Tencent has announced today that it has acquired California-based developer Turtle Rock Studios, the developer of Back 4 Blood and the Left 4 Dead series.
A press release sent out today notes that Turtle Rock will become part of Tencent, though the studio will retain its independent operations in Lake Forest, California, with the existing team continuing to “run all studio operations.” The press release also confirms that Turtle Rock co-founders Phil Robb and Chris Ashton will continue to lead the studio following the acquisition. Additionally, a spokesperson told IGN in an email confirming that Turtle Rock’s “partnership with Warner Bros. to publish Back 4 Blood is not affected” by the recent acquisition.
“We are all looking forward to joining the Tencent family of studios,” Turtle Rock Studios president and general manager Steve Goldstein said in the press release. “Tencent’s outstanding partners, global reach, deep knowledge of gaming and unprecedented support will help us create the kinds of ambitious games we dream of, while allowing us to retain our autonomy and independent spirit.”
Have you played Back 4 Blood?
Back 4 Blood IGN First Screenshots
Tencent picking up another studio comes as little surprise considering the gaming giant has acquired several other studios this year. In July, the company announced it was acquiring Sumo Group, the developer behind Sackboy: A Big Adventure. In November, as reported by Bloomberg, Tencent announced it had acquired Wake Up Interactive.
Founded in 2002, Turtle Rock Studios began as an independent developer. But in 2008, shortly before its co-op zombie shooter Left 4 Dead was released, the company was acquired by Valve and renamed Valve South. The studio would split from Valve in 2010 and re-found itself under the name Turtle Rock studios once more.
The developer recently released Back 4 Blood, a spiritual successor to its previous zombie co-op shooter series, which received praise for its fun (if familiar) spin on the genre.
Taylor is the Associate Tech Editor at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster
