Embracer Corporation is continuing to do its part in an effort to unify the entire video game industry into one megacorp, this week announcing five other tentative acquisitions. Among these are Perfect World, the publishers of Star Trek Online and Torchlight, and the studio behind Scribblenauts Showdown, Shiver Entertainment. They are also converting media, buying comics and television company Dark Horse as well as animation company and video-on-demand network. Now that they only need to earn food and shelter, the dream of the backward people of a company that owns our entire lives can come true.
So! On Tuesday, Embracer Group announced that it has acquired Shiver Entertainment and Spotfilm Networxand sign the agreement to buy Dark Horse Media, Perfect world entertainment, and animation studio DIGITAL.
Among video game purchases, Perfect World is the biggest. Embracer did not acquire the Chinese parent company, but Perfect World Entertainment, its North American and European affiliates, including Perfect World Publishing and Cryptic Studios. Cryptic makes the games Champions Online, Neverwinter, and Star Trek Online for free, although their latest game is a disaster. Based on the enduring card game, Magic: Legends launched in open beta in March 2021 then shut down in October. PWE also publishes games including Torchlight and Remnant: From The Ashes. During the restructuring of the super company Embracer, they will be part of the Gearbox division.
Perhaps most exciting, however, is the impending Dark Horse acquisition. They started as a comic book company, publishing series including Hellboy, Sin City and Umbrella Academy, and countless licensed series based on Mass Effect, Halo, Star Wars, Alien, Predator, Stranger Things, Critical Roles, Buffy, etc. They also have a production company that produces adaptations that include The Mask, the Hellboy movies and Netflix’s Umbrella Academy. Plus, they run a few physical stores. They will become their own separate operations group within Embracer, one of ten divisions.
Embracer said: “With its proven IP manufacturing and structure, partnering with top creative talent, and creating brands and global success, Dark Horse is in a strong position. certainly in a market with high demand for entertainment content.
They added that “there is untapped potential in the making of Dark Horse IP-based games and a substantial opportunity for synergy within the Embracer team, both within Dark Horse Comics and Dark Horse Entertainment.”
Ultimately, the (Avengers) end game of a media super company is to relentlessly combine everything they own with everything else they own in every form possible for permanence.
Embracer announced in the first day of this month that they are also working to get Asmodee. They are distributors and publishers of board games and trading cards, as well as their digital adaptations. These include big names like Catan, Ticket To Ride, and Pandemic.
The Embracer name may not be widely known, but their individual divisions are, and they’re reaching the size of companies like Electronic Arts and Activision Blizzard. They currently own 86 game development studios, with more than 9000 workers at more than 40 companies. Big names include Gearbox, 3D Realms, 4A Games, Piranha Bytes, THQ Nordic, Deep Silver, Volition, Coffee Stain and Flying Wild Hog. Game Industry Consolidation continue apace.
