Gearbox's sale has been quite an unexpected one, but their CEO Randy Pitchford says the timing was perfect, as the studio can now focus on developing new IPs.
Pitchford is raring to go, having been quite energised by Embracer's acquisition, for more than one reason. He called Wingefors' strategy the best one he's ever seen, as it uses a decentralised approach that gives studios the autonomy and independence they need to create games.
And create games they will, as Pitchford mentioned that the next instalment of legendary real-time strategy Homeworld is in the works with Blackbird Interactive, i.e. Relic founder Rob Cunningham's new company.
He insists that this is still scratching the surface of their plans, as they include, internally developed games, external publishing partners, selling IP rights, etc.
"We have so many new IP concepts that are in our incubator, that are ready to explode. We could wait for the right publishing partner who’s willing to make a bet, rather than only take a risk on something they know Gearbox has already done before. Those publishers that have taken risks on us for what we want to see next have always been rewarded. But for some reason they can’t be comfortable with that kind of risk. Now we get to take that risk", Pitchford said.
Embracer has made headlines in late 2020 for buying 12 studios and a PR firm in one swoop, but Pitchford was most impressed with their decentralised structure and model.
Gearbox
Decentralised models of, well, anything aren't very popular in the corporate world, but the results speak for themselves - Embracer has been one of the fastest-growing groups around.
"When I realized what Lars had built, what he was doing, and what the strategy was, it is simple and obvious, yet it’s completely counterintuitive to the way the rest of the industry works", Pitchford said.
You can find the full interview here .
Borderlands 3 is an Action RPG by Gearbox Software
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