Paradox kjøper Vampire: The Masquerade-universet

Paradox har kjøpt White Wolf Publishing, i den svenske utgiverens største investering noensinne.

I en pressemelding i dag forteller den svenske spillutgiveren Paradox at de har kjøpt White Wolf Publishing, utgiverhuset bak World of Darkness, Vampire: The Masquerade og Werewolf: The Apocalypse. White Wolf har i de siste årene vært eid av Eve Online-utgiver CCP Games.

Paradox skriver at White Wolf vil drive som et uavhengig datterselskap, og at oppkjøpet inkluderer rettighetene til alle White Wolfs merkevarer. De planlegger «flere digitale spill» basert på disse.

Ifølge Rock, Paper, Shotgun, er dette Paradox’ største investering noensinne, og de skal ha betalt flere titalls millioner svenske kroner for White Wolf. Paradox har med andre ord all grunn til å benytte seg av merkevarene de har kjøpt. Hva med et storstrategispill der man spiller vampyrklaner som må manipulere verden fra undergrunnen?

Vampire: The Masquerade er nok den mest kjente White Wolf-merkevaren for oss spillere. Den har allerede resultert i kultklassikeren Bloodlines fra Black Isle-veteranene hos Troika Games. Det ble dessverre Troikas siste spill, men Troika-grunnlegger Tim Cain jobber nå hos Obsidian Entertainment, som også ble grunnlagt av en gjeng veteraner fra Black Isle.

Hos Obsidian har han vært involvert i utviklingen av Pillars of Eternity, som Paradox ga ut. Hm. Jeg håper virkelig det foregår noen samtaler bak kulissene her. Et Vampire: The Masquerade-rollespill fra Obsidian hadde vært snadder.

Oppdatering:

So it seems like something was bought by @PdxInteractive and people want us to look into making a game? Hmmm…

— Obsidian (@Obsidian) 29. oktober 2015

Her er pressemeldingen:

Paradox Interactive Acquires White Wolf Publishing from CCP Games
New Paradox Subsidiary will Operate Independently and Manage All White Wolf Properties, Including World of Darkness and Vampire: The Masquerade

STOCKHOLM – Oct. 29, 2015 – Paradox Interactive, a global games developer and publisher, today announced the acquisition of White Wolf Publishing from CCP Games in an all-cash deal. Now a subsidiary of Paradox Interactive, White Wolf Publishing is a licensing business that owns and manages intellectual properties including World of Darkness, Vampire: The Masquerade and Werewolf: The Apocalypse. Led by CEO Tobias Sjögren, former EVP of Business Development at Paradox, White Wolf Publishing will operate as an independent entity with a dedicated team.

White Wolf Publishing has a long history of producing gaming universes that span mediums, including tabletop and collectible card games, PC games and books. Paradox Interactive acquired all of White Wolf’s brands, and its new subsidiary will pursue development opportunities across relevant categories of games under the White Wolf Publishing name.

“Like Paradox’s games, White Wolf’s properties have dedicated, passionate communities. While there are similarities in spirit, White Wolf’s IPs have very different themes than Paradox’s titles, and deserve their own brand and team,” said Fredrik Wester, CEO and President of Paradox Interactive. “We have great respect for White Wolf’s gaming worlds and see big opportunities for their expansion in the future under our new subsidiary.”

“Over the last 20 years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with beloved studios like DICE and Paradox on the business management side of games, and as a developer earlier in my career. I look forward to bringing my experience to bear as we pursue new ways to interact with White Wolf’s universes,” said Tobias Sjögren, CEO of White Wolf Publishing. “The White Wolf IPs are well suited for all kinds of media and we see great potential to expand them in the future.”

«At CCP, we have great admiration for the White Wolf brands and communities, and it was extremely important to us that the acquiring company share the same respect and understanding,” said Hilmar Veigar Pétursson, CEO of CCP Games. “With Paradox, we know we are leaving the brands in good hands.»

For more information about White Wolf Publishing, please visit www.whitewolf-publishing.com.