Embracer Group buys Truxton (and also LOTR and Limited Run)

[scalliano]

https://embracer.com/release/embracer-group-enters-into-agreement-to-acquire-ip-rights-to-the-lord-of-the-rings-and-the-hobbit-literary-works-by-j-r-r-tolkien/

https://embracer.com/release/embracer-group-enters-into-an-agreement-to-acquire-limited-run-games/

https://embracer.com/release/embracer-group-announces-the-11th-operating-group-embracer-freemode/

 

While everyone was banding on about the Microsoft acquisitions, nobody was paying attention to these guys. They have been hoovering up studios and IPs for years now and it would appear that they weren't finished with nabbing Squeenix's entire Western operation. This is insane. It might also explain why Amazon's LOTR series looks like a legally distinct mess.

 

Not sure what the implications will be for LRG, but I'm guessing that their overall output will become somewhat slanted going forward.

 

That last one hurts, though. I'm guessing that Mark Bussler is crying in a corner right now.

[heliumlamb]

ohh i hope they don't do old toaplan dirty. if this means toaplan's catalog can reach a new audience in 2022 and beyond? i guess it's it wouldn't be in vain but i have no clue how these types of entities operate. outlook is unpleasant, either way.

[Daytime Waitress]

I love how you lead with Truxton <3

Tatsujin seemed to be doing a decent job with the Toaplan remasters, even if they were probably priced too far out for mass consumption.

 

5 minutes ago, heliumlamb said:

if this means toaplan's catalog can reach a new audience in 2022 and beyond?

One of their squillion subsidiaries, Bitwave, just announced a Zero Wing PC port.

 

But I'm sure that a handful of holding companies owning every publisher in existence isn't entirely negative.

Spoiler

I don't have a reaction image for that one, use your imagination.

 

[Biodegradable]

Yeah, I've noticed Embracer Group seems to be quietly absorbing a shit ton of IP at a rapid pace, but I'm far too numb to care about these mega-corp mass acquisitions at this point. Not like any of us can do anything about it anyways. Everything is owned by a handful of giants in every industry as they all merge, buy each other out or stab each other in the back in the never-ending game of real-life monopoly disguised as an economic system. Garbage in, garbage out. Rinse and repeat.

 

In other news: Water is wet, the sky is blue, Cryptocurrency is bullshit and Randy Pitchford is a greasy turd.

[Mr. Freeze]

10 hours ago, scalliano said:

That last one hurts, though. I'm guessing that Mark Bussler is crying in a corner right now.

 

If he wasn't crying from singlehandedly torpedoing CGR this will send him into hysteria. 

[Kinsie]

Re: Tatsujin/Toaplan: An Embracer rep ventured out to the Shmups forums, and stated that all previous Toaplan licensing agreements will continue as they were before, except that Tatsujin now controls the properties directly instead of being a licensing agent for the former rights-holder. This has since been backed up by one of the Tatsujin dudes.

 

EDIT: M2 have confirmed that they're still working on their Toaplan Arcade Garage series.

Edited August 19, 2022 by Kinsie

[scalliano]

10 hours ago, Kinsie said:

Re: Tatsujin/Toaplan: An Embracer rep ventured out to the Shmups forums, and stated that all previous Toaplan licensing agreements will continue as they were before, except that Tatsujin now controls the properties directly instead of being a licensing agent for the former rights-holder. This has since been backed up by one of the Tatsujin dudes.

 

EDIT: M2 have confirmed that they're still working on their Toaplan Arcade Garage series.

That's good to hear, even if I do end up paying through the nose for it on Playasia...