In the fast-paced world of the gaming industry, billion-dollar acquisitions and mergers have become commonplace, and the trend shows no signs of slowing down. As the industry undergoes a shake-up, gaming studios stand to gain the capital needed to pursue ambitious projects, but this also raises concerns about potential anti-competitive monopolies.
The latest studio to make headlines is Techland, a Polish studio renowned for its first-person survival horror franchise, Dying Light. On July 24, 2023, Techland revealed that the Chinese tech and entertainment conglomerate, Tencent, is becoming a majority stakeholder in the studio.
Techland, founded in 1991, expressed its belief that partnering with Tencent would help them achieve their “best, boldest dreams” by working alongside like-minded friends and strong partners.
The acquisition is a significant step for Techland. Still, the studio reassured fans that it remains dedicated to delivering the ultimate zombie game experience with the Dying Light franchise for players worldwide.
Tencent, a major player in the gaming industry, has investments in various studios, including a 40% stake in Epic Games (Fortnite), a 100% stake in Turtle Rock Studios (Back 4 Blood), and a 9.99% stake in Ubisoft, among others.
Techland’s acquisition aligns with Tencent’s ongoing investing strategy in gaming studios worldwide. Over the years, Tencent has acquired Sumo Digital, Inflexion, and Turtle Rock Studios and secured majority shareholdings in Wakeup Interactive and Tequila Works. The conglomerate is also developing games under its in-house brand, Level Infinite.
Techland’s CEO, Paweł Marchewka, emphasized that the acquisition would allow the studio to accelerate its vision for future games. While retaining full ownership of its intellectual property, including the Dying Light series, Techland assured its fans of maintaining creative freedom under Tencent’s majority stake.
Currently, Techland is hard at work on an unnamed fantasy RPG [1], their first new IP in nearly a decade. Marchewka expressed confidence that the upcoming game would be unique, aiming to exceed player expectations with astonishing adventures and innovative solo and online gameplay elements.
As Tencent continues its investments across the gaming industry, the acquisition of Techland reinforces the company’s position as the largest gaming company in the world by revenue.
While the impact of these acquisitions on the gaming landscape remains to be seen, players can look forward to more exciting developments from Techland, ensuring a bright future for the Dying Light franchise and beyond.
