By
Godfrey Benjamin
April 5th, 2024
According to the announcement, Savage Games Studio “will join the newly created PlayStation Studios Mobile Division, an independent operation from console development”.
Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) has announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Helsinki-based game startup, Savage Game Studios for an undisclosed sum. Savage Game Studios is owned by three veteran game developers whose talents have been identified by Sony as a crucial next step to making a push into its mobile gaming ecosystem.
Savage Game Studios was founded by Michail Katkoff (Rovio, Zynga, Fun Plus, Supercell), Nadjim Adjir (Wargaming, Rovio, Gree), and Michael McManus (Wargaming, Insomniac, Kabam). Combining forces, the trio brings decades of experience working firsthand in the gaming industry to set a new visionary path for Savage.
Savage Game Studios has not released any game since its inception back in 2020.
“PlayStation Studios must continue to expand and diversify our offering beyond console, bringing incredible new games to more people than ever before,” said Hermen Hulst, Head of PlayStation Studios. “Acquiring the talented team at Savage Game Studios is another strategic step towards that goal. I’m really excited about what Savage is working on and I’m confident they will deliver a high-quality experience. Our move into mobile, like our expansion into PC and live service games, strengthens our capabilities and our community, and complements PlayStation Studios’ purpose to make the best games that we can.”
Sony is the owner of the notorious gaming consoled, the Playstation, and the PlayStation 5, the latest of the pack has been in high demand since it was introduced back in 2020. From the sup[ported games including the soccer game, FIFA to other titles like Mortal Kombat and the Astro’s Playroom, Sony’s Playstation has seen remarkable growth over the years.
However, in a bid to chart a growth phase across the board, Sony has been making strategic moves to launch games for PCs and Mobiles. The move essentially involved targeted acquisitions of gaming studios already championing thrilling moves in these aspects.
Sony Interactive’s Acquisition beyond Savage Games
Besides the potential acquisition of Savage Games Studios, Sony has acquired Destiny developer Bungie as announced earlier this year. The Bungie deal was tagged as a very big win for the tech giant and its community as Bungie was drafted to work with Sony to bring new exclusive and multiplatform titles while keeping Destiny 2 across all platforms as before.
Sony’s latest acquisitions have also spanned Nixxies, a gaming outfit that was onboarded to develop PC games for the company. The Savage Games acquisition is one of Sony’s first attempts to dive deep into the Mobile scene.
According to the announcement, Savage Games Studio “will join the newly created PlayStation Studios Mobile Division, an independent operation from console development. The PlayStation Studios Mobile team is focused on creating new experiences for players through innovative, on-the-go gaming based on new and existing PlayStation IP that meets PlayStation Studios’ high-quality standards.”