Sony announced the acquisition of mobile game developer Savage Game Studios on Monday. The deal's financial specifics were not disclosed. Savage Game has joined the newly formed PlayStation Studios Mobile Division, which will focus on developing games based on existing and future PlayStation IP.
Welcoming Savage Game Studios to the PlayStation Studios family: https://t.co/xUidwYZrfG pic.twitter.com/9my00c62NL
— PlayStation (@PlayStation) August 29, 2022
According to Sony, the new studio, which will operate independently of console game production, intends to reach new audiences and provide more ways for gamers to interact with its content.
Savage Game Studios is already hard at work on an unnamed AAA mobile live service action game. Sony said it is too early to give any details about the new game.
“By extending to more platforms, Sony Interactive Entertainment underlines its commitment to offering creative experiences to new players across the world,” said Hermen Hulst, the head of PlayStation Studios, in a statement.
“We must continue to grow and broaden our offering outside the console, bringing fantastic new titles to more people than ever before,” says Sony. Bringing on the outstanding team at Savage Game Studios is another significant step in that direction.”
Michail Katkoff, Nadjim Adjir, and Michael McManus created Savage Game Studios in 2020. The trio has years of experience working at companies such as Insomniac Games, Zynga, and Rovio. The studio does not appear to have created any games as of yet.
Following the acquisition, Savage Game Studios' day-to-day operations will be managed by the company's present management. “Savage Game Studios was created by industry professionals eager to disrupt the current quo and bring genuine innovation to mobile gaming,” said Michail Katkoff, Savage Game Studios' CEO and co-founder, in a statement.
“Today's announcement underscores our unwavering view that SIE shares our enthusiasm for risk-taking and experimentation.” We admire PlayStation's first-party catalog's stability and quality, knowing how difficult it is in this industry to deliver as consistently as they have.
We're honored to be a part of that tradition and to work alongside PlayStation Studios' world-class team of designers, artists, and engineers. We're still in the early stages of our unannounced project, but we can't wait to show you more.”
Sony claims that its initiatives outside of consoles do not impair its dedication to the PlayStation community or its desire to continue creating single-player, narrative-driven games. According to the corporation, its mobile gaming efforts would allow more users to interact with its games.
Today's statement comes just a few weeks after Sony declared that its $3.6 billion acquisition of Bungie, the gaming developer behind Halo and Destiny, had gone smoothly.
Bungie will remain a distinct game studio at Sony, but its skills will be incorporated into the company's strategy for PlayStation Studios, Sony Interactive Entertainment's division committed to developing tentpole titles that highlight the company's technological strength.