Polish video game maker Techland has become the latest addition to Tencent’s global empire. The multi-billion dollar company, based in Shenzhen, China, has bought a majority stake in the studio behind the zombie game franchises ‘Dead Island’ and ‘Dying Light’.
Techland’s success has been highly dependent on its creative endeavors and the development of its well-known franchises. It has been at the forefront of developing successful video game titles such as ‘Call of Juarez’, ‘Pathologic’ and ‘Hellraid’.
The terms of the latest acquisition have not yet been revealed. Nonetheless, it appears that Tencent dominates the gaming market and it is looking to increase its reach even further with this takeover. This is not the first company that Tencent has acquired in this way. In 2011, the company snapped up Riot Games – the developer of ‘League of Legends’ – for a reported US$230 million.
The merger between Tencent and Techland may bring a range of economic benefits. It is possible that the two companies could combine their resources and knowledge to create titles that could reach an even wider audience. On the other hand, there are also fears that Tencent could exercise a great deal of influence over the direction of the studio and its video game brands.
What’s more, the move has raised some ethical questions since Tencent is one of the largest companies in China. The country is known for its censorship and oppressive stance towards freedom of expression online. It is important to consider the implications of Chinese companies becoming involved with Western media, especially those that have built up a global following.
While the deal between Tencent and Techland is expected to result in the production of more games across genres, time will tell whether this will be at the expense of creative freedom. Until more information about the acquisition is revealed, gamers and developers will remain in the dark about what directions this partnership will take.
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