In a world where acquisition rumors and mergers are a normal Tuesday, Gearbox Entertainment has become the latest epicenter of such speculations.
Merely two years after Embracer Group annexed Gearbox in a purchase approximated to be worth $1.3 billion, the most recent currents suggest a deviation is in course.
Amidst a series of internal disruptions – including alleged financial downturns and staffing adjustments affecting other entities under the Embracer umbrella – whispers suggest that Embracer might relinquish its hold on Gearbox – for the right price. And while the rumor mill churns with tales of potential suitors, one name, in particular, seems to dominate discussions: Take-Two Interactive.
The mere consideration isn’t baseless. Gearbox and Take-Two share a lot of history together. Under Take-Two’s protective wing, the Borderlands series flourished, seeing multiple top-selling entries and spin-offs, including the most recent outing, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands. The bond seems almost symbiotic – Take-Two even proudly flaunts Borderlands on its official website.
But as fate would have it, at the company’s annual shareholder meeting, Take-Two CEO, Strauss Zelnick, found himself cornered by this burning question. The corporate dance commenced, and Zelnick gracefully tiptoed around the core of the query.
While lavish in his appreciation for the company’s long-time partners – in his words, they are a “wonderful company” he remained non-committal about the prospects of a potential acquisition. His words, both delicate and diplomatic, essentially condensed to, “We don’t tend to speculate on potential transactions.”
Gearbox’s stature in the gaming industry is larger than its collaboration with Take-Two. The company is home to several other beloved properties, including Homeworld, Brothers in Arms, and Duke Nukem. It’s also responsible for not-so-excellent outings as the much-meme’d Aliens: Colonial Marines. Finally, the older fans will most likely remember a time when Gearbox had a huge hand in the development of several expansion packs for Half-Life and the retail releases of Counter-Strike as well as Counter-Strike: Condition Zero.
Of course, the main highlight is the Borderlands franchise, which has reportedly shipped an impressive 81 million units, with the 2019 release, Borderlands 3, contributing a whopping 18 million copies to this tally. Thus, if Embracer indeed has plans to part with Gearbox, the studio is not merely an asset but a behemoth of an entity that promises a lucrative future for its eventual steward.
Interestingly enough, Embracer Group hasn’t publicly acknowledged or rebuffed the rumors about its intent to sell (or not) Gearbox. It’s a silence that casts a shadow of uncertainty on the future of not only Gearbox but also the myriad of studios under Embracer’s vast umbrella.
With previous acquisitions like Dark Horse Media last year and the recent restructuring endeavors, the internet will be keeping a close eye on Embracer’s next move.
For now, what’s certain is that the Borderlands universe will leap onto the silver screen with the live-action adaptation premiering on August 9, 2024.
