As previously reported, Saber Interactive, the studio working on the KOTOR Remake and Space Marines 2, has split from its corporate overlord Embracer Group. But now we know a lot more about how the split will involve Beacon Interactive. Saber Interactive is taking 38 games that are still under development and will also be joined by many other teams and studios.
On the other hand, Embracer will continue to own some major video game developers as well like Tripwire, Aspyr, and Beamdog. The exit deal is valued at $247 million and is being made between Embracer and Beacon Interactive. If you haven’t heard of Beacon Interactive, it is because it was recently created by the Saber Interactive co-founder Matthew Karch. As a result of this deal, Embracer has ended all operations within Russia.
Although it hasn’t been confirmed which upcoming games are going to Beacon Interactive, some projects will be kept by Embracer Group, while a few will be worked in tandem with Beacon. An official slide from Embracer details some of the games below:
Saber Interactive Splits From Embracer In a Deal With Beacon Interactive
Interestingly, the deal doesn’t end here. Beacon Interactive will retain the option to acquire 4A Games, known for the Metro series, as well as Zen Studios. According to reports, these acquisitions will indeed go through at a later date. But the long-term publishing rights to the Metro games will be retained by Embracer even after the deal goes through.
The studios that have left Embracer and have joined Beacon Interactive are below:
- All Saber-branded studios
- Nimble Giant (Star Trek: Infinite)
- DIGIC (3D animation studio)
- Saber Interactive Inc. (Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake)
- Fractured Byte (support studio)
- Sandbox Strategies (PR agency)
- Mad Head Games (Scars Above)
- Slipgate (Kingpin Reloaded, Graven)
- New World Interactive (Insurgency, Day of Infamy, Insurgency: Sandstorm)
- 3D Realms (Ion Fury)
The companies that will remain with Embracer Group are as follows:
- 34 Big Things (Redout)
- Shiver (support)
- 4A Games (Metro series, will eventually join Beacon Interactive)
- Snapshot (Phoenix Point, Chaos Reborn)
- Aspyr (Tomb Raider I–III Remastered Starring Lara Croft, Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection)
- Tripwire (Killing Floor)
- Beamdog (Mythforce)
- Tuxedo Labs (Teardown)
- Demiurge (Sega Heroes)
- Zen Studios (Pinball FX and Zen Pinball)
According to the CEO of Embracer, Lars Wingefors, this is a “win-win solution” for Embracer and Beacon Interactive. This should help avoid any further layoffs that were initially planned, and keep a lot more projects from being canceled like before.
