Embracer Group Acquires Another 13 Studios Including Shadow Warrior Series Dev Flying Wild Hog

THQ Nordic parent Embracer Group has acquired 13 new companies, including 11 game studios. The full list includes: 34BigThings, A Thinking Ape Entertainment, Coffee Stain North, Flying Wild Hog, IUGO Mobile Entertainment, Mad Head Games, Nimble Giant Entertainment, Purple Lamp Studios, Quantic Lab, Silent Games, Snapshot Games, Sandbox Strategies, and Zen Studios.

Here is an overview of each acquisition:

34BigThings

34BigThings is the developer behind the Redout franchise. The developer and its team of 28 staff based in Turin, Italy join Embracer Group through its Saber Interactive label.

34BigThings will be supported in developing and launching original games on more platforms as a component of Saber Interactive’s comprehensive strategy.

A Thinking Ape Entertainment

A Thinking Ape Entertainment is the developer behind mobile games such as Kingdoms at War and Casino X. The Vancouver, Canada-based studio joins Embracer Group through its DECA Games label.

Coffee Stain North

Coffee Stain North is a game development studio funded in 2013 that has collaborated with Coffee Stain Studios since 2017 on Goat Simulator and developed the original title A Story About My Uncle. Although a partly owned subsidiary since 2018, the developer and its team of 22 staff in Stockholm, Sweden-based join Embracer Group as a wholly owned subsidiary under the Coffee Stain Studios label.

Coffee Stain North currently has a title in production with expected release during 2021.

Flying Wild Hog

Flying Wild Hog is the developer behind the Shadow Warrior series. The developer and its team of 260-plus sta across three studios in Poland join Embracer Group under its Koch Media Group label.

Flying Wild Hog is currently working on four projects together with well reputable external publishers, and will continue to operate as an independent studio in the Koch Media Group.

IUGO Mobile Entertainment

IUGO Mobile Entertainment is the developer behind mobile games such as PvPets: Tank Battle Royale and The Walking Dead: Road to Survival. The developer and its team of 86 staff based in Vancouver, Canada join Embracer Group through its DECA Games label.

Mad Head Games

Mad Head Games is the developer behind the Mystery Case Files and Dark Parables series. The developer and its team of 130 staff across four offices in Belgrade and Novi Sad join Embracer Group through its Saber Interactive label.

Mad Head Games will continue to operate as an independent game developer under Saber Interactive, with continued leadership by its three founders.

Nimble Giant Entertainment

Nimble Giant Entertainment is the developer behind the upcoming Quantum League. The developer and its team of 75 staff join Embracer Group through its Saber Interactive label.

Nimble Giant Entertainment will continue to operate as an independent studio under Saber Interactive, as well as collaborate in their continued focus on developing strong PC and console games.

Purple Lamp Studios

Purple Lamp Studios is the developer behind SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated. The developer and its team of 38 staff join Embracer Group through its THQ Nordic label.

Purple Lamp Studios will work exclusively on titles on THQ Nordic’s behalf, where the two companies are jointly working on two upcoming titles currently in development. Purple Lamp Studios’ focus after the acquisition will primarily be centered around developing games based on licensed intellectual properties.

Quantic Lab

Quantic Lab is a Cluj-Napoca, Romania-based software outsourcing company specialized in quality assurance. It will continue to operate as an independent gaming quality assurance and software outsourcing company directly under Embracer Group.

Silent Games

Silent Games is the developer behind an upcoming series of games in an original universe, with the first game planned for release in 2023. The developer and its team of 30 staff in Tyne, England joins Embracer Group through its Amplifier Game Invest label.

Snapshot Games

Snapshot Games is the developer behind Phoenix Point. The developer and its team of 65 staff based in the United States and Bulgaria join Embracer Group through its Saber Interactive label.

Snapshot Games will operate as an independent studio under Saber, with continued focus on developing premium games.

Sandbox Strategies

Sandbox Strategies is a public relations and influencer relations agency specialized in content creation for gaming and entertainment. Through the acquisition, Embracer onboards an “earned media” group to collaborate on future innovative gaming content creation across the organization.

Zen Studios

Zen Studios is the developer behind Operencia: The Stolen Sun and the Pinball FX series (among other pinball games). The Budapest, Hungary-based developer joins Embracer Group through its Saber Interactive label.

Zen Studios will operate as an independent studio under Saber Interactive, with continued focus on developing premium games.

Update: Embracer Group in Acquisiton talks with 100 developers, 12 of them large.