Tencent enters in exclusive talks to acquire Warframe parent company Leyou

Recently, reports emerged that Sony was preparing a bid to acquire Leyou. Now, it appears that Tencent is the most likely buyer and have entered exclusive discussions.

[morganfell]

Say goodbye to Warframe as you know it. And Splash Damage, been nice knowing you.

[himdeel]

Yep very bad news. I wouldn't be as worried with Sony stepping in, but them, straight doom and gloom.

[darthv72]

Tencent seems to be dipping their toes into just about anything. They have a 40% stake in Epic as well.

[Shiken]

Yeah, say goodbye to one of the actual good F2P games that allows you to get everything with reasonably dedicated gameplay.

You literally did not have to buy anything in this game, you only did it to support the dev. If Tencent steps in, it will never be the same.

[morganfell]

I remember when it first came out on the PS3. I thought, wow, right out of an old Phantagram trailer. And you are so correct. You had to buy nothing but I did because I felt guilty playing something so well designed...for free. As you said, repaying the devs.

[LordoftheCritics]

We had a good run Tennos.

[rainslacker]

Tencent wants to own everything it seems. Or, "hold it", since they're just a holding company. Or at least have a significant stake in everything. I get that they want to diversify and expand. But damn, they have so many eggs in their basket, it's practically obscene.

[Abnor_Mal]

I thought Sony were also looking to acquire Leyou.

https://www.eventhubs.com/n...

[Direwolf484]

They were. Evidently they were outbid.

[Abnor_Mal]

Seems they were, sad, that acquisition could have possibly helped Sony create an exclusive multiplayer game since a few of the companies under Leyou worked on MP games.

[LucasRuinedChildhood]

It's actually kind of funny because they just invested $250 million into Epic ... who Tencent own 40% of the shares in. It's a cutthroat business, I suppose. Tbh, I think they're are more exciting things for Sony to spend a billion dollars on.

[rainslacker]

This sounds more like a buyout deal than a stakeholder deal. This means that Tencent would have complete control over the studio, and it's IP's. Warframe I suppose has been doing pretty good all these years. Not talked about much, but I hear it has a good following. I could see Sony wanting to acquire it to own the franchise, and maybe have the dev do something new, or expand on WF.

I don't think the Epic deal and them wanting to buy Leyou were connected though, nor would Tencents stake in Epic mean much to Sony unless Sony was just a silent partner in Epic. I have a strong feeling, with no backing other than some guess work, that there is something specific Sony is funding with that money. General investment wouldn't require an announcement, nor is the sum of investment worth much to make it worth announcing....at least outside of shareholder disclosures.

[Shikoku]

Please for the love of God sell to Sony. Tencent needs stopped..

[AzubuFrost]

And yet it's ok for Sony to spread to North America, Europe, China, and other international countries with game devs?

Make some sense pls.

[luckytrouble]

The issue is that Sony is legitimately just building a set of studios to continue expanding their game business. Everything they do is to promote the PlayStation brand on the global stage.

Tencent, nobody is 100% what exactly they're doing. They're just a giant company with known ties to the Chinese government that have been trying really hard to leech as much profit out of the game industry as they can for the past several years.

But I mean, you tell me if you're comfortable having the company that has made propaganda for the Chinese government getting their hands all over the gaming industry.

[AzubuFrost]

luckytrouble

Wanna know something fun? I wouldn't be surprised if Tencent already invested money into Sony. And if Tencent did what will people here going to do?

[Angyobangyo]

@AzubuFrost,

To quote you, "Make some sense pls". Saying, "Wannaknow something fun?" like stating you know that it's a fact that Tencent has invested in Sony, then you go on to use a conditional which is used for imaginary circumstances. Take you tinfoil hat off son.

[rainslacker]

@Lucky

Tencent is a holding company, which basically means they own or are vested in, and manage a bunch of stuff. In this case, a bunch of video game publishers or studios. They're expanding just like any other business really.

They have had rapid advancement, and things they have large stakes in tend to not be all that appealing to hardcore gamers....mostly because they chase after the easy cash more than they seem to have an interest in actual game advancement. But, they still have holdings that are making regular games.

I'd prefer they not keep buying up everything though. Having that much control over an industry is never a good thing, regardless of their intentions or ties to whatever powers may be.

[Shikoku]

I'm pretty sure you're a trash sock account just defending this crap.

[Shikoku]

@Rain
No they're are a Chinese business not just a holding company and a front for the communist party other people maybe just fine helping support communism but I'm not.

[Iamnothuman12]

Chinese want their hands in everything.

[RememberThe357]

They certainly have the money for it

[Blank]

Damn ain’t that crappy? Splash Damage have been a nice dev team with a lot of goodwill. One Tencent comes in, they will be forced to do stuff I doubt they would’ve done prior to Tencent buying the parent company. I hope a large portion of talent branches out to make a new dev team. Everything Tencent touches or creates ends up as watered down, money hungry shite.

[jerethdagryphon]

What have they done. Not heard of tencent before

[AzubuFrost]

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

[Silly gameAr]

Time to clinch our buttcheeks. Tencent is coming.

[Lore]

Sony should use the money to purchase Level-5 to be honest

[FanboySpotter]

I was hoping sony would snatch them up. Now I really REALLY hope ms gets wb wouldn't want tencent to get them too. What a mess.

[AizenSosuke]

Give them to Sony at least, at least them.

[KwietStorm_BLM]

Worst case scenario

[King_Noctis]

Tencent is conquering the gaming world. Damn.

[P_Bomb]

Uh oh.

[Rangerman1208]

Of course it's Tencent. Why not? *sigh*