Sony Online Entertainment, the studio behind “Everquest,” “Planetside” and a host of other massively multiplayer online games, has been spun out of the Japanese entertainment giant.
Investment firm Columbus Nova has acquired the studio and renamed it to Daybreak Game Company, according to a posting from one of the development company’s staffers to the official subreddit for one of its games.
“Today, we are pleased to announce that we have been acquired by Columbus Nova, an investment management firm well known for its success with its existing portfolio of technology, media and entertainment focused companies,” the poster said. “This means that effective immediately SOE will operate as an independent game development studio where we will continue to focus on creating exceptional online games for players around the world, and now as a multi-platform gaming company. Yes, that means PlayStation and Xbox, mobile and more!”
John Smedley, the head of Daybreak and former SOE chief, posted a lighthearted tweet about the news, saying that he “can’t wait to make Xbox One games!” He went on to say that all the firm’s games, including “H1Z1,” “Everquest” and “Planetside 2,” will continue to exist following the acquisition.
The deal is hardly surprising, considering that SOE fell on hard times in recent years. Despite its hits with “Everquest,” the company’s forays into licensed content like “Star Wars: Galaxies” and “The Matrix Online” didn’t perform well. The company also laid off employees at its Austin and San Diego offices last year.
Daybreak’s future is still a bit unclear. The company is in the process of developing “Everquest Next,” an update to its tried-and-true fantasy MMO, but beyond that, it’s hard to say what’s on the horizon.
