Most of the studios operating under the Saber brand are included in the sale, but some big names are staying behind.
Embracer Group has announced the sale of Saber Interactive to a company called Beacon Interactive, founded by Saber co-founder Matthew Karch, in a deal worth $247 million, although options in the deal mean that price could go much higher. The deal will also see Embracer halt all operations in Russia, which the company said in a presentation „reduces geopolitical risk.“
„I am pleased that we have found a win-win solution for Embracer and the parts of Saber that now will leave us,“ Embracer CEO Lars Wingefors said in the announcement. „This transaction puts both companies in a stronger position to thrive going forward. Embracer is now able to discontinue all operations in Russia, according to a previous board decision, while safeguarding many developer jobs under new independent ownership.
„At the same time, we keep key companies, valuable IPs and future publishing rights. Cash flow is immediately improved, and we remain committed to reducing net debt.“
As Wingefors said, the deal will see most of the studios operating as part of Embracer’s Saber Interactive division, but not all of them, go to Beacon. Studios leaving Embracer as part of the sale include:
All Saber-branded studios
DIGIC
Fractured Bye
Mad Head Games
New World Interactive
Nimble Giant
Saber Interactive Inc
Sandbox Strategies
Slipgate
3D Realms
Embracer will retain some big names that were previously operating under the Saber division:
34 Big Things
4A Games
Aspyr
Beamdog
Demiurge
Shiver
Snapshot
Tripwire Interactive
Tuxedo Labs
Zen Studios
However, the deal also includes an option to enable Beacon to acquire 4A Games and Zen Studios „within a certain time period,“ and according to Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, Karch has already said that Saber is picking them up too.
