracer.
  48. Web site: 2022-08-18 . Embracer Group makes more acquisitions, including the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings IP.
  49. Web site: German Film Magazine: PLAION Pictures Acquires UK's Anime Limited. Hodgkins. Crystalyn. 18 October 2022. Anime News Network. 18 October 2022.
  50. Web site: BREAKING: Anime Limited Acquired by Plaion Pictures. 18 October 2022. Anime UK News. 18 October 2022.
  51. Web site: Plaion Pictures übernimmt Anime Ltd.. Rumbacher. Jörg. 18 October 2022. Blickpunkt:Film. 18 October 2022. German.
  52. Web site: ASMODEE GROUP ACQUIRES VR GROUP TO EXPAND MASS-MARKET DISTRIBUTION . 2022-10-20 . 2022-10-21 . The Toy Book . Campbell . Maude . https://web.archive.org/web/20221020164554/https://toybook.com/asmodee-group-acquires-vr-group/ . 2022-10-20.
  53. Web site: January 4, 2023 . Gearbox Entertainment Company Announces Acquisition of Captured Dimensions . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230104160103/https://www.gearboxsoftware.com/press_release/gearbox-entertainment-company-announces-acquisition-of-captured-dimensions . January 4, 2023 . January 4, 2023 . Gearbox Software.
  54. Web site: THQ Nordic Annual Report 2018/19 . Lars . Wingefors . 27 August 2019 . . 14 September 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190903202650/https://mb.cision.com/Main/15049/2890795/1096896.pdf . 3 September 2019 . live.
  55. Web site: The video game studio.
  56. Web site: Fragbite Group acquires DICE alum studio Fall Damage.
  57. Web site: Mobile publisher Nordcurrent acquires River End Games.
  58. Web site: Writer . Jeffrey Rousseau Staff . 2024-02-29 . Report: Saber Interactive buys itself back from Embracer in $500m deal . 2024-02-29 . GamesIndustry.biz . en.
  59. Web site: Take-Two Buys Gearbox From Embracer, Confirms Development on New Borderlands Game.
  60. Web site: About Us . Rainbow Studios . 20 May 2024.
  61. Web site: Robinson . Andy . Nintendo agrees deal to buy Hogwarts Legacy, Mortal Kombat Switch studio . Video Games Chronicle . 20 May 2024.