News Take-Two Sells Private Division For Undisclosed Sum

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Take-Two Interactive has recently sold its indie games label Private Division to an undisclosed buyer for an undisclosed sum. This sale is part of Take-Two's strategic decision to focus on its core and mobile businesses for long-term growth.

Key details about the sale:

1. Scope: The buyer has purchased rights to substantially all of Private Division's live and unreleased titles, except for "No Rest for the Wicked," which Take-Two will continue to support.

2. Affected games: The sale includes upcoming titles such as "The Lord of the Rings: Tales of the Shire" and Game Freak's untitled "Project Bloom."

3. Reasoning: Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick explained that while Private Division supported independent developers successfully, the scale of these projects was smaller than Take-Two's focus on "great big hits" like the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI.

Implications for the gaming industry:

1. Shift in focus for major publishers: This move highlights a trend where large publishers like Take-Two are prioritizing high-budget, blockbuster titles over smaller, indie projects.

2. Potential opportunities for indie developers: The sale of Private Division could create new opportunities for indie developers under the new ownership, potentially with a more focused approach to indie game publishing.

3. Industry consolidation: This sale is part of a broader trend of restructuring and consolidation in the gaming industry, which has seen numerous layoffs and studio closures in recent years.

4. Uncertain future for affected projects: While the sale includes Private Division's portfolio, the impact on ongoing and future projects under the new ownership remains to be seen.

5. Reflection of market pressures: The decision to sell Private Division may reflect the challenging economic environment in the gaming industry, where even successful companies are looking to streamline operations and focus on their most profitable segments.

It's worth noting that the gaming industry has been experiencing significant changes, with many companies facing layoffs and restructuring. This sale by Take-Two appears to be a strategic move to allocate resources towards larger, potentially more profitable projects while allowing Private Division to continue under new ownership that may be better positioned to support indie game development.

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variety.com