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Borderlands developer Gearbox Software is now part of the Embracer Group, the parent company which includes publishing and development studios THQ Nordic, Saber Interactive, Koch Media, Deep Silver and Coffee Stain Studios. Embracer’s acquisition of Gearbox – namely the Gearbox Entertainment Company, which includes Gearbox Software and Gearbox Publishing – is worth $ 1.378 billion, according to a press release.
Gearbox Founder and CEO Randy Pitchford called the transaction “not only a boost to the talent of our employee-owned company, but a booster for the exciting future we have foreseen.” According to a press release, the deal allows for the expansion of talent in Gearbox studios, the creation of new Gearbox studios and the expansion of partnerships.
During a question-and-answer session hosted by Embracer Group, Pitchford said the deal will not impact development of future and existing games in the popular Borderlands franchise.
“We love our relationship with Take-Two and the 2K Games label, and we are committed to working together through all of the known and planned Borderlands work that we have underway,” said Pitchford. “I foresee that we will continue and create new opportunities together.”
Pitchford later clarified that Gearbox has “a relationship with Take-Two where we have agreed to certain rights to use the IP – the IP is a Gearbox IP.”
“As a proud publisher of the Borderlands franchise, we are happy for our partners at Gearbox and this exciting new chapter for their organization,” publisher 2K Games said in a separate statement. “The merger does not change 2K’s relationship with Gearbox or our role as publisher of Borderlands IP or any other project we are currently working on with the studio. We look forward to continuing our long-term partnership with this incredibly talented team and providing many more exciting entertainment experiences for game fans around the world. “
Gearbox was founded in 1999. Its portfolio of properties includes Brothers in Arms, Borderlands, Duke Nukem and Homeworld – the latter two having been acquired from 3D Realms and THQ respectively. In addition to three main Borderlands games and a handful of franchise spinoffs, Gearbox is developing a live-action movie based on its loot shooter series. Eli Roth is directing the film, which stars Cate Blanchett and Kevin Hart, for Lionsgate.
The Gearbox Publishing Division released Hello neighbor, We are happy, Risk of rain 2, and Godfall.
Embracer Group, based in Karlstad, Sweden, was previously known as THQ Nordic AB. The parent company has 57 in-house game development studios and over 200 owned franchises including Saints Row, Goat Simulator, Dead Island, Darksiders, Metro, MX vs ATV, Kingdoms of Amalur, TimeSplitters, Satisfactory, and Wreckfest.
Embracer announced two additional acquisitions on Wednesday: Aspyr Media, acquired through Saber Interactive, and Easybrain, a mobile game developer specializing in puzzle and logic games.
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