While not quite omnipresent as Tencent, fellow Chinese gaming giant NetEase recently has put more effort into expanding its name in the Western market. In addition to partnering with major players such as Blizzard and Marvel, NetEase has also made several high-profile acquisitions and recruitments over the years. However, its most recent purchase might be the biggest ever, as NetEase has just announced that it is acquiring Quantic Dream.
Fans might know Quantic Dream from adventure games such as Heavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls, and Detroit: Become Human, which are all praised for their nonlinear stories that reward players' choices. For around 25 years, the independent French studio has built its reputation as a strong force in the AAA games space, having been able to develop its own engine and other proprietary technologies while working on its games. Lately, Quantic Dream has also become a recognizable figure among Star Wars fans, as it is currently developing a new game titled Star Wars Eclipse.
Neither company has disclosed the amount of the deal, but fans of Quantic Dream's games might be quick to point out that this isn't the first time the Paris-based studio had formed a relationship with NetEase. In 2019, NetEase managed to acquire a minority stake in Quantic Dream, making this deal a very sensible follow-up. The two companies are also reportedly working together on a mobile game titled Spellcaster. In a statement to VentureBeat, Quantic Dream CEO David Cage confirmed the pre-existing relationship between the two companies as being one of the main deciding factors.
Another important factor, according to Cage, is NetEase's willingness to allow Quantic Dream to still operate independently post-acquisition. Cage added that prior to this, Quantic Dream had apparently received acquisition offers from other big studios, but it decided to pass on those opportunities as none of them were willing to let Quantic Dream retain its editorial independence. If anything, this should give assurance to those worrying that the acquisition might influence the unique approach Quantic Dream always gives to its games.
Besides game development, Quantic Dream has also turned to publishing third-party developed titles in recent years. Sometime next year, Quantic Dream is set to launch Under the Waves, an undersea explorer from fellow French indie developer, Parallel Studio. The game is currently being developed using Quantic Dream's suite of tools, which presumably may include motion capture, photogrammetry, and other proprietary technologies.
Source: VentureBeat