• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

Saber Interactive to split from Embracer | Group Saber Interactive to be sold to company controlled by its co-founder for a purchase price of $247M

Embracer-Saber_03-14-24-768x432.jpg


Embracer Group has entered into an agreement to sell Saber Interactive to Beacon Interactive, a company controlled by Saber Interactive co-founder Matthew Karch, for a purchase price of USD $247 million, the company announced.
GInG9jYXYAAJhzb

As part of this divestment, Embracer Group will cease all operations in Russia, immediately improving the company’s cash flow, and reducing capex, net debt, and future liabilities.

Saber Interactive will retain the following subsidiary studios after the split: All Saber Interactive-branded studios, DIGIC, Fractured Byte, Mad Head Games, New World Interactive, Nimble Giant Entertainment, Sandbox Strategies, Slipgate Ironworks, and 3D Realms.

Embracer Group will retain the following Saber Interactive subsidiary studios: 34BigThings, 4A Games, Aspyr, Beamdog, Demiurge Studios, Shiver, Snapshot Games, Tripwire Interactive, Tuxedo Labs, and Zen Studios. These studios will be integrated into other parts of Embracer Group in the coming period.
Saber Interactive will be granted the right to acquire 4A Games and Zen Studios within a certain time period, but if it decides to do so, long-term license and publishing rights to all current and future games in the Metro franchise will continue to be held by Embracer Group subsidiary PLAION.

The pipeline of Embracer Group’s retained studios includes the next AAA game from 4A games, an unannounced concept phase AAA game, a previously announced AAA game based on a major license, a new AAA multiplayer shooter based on a conrtolled intellectual property, a new AA game based on an Asmodee intellectual property, a new AA game from 34BigThings based on an owned intellectual property, Killing Floor III, post-launch support of Teardown, and the full upcoming pipeline and back catalog from Zen Studios, Aspyr, and Tripwire Interactive.
“I am pleased that we have found a win-win solution for Embracer and the parts of Saber that now will leave us,” Embracer Group co-founder nd CEO Lars Wingefors said in a press release. “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. The transaction yields additional headroom to amortize debt in accordance with existing bank agreements and will improve financial flexibility. This is the first transaction of the previously mentioned structured processes and marks a small but important step in our journey to transform Embracer into the future for the benefit of all employees, gamers, and shareholders.”
Saber Interactive co-founder and Beacon Interactive director Mtathew Karch added, “Over the past four years, I have been proud to be part of Embracer’s amazing transformation into one of the leading game companies in the world. As part of the company’s efforts to reorganize for a changed industry and geopolitical challenges, we jointly felt it was the right decision for both Embracer and the core of Saber to part ways. This divestment leaves both parties in much better positions to grow our respective businesses. I will continue to remain a large, long-term shareholder of Embracer and we will remain partners on several ongoing and future projects. This transaction also safeguards the livelihoods of hundreds of professionals, many of whom I have worked with for over two decades.”
 
Last edited:

The Fuzz damn you!

Gold Member

Before anyone asks - they paid $150 million plus an additional sum totalling up to $375 million “subject to fulfilment of agreed milestones.” So who know whether this works out to a loss or a gain for them.
 

Loomy

Thinks Microaggressions are Real
Nature is healing.

Also, "integrated" most likely means "made redundant". Those left are going to get fired.
 

Ozriel

M$FT
schreier making up shit again just to proof that he didnt lie on his original tweet

There’s an internal email from the purchasing company indicating they plan on taking up the option to buy those companies.

Jason seems right here? looks like you’re to one making stuff up
 

Shubh_C63

Member
What was Embracers group long term strategy ?
Buy all these IP, gain better market value and then fail to sell/attract Saudi Arabia, to finally break down and re-sell again.

The speed of their acquisitions out of nowhere did seemed fishy.
 

xrnzaaas

Member
What was Embracers group long term strategy ?
Buy all these IP, gain better market value and then fail to sell/attract Saudi Arabia, to finally break down and re-sell again.

The speed of their acquisitions out of nowhere did seemed fishy.
I think they had too much faith in Saudi money and when that failed they immediately found themselves in big trouble. Not only they can't fund new games based on the IP's they got over the years, but they also need to downscale by quite a bit.
 
Top Bottom