Sources – NetEase to Acquire 100% of Quantic Dream

NetEase, the Chinese internet technology company will reportedly acquire 100% of Quantic Dream, with an announcement likely to come this summer, sources suggest.

 

The company purchased a minority stake of Quantic Dream in 2019 to “support [Quantic Dream] ‘s vision of becoming a global, multi-franchise entertainment company, and to develop advanced technologies and games for the future,” it was reported in a press release. But now, it seems like NetEase will be acquiring 100% of the company. The deal has apparently been in talks for months, but it’s unclear whether or not the deal has been 100% finalized.

 

It’s unclear as to why acquisition talks began, but sources have suggested that Quantic Dream has been looking to be fully acquired since its three-game Sony deal expired following the release of Detroit: Become Human in 2018. Quantic Dream had approached several different companies over the years, pitching “Project Karma” – a space exploration game as its next flagship title. In fact, Project Karma would eventually become Star Wars Eclipse, which was announced in December 2021.

 

Quantic Dream has had its fair share of controversy these past several years following allegations of workplace issues, including sexual harassment, crunch, and toxic work culture. These issues have reportedly created a hiring problem for the studio, with my investigation at Xfire showing that the studio has had several job openings for well over two years that are still active.

 

Although the studio has seen controversy, the announcement of Star Wars Eclipse was seemingly a turning point in giving the studio loaded ammunition to continue its desire to be acquired. 

NetEase is no stranger to acquiring studios, with the company acquiring Grasshopper Manufacture late last year. Grasshopper, the studio behind franchises like Killer7, No More Heroes, and Lollipop Chainsaw decided to “get together in the long term with through deeper cooperation to create more good content for gamers.”

 

Those familiar with the deal have said that the current NetEase and Quantic Dream deal seems to be similar to that of Grasshopper, with NetEase providing the resource support the studio needs to “bring Star Wars Eclipse to life.”

 

NetEase did not provide a comment for this report but did acknowledge the opportunity given.

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