In a tale as twisted as a game developer’s code early on a Monday, Cryptic Studios and Arc Games have been officially handed over like the last slice of pizza at a party. Yes, the duo has been sold off by the illustrious Embracer Group, who might as well hand out business cards that say “We Make Really Bad Decisions.”
The Golden Parachute of Project Golden Arc
In a jaw-dropping move that probably left several board members scratching their heads, Embracer has offloaded these companies to Project Golden Arc, helmed by bright minds from the Arc Games management team. The entire shindig came at around $30 million, a sum that could probably buy enough coffee to keep the developers awake for an entire year thanks to XD Inc.’s financial sprinkling.
Who’s Who in the Gaming Zoo?
Arc Games, previously masquerading as Perfect World Entertainment and then as the adroitly-named Gearbox Publishing San Francisco, is the proud parent of a zillion live service games. This includes the revered Star Trek Online and Neverwinter, alongside the post-apocalyptic nail-biter Remnant: From The Ashes and its sequel. There’s also the delightful Torchlight, Hyper Light Breaker, and the latest installment of “We Really Hope You’re Not Getting Tired of These,” known as Fellowship.
The Mystery of the Great Embracer Exodus
Once upon a time, back in the glorious days of 2021, Embracer decided to amass game studios like a kid collecting Pokémon cards. However, this spree came with a twist: thousands of layoffs and studio closures that would make even the toughest gamer flinch. The remaining studios, including the notorious Borderlands maker, were ushered out like bad karaoke performers post-performance. It seemed that while acquiring, Embracer had perfected the magic trick of vanishing jobs!
What About the Good Stuff?
In a move that felt somewhat like trading a beloved family pet for a goldfish, the publishing rights for the Remnant franchise will shift from Arc Games to Embracer’s THQ Nordic, a company already hoarding the Remnant IP rights and the development elves over at Gunfire Games. Talk about passing the baton—this one’s like an Olympic relay!
Fellowship Finds a New Nest
In more news than a celebrity’s latest relationship status, the rights for the multiplayer novella, Fellowship, will waddle its way to Coffee Stain, which plans to do some kind of mystical spin-off and public listing—whatever that means in the grand scheme of things.
Phil Rogers Knows Best?
Phil Rogers, CEO of the Embracing Group, shared some thoughts that sound more like platitudes than a heartfelt farewell. “This transaction helps us laser-focus on our core assets,” he said, probably while tossing a few other buzzwords like “synergy” around. “Also, Fellowship gets a great new home in Coffee Stain.” Sounds peachy, Phil—thanks for the update!
He also took a moment (or two) to salute the hardworking folks at Arc and Cryptic for their efforts over the past four years. How touching! One can’t help but wonder if the heartfelt wishes come with a severance package—or just an extra slice of virtual pizza?
