THQ Nordic started a new studio, Nine Rock Games, staffed with former employee from Bohemia Interactive and Bohemia’s subsidiary Cauldron. Nine Rock Games is stationed in Bratislava, Slovakia and will be headed up by David Durcak. David Durcak previously contributed to the ArmA series and DayZ as the project lead. As well several team members worked on Soldier of Fortune: Payback, Conan (2004), and Chaser while working at Cauldron. Nine Rock Games first project will be a survival shooter, though the game’s name or slotted release date is currently unknown.
Embracer Group, THQ Nordic parent’s company, has recently opened up several new studios across the globe. Embracer Group and its other subsidiary Amplifier Game Invest opened two new studios, River End Games in Sweden and C77 Entertainment in Seattle under Amplifier Game Invest. River End Games is already started a new project focusing on a heavy narrative experience. C77 Entertainment is composed with staff from 343 Studios and EA Dice, suggesting any games coming out of there will be a shooter. Nine Rock Games has been the newest addition to the expanding company.
This expansion is following large growth in 2018, with a 713% revenue increase and large earnings in 2019. With Q1 of 2019 making 151 million euros or 165 million USD. Embracer Group has been buying out studios and properties after acquiring THQ in 2016. Embracer Group has bought out Kingdoms of Amalur, TimeSplitters, Expeditions, Carmageddon, Darksiders, Outcast, Alone in the Dark and Gothic. Embracer Group bought out Tarsier Studios in December for 10.5 million USD.
Tarsier Studios will being working on brand new properties after it has finished Little Nightmares 2 for Bandai Namco which is expected to come out this year. Though Tarsier Studio has been promised to be mostly autonomous with little supervision under Amplifier Game Invest. It is currently unknown what projects Nine Rock Games and Embracer Group’s other companies are working on, but it is unlikely that announcements will be far off.