Larian Studios not open to acquisition, says CEO

[John Elden Ring]

In a chat with Bloomberg, Larian CEO Swen Vincke responded to a question about a 2021 internal Microsoft list of potential acquisitions that circulated back in June this year. On that list—which also featured the likes of Sega and Bungie—Microsoft appeared to be toying with the idea of picking up Larian, but apparently it's not to be. Vincke told Bloomberg that while it was "always flattering" to catch the eye of parties like Microsoft, he's not at all tempted to sell the company just yet.

"I'm getting older, but I'm certainly not done yet,"

the Larian CEO told Bloomberg, who worried that a monolithic corporate owner like Microsoft could end up limiting the studio creatively in the pursuit of profit. To be fair, Microsoft has been—by all accounts—relatively hands-off with its myriad acquired studios over the last couple of years (sometimes to their detriment), but I could definitely imagine a world in which BG3 isn't as wildly ambitious—or as replete with distinct genital tailoring options—because of a corporation's oversight.

Via PCGamer

 

[Nhomnhom]

Not open to an acquisition by a monolithic corporate owner like Microsoft.

What I take from this is that MS already tried to buy them and they refused.

 

[Darth Vader]

the Larian CEO told Bloomberg, who worried that a monolithic corporate owner like Microsoft could end up limiting the studio creatively in the pursuit of profit. To be fair, Microsoft has been—by all accounts—relatively hands-off with its myriad acquired studios over the last couple of years (sometimes to their detriment), but I could definitely imagine a world in which BG3 isn't as wildly ambitious—or as replete with distinct genital tailoring options—because of a corporation's oversight.

Of course they have, as demonstrated by the cancellation of the Playstation versions of Starfield, Redfall, Hi-Fi rush, and the meddling with Redfall itself that caused the game to become an absolute piece of garbage.

Very hands-off indeed.

 

[Entropi]

Lol at the hands off comment. Did no one tell him?

 

[flaccidsnake]

"by all accounts" - boot licking slugs.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

as many others have pointed out.

MS's acquisitions gave them a lot Western RPG IPs and studios, and while these games are PC centric, sony is also trying to expand their audience to that platform.

This studio and especially the Path of Exile one (thanks to their GaaS model) feel like the perfect acquisition. and maybe sony can even learn one of two things about making games a little bit less linear.

 

[Gods&Monsters]

Larian would make sense for Sony but Tencent already owns 30%. Hopefully Tencent gets them first before MS.

 

[Deleted member 223]

.

 

[anonpuffs]

Larian would make sense for Sony but Tencent already owns 30%. Hopefully Tencent gets them first before MS.

Sony could try to buy Tencent out

 

[Yobo]

He's smart

Microsoft effectively eliminated most of their competition on PlayStation and Nintendo. The whole market is open for them to dominate the WRPG space, especially if CDPR can't get back on track

Right now they are like From Software in the early 2010s, but unlike FS they are unlikely to sell way too early

 

[Muddasar]

Larian would make sense for Sony but Tencent already owns 30%. Hopefully Tencent gets them first before MS.

They already have them imho.

Tencent will probably buy a bigger stake in the future.

 

[Yurinka]

Larian would make sense for Sony but Tencent already owns 30%. Hopefully Tencent gets them first before MS.

They already have them imho.

Tencent will probably buy a bigger stake in the future.

The CEO just said they don't want to sell. This means nobody will buy them, at least during several years.

Microsoft effectively eliminated most of their competition on PlayStation and Nintendo. The whole market is open for them to dominate the WRPG space, especially if CDPR can't get back on track

What do you consider a WRPG? Please define what a WRPG is for you.

Like JRPG, I think this term doesn't make any sense specially nowadays when turn based RPGs are no longer common even in Japan.

Also, I think there's a lot of RPGs like the Larian ones in PlayStation and Nintendo. And in fact, PS is the platform with the biggest amount of RPGs.

 

[Danja]

The CEO just said they don't want to sell. This means nobody will buy them, at least during several years.

No company says they want to sell lol. It weakens negotiations

 

[Yurinka]

No company says they want to sell lol. It weakens negotiations

Yes, there are companies who say they are open for M&A, or that they would listen for offers.

In fact, at least in some countries the public companies, the ones in the stocks market, are forced to listen and analyze all acquisition offers (which doesn't mean to accept them) to later explain their investors that such acquisition wasn't worth it because of X or Y reason.

 

[Muddasar]

The CEO just said they don't want to sell. This means nobody will buy them, at least during several years.

Already sold 30% to Tencent.

What he says in public means nothing. Obviously he’s not gonna say they are for sale.

For example, Bluepoint games said were independent. We all know what happened next.

There are other examples too.

 

[Danja]

Yes, there are companies who say they are open for M&A, or that they would listen for offers.

In fact, at least in some countries the public companies, the ones in the stocks market, are forced to listen and analyze all acquisition offers (which doesn't mean to accept them) to later explain their investors that such acquisition wasn't worth it because of X or Y reason.

No game company that's not hurting for cash is gonna publicly say they are willing to sell, plz stop.

 

[anonpuffs]

Well they probably won't need to sell now. Off the back of BG3 success.

 

[Yurinka]

Already sold 30% to Tencent.

What he says in public means nothing. Obviously he’s not gonna say they are for sale.

For example, Bluepoint games said were independent. We all know what happened next.

There are other examples too.

To sell 30% to someone doesn't mean they will sell the company.

Bluepoint said they were independent, which is not the same that to say that they are not open to acquisitions.

And yes, there are examples of everything, all cases. This one, the opposite, and other ones. And with different endings each.

But as usual in this forum, you guys even see the CEO specifically mentioning something and you don't believe him. Or a company posts multiple gaming history records and some people say they are underperforming and that their CEO is incompetent and should be fired.

Some people here don't accept the reality and facts unless aligned with their narrative.

No game company that's not hurting for cash is gonna publicly say they are willing to sell, plz stop.

Bullshit.

 

[Abdizur]

Sony could try to buy Tencent out

 

[Entropi]

Good. I hope they keep making great RPGs and stay independent.