Swedish gaming publisher Embracer Group has been on the rise in the last year. With over 200 franchises now under its ownership, Embracer Group currently has 150 games currently in development with nearly half of them due for release next year.
Despite the pandemic, 2020 was a big year for Embracer Group, but it doesn't look like the corporation plans to slow down its operations anytime soon. Last year, Embracer announced a slew of acquisitions including DECA Games, known for the MMO shooter game Realm of the Mad God, Nimble Giant Entertainment, Snapshot Games, which was founded by the creator of the X-COM franchise, and Zen Studios. And this month, Gearbox Software was purchased by Embracer for $1.3 billion along with Aspyr Media and Easybrain as well.
Now, Embracer Group owns 57 internal game development studios and together, currently has 150 games in the works, announced with its published Q3 2020 report. The number of game development projects increased from 96 reported back in Q3 2019 by 56% up to 150 in the third-quarter report on Embracer Group's website. More than 70 of these projects will be in a "state fit for release" in March 2022, though that doesn't necessarily mean they will all be released at that time.
This massive increase in production is thanks to the increase in headcounts across the subsidiaries. Embracer Group's report states that the number of employees increased from 2,970 by 93% to 5,730. The number of developers increased 92% from 2,258 to 4,325, nearly double the number of developers that worked with Embracer Group in the previous year. These employees span across 45 different countries.
Gearbox Software is known for its original game series Borderlands. But currently in the works among the 150 games in development is a real-time strategy game called Homeworld 3. It was announced back in 2019 and is developed by Blackbird Interactive. Valheim from Coffee Stain Studios recently saw great success on Steam, noted in Embracer Group's report, even though the game is still in Early Access.
But possibly the most highly anticipated game from one of Embracer Group's subsidiaries is Biomutant which is headed for release on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Published by THQ Nordic, Biomutant is a new IP and the debut game from studio Experiment 101, which was founded by former Avalanche Studios employees. An action-RPG set in a post-apocalyptic world, the story of Biomutant will change and branch out depending on the choices that the player makes. The story will revolve around the Tree of Life and its five roots, as well as six tribes. Three of the tribes want to heal the Tree of Life while the others have their own intentions.
Source: Embracer Group