Not all ‘western’ IPs are headed to Sweden
In the early hours of this morning, the big news hit that Swedish holding company Embracer Grouphas struck a dealto acquire Crystal Dynamics, Eidos Montreal, and Square Enix Montreal from Square Enix. While the deal represents the majority of Square’s western development and IP catalog, it should be noted that some brands’ publishing rights will remain with Square Enix.
As noted inSquare Enix’s initial statementregarding the transaction, the studio will be handing over brands such asTomb Raider, Legacy of Kain, Thief, andDeus Ex, but will retain certain franchises including the dramatic adventure seriesLife is Strange, explosive open-world shooterJust Cause,and sci-fi multiplayer titleOutriders.
The Embracer Group acquisition is said to include 50 “back catalog” titles, so the fate of various other Square Enix IP — such as open-world crime dramaSleeping Dogs,and Marvel releasesAvengersandGuardians of the Galaxy —is still to be disclosed. Back in 2019, Square Enix returned the rights to the popular stealth seriesHitmanto its original studio, IO Interactive, suggesting that the Japanese publisher is currently offloading the majority of its “westernized” portfolio.
Once the deal completes this fall, Square Enix’s overseas development is expected to be a conjunctive effort between Square Enix Japan, Square Enix External Studios, and Square Enix Collective.
