At a time when Sony and Microsoft are still struggling with the acquisition of Activision-Blizzard, other major players in the industry continue to grow their arsenal of studios.
An amount that seems low!
Last August, NetEase officially announced the acquisition of Quantic Dream, a French studio formerly very close to PlayStation. The firm is notably at the origin of Heavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls or even the very good Detroit: Become Human published in May 2018. Since then, we know that the teams have been working on Star Wars: Eclipse and Under The Waves. This acquisition thus allowed the studio to maintain its independence while taking advantage of the resources of the Chinese giant.
Now, several sources would have revealed to journalist Tom Henderson, who had mentioned this takeover long before its formalization, that the transaction would amount to around 100 million euros. A sum that may seem quite derisory in view of the billions of dollars fairly regularly mentioned when it comes to studio takeovers. Anyway, the company seems determined to offer various and varied projects, like the two games mentioned above, as well as another title codenamed “Dreamland” and which could be akin to medieval fantasy.
For its part, Star Wars Eclipse will be a game based on narration and choices, with the possibility of embodying several characters in the middle of a galaxy far far away. Each of its characters should thus benefit from their own stories, motivations and skills pushing you to make decisions that have an impact on the course of the adventure. No release date yet, but this title is expected on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Under The Waves, on the other hand, is a narrative adventure game about the engulfing power of grief. In the depths of the North Sea, in the techno-futuristic 1970s, Stan, a professional diver, struggles to overcome a life-altering loss and to embrace a new future. We shouldn’t have to wait too long before we can get our hands on it since it’s announced for 2023 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
