Who Owns Saints Row?
Saints Row is a popular open-world action-adventure game developed by Volition and published by Deep Silver. As of 2021, the franchise is owned by Embracer Group, a Swedish video game holding company. In this article, we will delve deeper into the history of the franchise and its current ownership.
History of the Franchise
The Saints Row series was first launched in 2006 with the release of Saints Row, a game developed by Volition and published by THQ. The game was a critical and commercial success, and it has since spawned several sequels and spin-offs. Over the years, the series has undergone significant changes in terms of gameplay, plot, and ownership.
In 2012, THQ filed for bankruptcy and auctioned off its assets. The Saints Row franchise, along with other THQ properties, was acquired by Deep Silver, a subsidiary of Koch Media. Volition continued to develop new Saints Row games under Deep Silver’s ownership.
Change in Ownership
In June 2021, Koch Media was acquired by Embracer Group, a Swedish video game holding company. As a result of this acquisition, Embracer Group gained ownership of the Saints Row franchise. Embracer Group’s portfolio includes several other well-known video game franchises, including Darksiders, Metro, and Tomb Raider.
Current Status of the Franchise
Currently, the Saints Row series is owned by Embracer Group, which plans to continue developing new Saints Row games. In a statement, Embracer Group’s CEO, Mats Johansson, expressed excitement about the acquisition and noted that the company plans to "build on the heritage of the Saints Row brand."
Comparison with other Franchises
| Franchise | Owner |
|---|---|
| Saints Row | Embracer Group |
| Call of Duty | Activision Blizzard |
| Grand Theft Auto | Take-Two Interactive |
| Assassin’s Creed | Ubisoft |
Here’s a comparison of Saints Row with other popular game franchises:
- Actvision Blizzard: Owns the Call of Duty franchise, which is one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time.
- Take-Two Interactive: Owns the Grand Theft Auto franchise, which is another highly successful and critically acclaimed series.
- Ubisoft: Owns the Assassin’s Creed franchise, which has been a major player in the gaming industry for years.
Conclusion
Saints Row is a successful video game franchise that has undergone significant changes in its ownership over the years. From its humble beginnings under THQ to its current ownership by Embracer Group, the franchise continues to thrive and entertain millions of gamers around the world. As Embracer Group continues to develop new Saints Row games, it will be interesting to see how the franchise evolves in the years to come.
References
- Saints Row Wikipedia page
- Embracer Group investor presentation
- Deep Silver press release
- PC Gamer article on Saints Row’s history