In this article, we’ll talk about Embracer Group AB (Embracer) and the company’s recent acquisitions, including the back catalog of Embracer games. Disney, of course, is also involved, as it’s a major owner of many noteworthy IPs in the gaming industry. But is the company’s acquisition of Embracer enough to bring the studio’s games to the big screen? Or is it better to focus on the company’s other products?
Embracer Group AB (Embracer)
Embracer Group AB (formerly THQ Nordic AB) is a Swedish game publisher and developer. The company has a vast portfolio of PC and console games, and publishes through subsidiaries Coffee Stain, Amplifier Game Invest, and Saber Interactive. The company also operates internal game development studios in more than 40 countries. Its headquarters are in Karlstad, Varmland.
Founded in 1999, Embracer Group AB (publ) owns a large number of game development studios and publishers. In addition to games, it publishes comics and films. Previously, the company was known as THQ Nordic AB (publ). In October of 2019, it changed its name to Embracer Group AB (publ). The company was incorporated in 1999 and has offices in Karlstad, Sweden and other cities in Sweden and around the world.
In 2011 the Embracer Group acquired JoWood Entertainment. In 2013, the company acquired THQ’s Red Faction and Darksiders franchises. It also acquired Freemode, a game development studio, and Limited Run Games. Most recently, the company acquired Lord of the Rings movies and movie merchandise. Additionally, it has plans to acquire another company in the PC/Console gaming industry. The purchase price is similar to the third or fourth largest Transaction.
Tripwire Interactive is another company owned by Embracer Group AB. Tripwire is a well-known US developer and publisher, best known for the acclaimed Killing Floor and Rising Storm series. It also owns the publishing arm, Tripwire Presents. Tripwire will become part of the Saber Interactive operative group. So what does the future hold for Embracer? Here are the major players in the gaming industry:
Embracer Freemode
Embracer Group has announced its partnership with the Freemode group to support independent game studios around the world. This deal will help small and medium-sized studios develop and publish games in different genres, and it will also provide an ecosystem of support. Freemode’s goal is to help small and mid-sized studios build a global presence in the gaming industry. Among the companies that will become part of the group is Middle-earth Enterprises, Limited Run Games, Clear River Games, and C77 Entertainment. CEO Lee Guinchard, who has over 30 years of experience in the video game industry, will lead the Embracer Freemode partnership. His experience includes 11 years at Blizzard, and he believes that his knowledge of the industry will help Freemode’s members build more successful games.
While the Freemode group is not a company with a history of making games, it has acquired a number of small studios that make classic PC games. The acquisition of Bitwave Games, a Swedish studio, will allow Freemode to expand its internal development team and expand its publishing division. The studio will publish classic NES/Famicom platformer Gimmick!, as well as Toaplan shoot ’em-ups. The company also acquired Tatsujin, which specializes in Japanese retro games.
Embracer also acquired a number of small studios, including Gioteck and Bitwave Games. The deal totaled $788 million USD, and the company is currently working to integrate all three. These companies will operate under the Freemode brand, and will focus on preserving the legacy of classic games. They also acquired the Gioteck accessory brand and Middle-earth Enterprises, a publisher of casual games.
The new company will focus on six key markets, including retro gaming, new idea & technology incubation, game production, and devices. These areas of focus will provide support for the company’s other subsidiaries. The Embracer Freemode group has offices in Livermore, California, and London. The company has acquired companies from all over the world, including the Swedish studio Bitwave Games, the Japanese studio Tatsujin, and the British studio Limited Run Games. This represents a massive acquisition for the Embracer Freemode group.
Embracer Group
In early 2019, Embracer acquired Saber Interactive, a video game studio best known for its ports and remasters. Saber is responsible for a range of popular titles including World War Z and the Evil Dead series. In addition to developing new games, Saber is also working on the upcoming Evil Dead: The Game, as well as the upcoming Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2.
Embracer Group Games has a large catalogue of titles that span the entire gaming spectrum. With over 850 franchises, Embracer Group’s catalogue is extensive. Its parent company, Embracer Group Games, is a global gaming ecosystem that owns and operates more than 100 gaming studios and publishing brands. The Embracer Group’s portfolio of franchises spans PC console, mobile, and board games, as well as publishing related media.
The company’s expansion has also led to the acquisition of several notable game development studios. In addition to THQ Nordic, Embracer also owns Koch Media and Coffee Stain. Additionally, Embracer has acquired a vocal processing effects company, Singtrix, and the Japanese studio Tatsujin. The company has over 7,000 employees in 40 countries. However, it is unclear exactly what the studio’s next projects will be.
While there are no definitive lists of games in need of preservation, Embracer is open to public contributions. There is no definitive list of what they need, but the company will pay for rare or unique games. It is important to note that game preservation has become a hot topic in recent years, and Embracer Group Games has the resources to curate and archive these relics. They also have a game archive that houses more than 50,000 different titles.
The group has been on a buying spree in recent years. The acquisitions have increased its portfolio to include publishers and developers like THQ Nordic, Volition, and Saber Interactive. In addition, it has also purchased the Japanese game studio Tatsujin and Swedish studio Bitwave Games. And it has raised another 1.6 billion for more acquisitions. This has made Embracer Group Games an exciting company to watch and invest in.
THQ Nordic
The company THQ Nordic has recently rebranded itself as Embracer. Originally called Nordic Games Holding, the company began with founder Lars Wingefors’ experience in selling excess video game stock. Wingefors decided to focus on games instead of leftovers from companies such as Electronic Arts. In 2011, the company acquired the assets of JoWooD Entertainment, which had gone bankrupt. This rebranding came just a year later, and the company then went public and acquired the rest of THQ.
The company is a mid-size publisher that releases few major games, but occasionally delivers big hits. Valheim, a viking survival game, has been released recently by Embracer. Though Embracer is no stranger to bankruptcy, its new status may help the company’s parent company, Eidos Montreal, keep its four-day work week. The bankruptcy of THQ Nordic will not have any immediate effect on Eidos Montreal, which is known for developing Deus Ex and other popular games.
The company’s parent company, Embracer Group, also operates several other game studios. Its subsidiaries include THQ Nordic, Deep Silver, Gearbox Entertainment, and Coffee Stain. It has more than one hundred companies that develop and publish games. The group formerly operated under the name THQ Nordic AB. The company was renamed after the group’s founders, Lars Wingefors and Pelle Lundborg. In 2011, it founded Nordic Games GmbH in Austria.
In September 2016, THQ Nordic AB rebranded as Embracer Group, using the “THQ” trademark acquired in June 2014. The company’s headquarters is in Karlstad, Sweden, but the group’s operative groups are based in more than forty countries. The company employs over 13,800 people directly, and contracts workers in over 40 countries. The company’s subsidiaries also produce video games and have a worldwide presence.
While the company’s gaming division specializes in action and sports titles, Embracer has also acquired various studios. Most notably, Embracer acquired the rights to the game Dead Island. This company has also acquired Darksiders, Metro, and the Saints Row series. It also owns Dark Horse Media, which produces such films as 300 and Umbrella Academy. The THQ Nordic embracer group games brand continues to grow.