Spec Ops: The Line’s developer Yager Development received an investment from Tencent. The amount Yager Development received is undisclosed and supposedly Yager Development is to retain their independence. “Greatly enhance the scope of our business, not just by getting access to Tencent’s network and resources but by tapping the vast industry know-how Tencent possesses.” CEO Timo Ulmann said when asked about the investment.
Yager Development is based in Berlin, staffed with 110 members and has recently made the move towards self-publishing. The new investment from Tencent will help boost their publishing arm. Though Yager Development has remained mostly quiet after releasing Spec Ops: The Line which was considered a failure by its publisher Take-Two Interactive. Yager Development did try to to innovate the battle royale genre with The Cycle which added questing to the normal formula. Later Yager Development released the multiplayer shooter Dreadnought in 2018. Though Yager Development did have to lay off third of their team only days later. Yager Development has since not had a not had another game release or announced working with any other studio after Deep Silver cut ties with them in 2015 over Dead island 2. This deal supposedly has helped fund several projects that have yet to be announced along with possible publishing opportunities for third party games.
Tencent is not only the world’s leading games company but also a prolific investor with a stellar track record.
Having Tencent being the investor is not surprising. Tencent has been greatly expanding their portfolio of developers and publishers. This includes to complete ownership of Sharkmob and Riot Games to a controlling investment of Grinding Gear Games and 40% ownership of Epic Games. Tencent has minor investments in a plethora of other studios including Activision-Blizzard and Paradox Interactive. Tencent is currently in the works to acquire Funcom, the developer behind Conan Exiles.