Developer Splash Damage No Longer Owned by Tencent, Acquired by Private Equity Investors

Splash Damage, a veteran game development studio whose name may not be as widely recognized as its projects, has officially broken away from former parent company Tencent.

The studio has been involved in some of the industry’s most notable titles, contributing to games such as Gears 5, Gears Tactics, Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, Batman: Arkham Origins, Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory, Brink, and most recently Star Wars: Hunters.

According to a report from GamesIndustry.Biz, Splash Damage confirmed its separation from Tencent but declined to provide additional details, stating it would “not be providing further comment at this time.”

This development follows less than a year after the cancellation of what was intended to be the studio’s next major title, Transformers: Reactive. The project’s shutdown also brought layoffs, with Splash Damage sharing at the time:

“While not being able to see the game through to release is painful, having to say goodbye to friends and colleagues hurts even more. We're now focused on doing everything we can to support them through this tough period, just as we are committed to caring for those who will stay with us as we build a stronger Splash Damage for the future.”

It remains unclear whether the cancellation of Transformers: Reactive factored into the studio’s departure from Tencent. Hasbro, which held the license for the project, may also have played a role in the decision.

For now, Splash Damage’s future direction under its new private equity investors remains to be seen. However, given its legacy of more than 20 years in the gaming industry, it’s reassuring to see the studio moving forward rather than facing closure - a fate that has unfortunately become all too common for long-standing developers.

Do you think Splash Damage’s move away from Tencent will give the studio more creative freedom in its future projects?