The Chinese Room, developers of critically acclaimed games like Dear Esther, Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs, Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture, and Still Wakes The Deep, has now completed a management buyout, revealed by IGN.
Hiro Capital, the venture capital firm co-founded by Sir Ian Livingstone, also a co-founder of Games Workshop, advised on the deal.
Sumo Digital, which gaming giant Tencent owns, previously stated that the company will refocus its efforts to exclusive development services for its partners, rather than working on original franchises.
“This management buyout allows us to scratch the creative itch of continuing to work on new, original intellectual property, but also to partner with other studios on other projects when they fit in with our vision. This is what we are doing and we want to carry on doing it, so we’re happy to carry on in this vein.”
Ed Daly, Studio Director at The Chinese Room
Spike Laurie, a partner at Hiro Capital, said the buyout “required quite a lot of bravery on the studio’s part, especially when there were unattractive acquisition offers on the table and then having to convince Sumo this was the right path”.
“The UK must do more to hold on to its creative talent and companies in gaming.
The Chinese Room is a huge British success story. From hiring British people to making games set in the UK, they’ve been one of our foremost creative studios and now they are once again in charge of their own destiny, while remaining British.
We are at risk of overlooking these creative gems and letting them be sold to overseas corporations. That is a travesty for the $5.5 billion British gaming industry, which has a world-renowned reputation. We need to nurture this talent and support it through difficult times, because it is one of our leading creative exports.”
Spike Laurie, Partner at Hiro Capital
The Chinese Room is preparing to launch the sequel to the beloved series Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, published by Paradox Interactive.
