Paradox Interactive has confirmed via press release that they have acquired White Wolf Publishing from EVE Online developer CCP Games. Paradox EVP of Business Development Tobias Sjögren is leaving his post to become White Wolf’s new CEO.
White Wolf is an America-based RPG and book publisher, with several books, board games, and card games based on the universe World of Darkness. For video gamers, they are most famous for Vampire The Masquerade, from which several Vampire and Hunter: The Reckoning video games are based on.
White Wolf merged with CCP in 2006, and stopped producing their own material, in lieu of licensing it to other publishers.
With this acquisition, White Wolf shifts roles again, this time as a subsidiary of Paradox. The two companies are now laying down plans for new games to release starting in 2017. While Paradox will of course bring games to PC, and potentially to consoles, mobile is not out of the equation. They are also actively seeking out devs who want to license and make new games.
Paradox itself is riding high from the success of Cities Skylines, and is approaching this acquisition cautiously, but with a mind towards making as much of use of White Wolf and its properties as possible.
Paradox CEO and President Fredrik Wester had this to say:
Like Paradox’s games, White Wolf’s properties have dedicated, passionate communities. While there are similarities in spirit, White Wolf’s IPs have very different themes than Paradox’s titles, and deserve their own brand and team. We have great respect for White Wolf’s gaming worlds and see big opportunities for their expansion in the future under our new subsidiary.
Incoming White Wolf Publishing CEO Tobias shared this statement:
Over the last 20 years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with beloved studios like DICE and Paradox on the business management side of games, and as a developer earlier in my career. I look forward to bringing my experience to bear as we pursue new ways to interact with White Wolf’s universes. The White Wolf IPs are well suited for all kinds of media and we see great potential to expand them in the future.
Finally, CCP CEO Hilmar Veigar Pétursson said this:
At CCP, we have great admiration for the White Wolf brands and communities, and it was extremely important to us that the acquiring company share the same respect and understanding. With Paradox, we know we are leaving the brands in good hands.
Are you excited by this turn of events? What would you like to see White Wolf do next? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
