Joystiq

Tencent sunk $330 million into Epic Games, owns nearly half of studio

David Hinkle — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:30:00 EST

Back in June, Chinese company Tencent Holdings purchased a minority stake in Epic Games, but it turns out that stake is substantial. Tencent snatched up 48.4% of Epic Games shares last year - that comes to around $330 million invested - and even has the right to nominate individuals to Epic Games' board of directors.

"Since the Group has the right to nominate directors to the board of Epic Games, Epic Games is accounted for as an associate of the Group." This is all laid out in Tencent Holdings' 2012 financial report, available as a pdf document through the source link below. Epic Games was the second US gaming investment from the Chinese outfit following its acquisition of Riot Games in 2011.

Following Tencent's purchase of Epic shares, Epic Games announced it had founded a new studio in Baltimore, saving some Big Huge Games folks from the collapse of 38 Studios to work on Infinity Blade: Dungeons - only for Epic to eventually shutter the studio in February of this year.

Tencent sunk $330 million into Epic Games, owns nearly half of studio originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Take-Two, Tencent collaboration 'NBA 2K Online' launches Oct. 24 in China

Alexander Sliwinski — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 16:00:00 EST

NBA 2K Online, the free-to-play NBA simulation created for China by 2K in conjunction with Tencent Games, will launch on October 24. The game went into beta this past June and is the first major release in China for Take-Two, which announced plans for this initiative back in 2009.

The release date of an online sportsball game in China isn't the interesting part here, so much as the context. Tencent Holdings Limited has become quite the player over the past three years since Take-Two's plans were first announced. There's Tencent's relationship with Activision over Call of Duty Online, its acquisition of Riot Games and, most interestingly, its minority interest in Unreal Engine's lord and master Epic Games.

Take-Two, Tencent collaboration 'NBA 2K Online' launches Oct. 24 in China originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Sep 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Activision stock may rise 50 percent with Pandaria, CoD Online

Jessica Conditt — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 15:30:00 EST

Activision Blizzard may see its share price increase as much as 50 percent as it prepares to launch the Mists of Pandaria expansion for World of Warcraft and Call of Duty Online in China, financial newsweekly Barron's reports. Activision Blizzard is currently trading at $11.25, after reporting Q2 earnings above expectations but below the previous year, bringing in $1.08 billion.

Investors expect shares could reach a high of $17 due to Mists of Pandaria's launch in September and Activision's partnership with Chinese Internet provider Tencent Holdings to launch the free-to-play game Call of Duty Online, potentially in "mid-2013," Barron's says. The Chinese gaming market generated $7 billion and included 160 million gamers in 2011, and is expected to grow by 20 percent this year to cash in more than $9 million in 2014.

Activision Blizzard's shares have fallen 10 percent this year, while the broad market has gained 11 percent. Parent company Vivendi was looking to sell its 61 percent stake in Activision Blizzard earlier this year, but it appears those efforts have shifted focus.

Report: Activision stock may rise 50 percent with Pandaria, CoD Online originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 05 Aug 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Epic's Mike Capps on opening the door to Tencent and its 'unparalleled expertise' in China

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 09:30:00 EST

Epic Games announced yesterday it sold a minority interest in the company to China's Tencent Holdings. It was the first time in 21 years the Unreal Engine creator and Gears of War and Infinity Blade developer accepted outside investment.

"We've always taken pride in being an independent developer of fun games and cutting-edge technology," Epic Games president Mike Capps said in prepared statements about why the company took a major investment deal after such a long time. "We want to assure our players and licensees that this transaction only brings more to the table in terms of what we can offer them."

"Epic has worked with Tencent for years through our Unreal Engine licensing relationship," Capps added. "They have fantastic inroads into attractive markets and platforms, and Epic has been carefully weighing its options for the next generation of games for quite some time. We can learn a lot from Tencent, and strategically aligning with them was an easy decision."

Capps explained that Epic will maintain all intellectual property rights and maintain the Unreal Engine licensing business. He wouldn't comment if this is just the prelude to a full buyout. Capps makes no secret of Tencent being a long-term partner, but notes Epic enjoys its independence.

Continue reading Epic's Mike Capps on opening the door to Tencent and its 'unparalleled expertise' in China

Epic's Mike Capps on opening the door to Tencent and its 'unparalleled expertise' in China originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Jun 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Epic Games sells minority interest to Tencent

Alexander Sliwinski — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 08:37:00 EST

Epic Games, creator of the ubiquitous Unreal Engine and major franchises like Gears of War and Infinity Blade, announced this morning a minority stake sale to China's Tencent Holdings.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but you can be assured it was for a ton of cash (technically speaking). Epic will continue to "operate independently and seek to further expand its game franchises across multiple platforms."

Tencent has slowly made strategic purchases in the States, its highest profile acquisition being Riot Games last year, developers of cash-raining League of Legends.

The relationship between Epic and a Chinese company will also make it easier for the former to grow in China, a region in which it has been very interested in expanding - with some politically laughable results.

Continue reading Epic Games sells minority interest to Tencent

Epic Games sells minority interest to Tencent originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 Jun 2012 08:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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