In a report fromGamesindustry.biz, Tencent has acquired a minority stake inLife is Strangedeveloper Dontnod Entertainment.
Tencent’s stake in theLife is Strangedeveloper values at 30 million euros ($36.3 million USD). They’ll now have a seat in Dontnod’s board of directors. Additionally, this move helps the developer inch towards raising 40 million euros ($48.5 million USD) to bring their goal of self-publishing to fruition.
“Through this partnership, Dontnod is perfectly positioned to take advantage of the various growth drivers in the video game industry, in particular in China and on mobile platforms, in cooperation with an industry leader,” said Dontnod chairman and CEO Oskar Guilbert. “The capital increase announced today will enable us to step up and boost the roll-out of our development plan, which aims to capture more value from our original creations by self-publishing more games.”
Over the past couple years, Dontnod has released three games in theirLife is Strangeseries. The latest one isLife is Strange 2whichwrapped up in December 2019. They also releasedTell Me Why, their latest episodic narrative game. Tencent having a minority stake also helps the developer reach a wider audience in China. Additionally, it’ll help them make a larger impact in the Chinese mobile games market.
“We are delighted to welcome Tencent as a Dontnod investor,” continues Guilbert. “This is a real expression of trust from a key online game leader, which is behind a number of success stories and has invested in several leading companies in the video game industry.”
Over the past few years, Tencent has made a larger effort in acquiring stakes in game companies. Recently, they purchased amajority stake in Klei Entertainment, the developer behindDon’t Starve. Additionally, they’ve partnered with companies likeEA,Activision, andThe Pokemon Company.
Tell Me Whyis available now on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay tuned to DualShockers for more news on Dontnod Entertainment.
