Ninja Theory Was Acquired by Microsoft for $117 Million
Microsoft‘s internal documents filed with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have shed light on the acquisition price of England-based studio Ninja Theory. The documents reveal that Microsoft acquired Ninja Theory for $117 million. Ninja Theory is renowned for developing games such as Kung Fu Chaos, Heavenly Sword, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, DmC: Devil May Cry, and Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice.
Microsoft purchased Ninja Theory in 2018 following the success of Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, which received critical acclaim and gained a loyal fan base. While there haven’t been any significant releases from Ninja Theory since the acquisition, they are currently working on the highly anticipated sequel, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, expected to be released in 2024.
Besides that, they are also developing an experimental and ambitious psychological horror game called Project Mara, which was announced in 2020, but the story and gameplay details remain scarce.
100+ Game Developers were on Microsoft’s M&A Consideration List
The Microsoft vs. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) case is ongoing, and the hearing will continue this week. Monday was an off day, and the proceedings are scheduled to start on Tuesday, June 27th. Despite the break, fans and journalists remained active, as several internal Microsoft documents and emails surfaced, revealing interesting insights into the company’s strategies between 2020 and 2021.
The documents disclosed an M&A consideration list comprising over 100 game developers and publishers, including notable names like Remedy Entertainment, 505 Games, People Can Fly, CD Projekt Red, Mundfish, IO Interactive, Fireproof Studios, Giant Squid, and FromSoftware.
These game studios were on Microsoft’s radar for potential acquisitions to bolster its gaming business. Even studios like Bungie (now owned by Sony) and SEGA made it to Microsoft’s final list of game studios that they seriously considered purchasing.
A Lot has Come Out in the Last Few Days!
Since the start of its hearing last week, the Microsoft vs. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) court case has revealed a wealth of insights and details regarding the business strategies and practices of companies like Microsoft and Sony within the gaming industry.
It has been revealed that PlayStation boss Jim Ryan already believes that Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision is ‘not an exclusivity play at all.’ In a redacted deposition, Jim Ryan also confirmed that PlayStation 6 information will be held back from Activision if they end up being acquired by Microsoft.
Furthermore, it was revealed that Microsoft acquired ZeniMax, Bethesda‘s parent company, to secure exclusivity for Starfield, preventing Sony from making the highly anticipated game PlayStation exclusive.
During Phil Spencer‘s testimony, he confirmed that the upcoming Indiana Jones game from Bethesda will be an Xbox exclusive. It was originally planned as a multi-platform title before Bethesda’s acquisition by Microsoft.
As the trial continues, we can expect more insights and revelations to emerge. We will continue to closely monitor the trial and provide updates on any further developments as they unfold. Until then, let us know what your thoughts are about this news. Let’s discuss this in the comments section below.
