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UK digital actuality developer nDreams has been acquired by Swedish conglomerate Aonic for $110 million in what the studio described as a “landmark” deal for the VR trade.
Primarily based in Farnborough, nDreams is the developer behind VR titles similar to PowerWash Simulator VR, Ghostbusters: Rise of the Ghost Lord, Little Cities, Fracked, and Far Cry VR: Dive Into Madness.
Aonic beforehand sunk $35 million into nDreams in March 2022 to assist the corporate increase its roster of inside studios and create “extra formidable titles.”
NDreams subsequently acquired Shooty Fruity developer (and frequent collaborator) Close to Mild, completely elevated wages to assist workers cope with the price of residing disaster, and doubled in dimension to roughly 250 staff.
Earlier this 12 months, nDreams VP of publishing David Corless informed Sport Developer the corporate sought to increase so it could actually stay on the forefront of the VR wave to assist diversify the medium.
“We’re solely 10 years into VR actually, the place’s the know-how going to be in one other 10 years’ time? Our purpose is all the time to maintain driving that and to be on the forefront of it. So it will all the time be difficult as a result of we are the ones discovering and making a number of the selections,” stated Corless.
Following the acquisition, the VR studio will proceed working beneath the management of co-founders Patrick O’Luanaigh and Tamsin O’Luanaigh, who’ll stay with the corporate as CEO and chief individuals officer, respectively.
“[The studio’s] core focus will stay unchanged, whereas benefiting from a steady and supportive setting to proceed rising. Aonic’s backing will assist nDreams’ future investments in third-party publishing and, probably, extra studio acquisitions,” added a press launch.
nDreams seeking to seize on “essential second for VR and MR”
Patrick O’Luanaigh stated the acquisition will enable nDreams to grab a “essential second for VR and MR” by leveraging Aonic’s appreciable assets to “strengthen our place even additional.”
“We arrange nDreams in 2006, pivoted to focus completely on VR video games in 2013, and we’re pleased with every thing we have achieved as an impartial firm,” added the CEO. “After 18 months of working collectively, we’re assured we’ve discovered the appropriate associate in Aonic.”
Aonic CEO Paul Schempp praised nDreams for “bringing a few of the greatest VR titles to market” and stated the acquisition will enable its different inside groups–which embody Milky Tea Studios, Pink Video games, and Otherside Leisure–to study from one of many “finest” studios within the VR house.
“This acquisition is one more instance of Aonic’s dedication to championing mid-sized studios and creating an setting the place groups can create improbable video games,” added Schempp.
NDreams at present has a slate of initiatives in growth throughout its 4 inside studios and has partnered with quite a few third-party builders on titles which can be because of be unveiled in 2024 and past.
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