PC Gaming Companies 2023: Who owns Who

Know where your money goes.  Here's how this graphic was created and why many are missing.

 

FAQ:

• PC developers only listed, so many developers will be missing (such as Sony devs).
• Must have developed a PC game in the last 5 years, some developers that made PC games, have converted to console/mobile market only.
• Graphic based on ownership only, not publishing deals.
• If parent company is in the name, it is not displayed, such as EA Sports, EA Canada, etc.
• Services are selective, such as Pogo.
• Display the current ownership between developers and their parent companies. This does not cover the history, past buyouts, mergers, or closures.
• Individual companies are not listed.
• Flag represents the parent companies country

Summary: Three companies rise among the rest. Tencent continues to gobble up companies and take advantage of Chinese trade restrictions by flexing into additional developers.  Microsoft continues their push, with the biggest gaming purchase in history.  Embracer Group also continues their push buying up developers.  without a clear plan, they will likely be the first group to clean house and trim out the fat.

Sony warmed up to PC last time, and stayed the course by picking up an additional PC developer in hopes of strengthening their shooter IPs.  The group everyone once hated on, EA stay quiet, sitting on the same IPs and staying the course.  Netflix thinks about getting into the video game business, likely with all the streaming options pulling in profits.

 

 

 

Updates:

• Disney has ~1% Epic
• Lego has ~1% Epic
• Beacon Interactive (not Beacon Interactive Systems) buys Saber
• Saber retains 3D Realms, Slipgate Ironworks, New World Interactive, Nimble Giant, Mad Head, Digic, Fractured Byte, Sandbox Strategies,4A Games and Zen Studios
  
• Embracer retainsE mbracer will retain control of Tripwire, Beamdog, Aspyr, Tuxedo Labs, Demiurge, Shiver, Snapshot Games and 34BigThings, Cryptic Studios, , Lost Boys, Gearbox Publishing (Perfect World)
• Take-Two buys Gearbox studios
• Embracer splits 3 ways
• Asmodee 
• Coffee Stain - Ghost Ship, Tarsier, Tuxedo Labs, as well as THQ Nordic and Amplifier Game Invest, Easybrain, Deca, CrazyLabs and Cryptic
• Middle-earth Enterprise - Crystal Dynamics, Dambuster Studios, Eidos-Montréal, Flying Wild Hog Studios, Tripwire, Vertigo Games, Warhorse Studios and 4A Games 
• Closes Piranha Bytes
  
• Tango Gameworks has been shutdown by Microsoft
• Krafton buys Tango Gameworks
• Behavior buys Red Hook
• Sega sells Amplitude Studios, now indie
• Take-Two closes Private Division, Roll7 , Intercept  Games
• Tencent dissolves Tequila Works
• Maxis missing from the EA listing
• Sony owns 10% Kadokawa.