Embracer Group announced a major purchase. Through its subsidiary Saber Interactive, it acquired 100% of Malta-based 4A Games. The studio is best known as the developer of the Metro shooter series.
Metro Exodus
Embracer is paying $36 million in cash along with additional pay-outs based on milestones that could pay 4A another $35 million.
The entire 4A staff of 150+ people across two locations in Malta and Ukraine will continue to work under Saber Interactive as an independent studio. Following the deal, Embracer has also become the owner of 4A Games’ proprietary game engine for single-player FPS development.
4A will continue to make games in the Metro franchise, which will now be expanded through multiplayer.
For the time being, the studio is working on two AAA projects. In Ukraine, it’s collaborating with Saber on a title “that combines the AAA production values of 4A Games” with Saber’s experience on multiplayer and live ops. Additionaly, 4A has started development of “a brand new AAA IP that leverages its decade of experience on developing the Metro series.”
It’s worth noting that since 2013, 4A Games’ Metro titles have been published by Deep Silver, which is also owned by Embracer.