Devolver Digital acquires Astroneer developer System Era Softworks
Following a solid relationship between the two companies, publisher Devolver Digital has acquired System Era Softworks, the studio behind indie hit Astroneer.
The details:
Devolver announced the acquisition in a press release, revealing that the deal is worth up to $40 million in cash and shares, with an initial consideration of $22 million. The company sees the deal as a "strategic opportunity" for the publisher to "expand outside of its core strength of premium indie titles, leveraging System Era's knowledge of Expandable Game style development, as well as its live operations technology and existing IP."
System Era, based in Seattle, currently has 50 employees and is the developer of Astroneer, a space exploration game that became a hit in the indie space after entering early access in 2016 and receiving a full release three years later. The game is still being updated by the developer, and according to the press release, it has generated $87 million in revenue to date.
System Era CEO Brendan Wilson has also shared details of the history between the two companies in a new statement. "Devolver and System Era have been mutual admirers for a long time,” said Wilson. “We've always seen Devolver's banner as a mark of quality, but they also represent an approach to developing and publishing games that is unique in the industry. Their developer-first orientation lets bold and unorthodox ideas thrive.”
Devolver has established itself as a major player in the indie game market, having published titles such as Hotline Miami and Fall Guys in 2020 before selling the rights to Epic Games. It has since acquired Croteam, the developer of Serious Sam HD, as well as Doinksoft, the developer of Gunbrella, both of which previously published releases with the company.
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