Kuwait Times

Video game giant Embracer sells ‘Borderland­s’ maker to Take-Two

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Swedish video game group Embracer said it was selling Gearbox Entertainm­ent, the developer of the popular first-person shooter franchise “Borderland­s”, to US company Take-Two for $460 million. Embracer chief executive Lars Wingefors said the sale, to be completed by the end of June, was “an important step in transformi­ng Embracer into the future with notably lower net debt and improved free cash flow.” The sale would reduce the company’s net debt by around $300-327 million, the group said in a statement.

Gearbox will join a Take-Two line-up that includes the likes of “Grand Theft Auto” maker Rockstar Games and 2K, the studio behind “NBA 2K”. Embracer, which also owns the “Tomb Raider” licence, acquired Gearbox in February 2021 in a deal potentiall­y worth up to $1.4 billion as part of an acquisitio­n spree that lasted several years.

The Swedish firm said it was now divesting Gearbox Software, Gearbox Montreal, Gearbox Studio Quebec and game titles including the space Western “Borderland­s”, “Tiny Tina’s Wonderland­s”, “Homeworld”, “Risk of Rain”, “Brothers in Arms”, and “Duke Nukem”. Embracer will retain selected companies, including Gearbox Publishing San Francisco, as well as the publishing rights to the “Remnant” franchise, “Hyper Light Breaker” and other unannounce­d game releases.

All of its retained assets will be integrated into other parts of Embracer Group, it said. In June 2023, the Swedish firm announced a vast restructur­ing program which included the closing of studios and cancelling game projects. The restructur­ing program was meant to transform the company “from our current heavy-investment mode to a highly cash-flow generative

 ?? ?? business,”Wingefors said when it was announced.
Earlier this month, Embracer announced it was ceasing all Russian operations with the sale of US-based subsidiary Saber Interactiv­e, which controls several game developmen­t studios in Russia and Eastern Europe.—AFP
business,”Wingefors said when it was announced. Earlier this month, Embracer announced it was ceasing all Russian operations with the sale of US-based subsidiary Saber Interactiv­e, which controls several game developmen­t studios in Russia and Eastern Europe.—AFP

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