Saber Interactive is officially splitting from Embracer Group, bringing a few more studios formerly owned by the Swedish company with it as well.
As reported yesterday, Embracer Group confirmed it has agreed to sell Saber Interactive to Beacon Interactive, a company owned by Saber's co-founder Matthew Karch, for $247 million. As such, Embracer officially ceases all operations in Russia, improving the company's cash flow and reducing future liabilities.
Saber will keep multiple subsidiary studios, including 3D Realms, DIGIC, Fractured Bytes, Mad Head Games, New World Interactive, Nimble Giant Entertainment, Sandbox Strategies, and Slipgate Ironworks. Saber is also granted the right to acquire 4A Games and Zen Studios within a certain time period, which is reportedly happening through options, according to a letter sent to staff sent by CEO Matt Karch. In case this indeed happens, however, long-term license and publishing rights to all current and future games in the Metro series will continue to be held by Embracer's subsidiary PLAION.
In a letter to staff obtained by Bloomberg News, new Saber CEO Matt Karch confirms that they’ve already decided to take 4A and Zen, despite messaging from Embracer suggesting that it may retain the two studios: pic.twitter.com/RtYVL9qUUJ
— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) March 14, 2024
Considering how Embracer Group mismanaged pretty much every studio it has acquired, Saber Interactive's split can only be good news for a lot of different franchises. While nothing can be done for canceled games from developers still owned by the Swedish company, like the Deus Ex revival from Eidos Montreal, some projects that have gone missing in action, like the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake, which is staying with Saber, could be revitalized by this split.
About the author: Francesco De Meo has been covering video games and technology since 2012, starting his career at small outlets like Gamersyndrome and GeekSnack. After joining Wccftech gaming section in 2015, he quickly expanded his video gaming coverage with in-depth reporting, interviews with iconic industry figures such as Grasshopper Manufacture founder and No More Heroes creator Goichi "Suda51" Suda, Resident Evil series creator Shinji Mikami, Team NINJA's president and Nioh series director Fumihiko Yasuda, and Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama, reviews and on-the-ground coverage of major industry events such as Gamescom and E3. When he's not reporting or reviewing, Francesco can be found playing the genres he loves most, spending time with his six cats, reading, writing music, playing guitar and drumming for his progressive rock band.
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