Tencent acquires 15.75% ownership stake in Helldivers 2 studio Arrowhead

Tencent has continued to expand its investment in the gaming industry by acquiring a minority stake in Arrowhead Game Studios, the developer of Helldivers 2.

The details:

• As reported by Swedish outlet DI (via Eurogamer), the Chinese gaming giant acquired a 15.75% stake in the developer in July 2024 for an estimated $83 million USD. Speaking with DI, studio founder Johan Pilestedt stated that the investment "opens up opportunities for China as a market" and that having a Chinese player base is a "holy grail."

• The report also reveals the studio's financials, which show a turnover of SEK 959 million ($100 million) and an operating profit of SEK 729 million ($76 million). The impressive figures aren't surprising given Helldivers 2's success since its release last year, when it became PlayStation's fastest selling game ever and maintained a strong player base thanks to frequent content updates that shape the title's future.

• Tencent remains one of the largest investors in the gaming industry, having recently formed a new subsidiary with Ubisoft to handle the publisher's most popular titles amidst financial concerns. The company also owns 100% of League of Legends developer Riot Games, as well as shares in other major players such as Nintendo and Epic Games.

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