Deep Silver's parent company Embracer Group had themselves a very busy session, buying up quite a few properties in gaming and entertainment. A Swedish based games holding company, the former Nordic Games Publishing now own the rights of 4A Games through its subsidiary Saber Interactive. Embracer acquires 100% of the rights to the Metro series, including the use of its game engine. Many of the other studios acquired many other European development companies include New World Interactive, Deca Games, Vermila Studios, Rare Earth Games, and Pow Wow Entertainment.

“Embracer Group and Saber Interactive are the perfect partners for 4A Games and for our next phase of growth. Together we will continue to build on the Metro franchise and will focus on bringing a multiplayer experience to our fanbase. We look forward to building a new and even more ambitious AAA IP in the near future” says Dean Sharpe, CEO 4A Games"

Today we are glad to welcome more great people and companies to our group. In fact we announced eight acquisitions earlier today. Curious to find our more? Go to: https://t.co/WldrHX3usn pic.twitter.com/JBEKdRKfUj

— Embracer Group (@embracergroup) August 13, 2020

4A Games was founded in 2005 by three developers and based out of the Ukraine. The first game in the Metro series released in 2014, the critically acclaimed first person shooter has seen international success. This move may not come too much as a surprise, as Metro was published by Deep Silver. There is some controversy, however, as prior to its latest release Metro Exodus, Steam pre-order were cancelled due to it becoming an Epic Store exclusive for PC buyers. This lead to fan backlash, a call for a boycott of the game, and lead to review bombing. It's not the first time that Deep Silver found itself on the ire of fans, as in 2019 they became the publisher of the much anticipated Shenmue III, leaving Kickstarter backers feeling a touch betrayed.

Then there is concern about the fate of the Metro series, which is known for its more methodically paced shooter style focused on survival horror and stealth elements. Incorporating multiplayer into a series that predominantly focuses on its single player atmosphere rings similar to the path the Dead Space series followed, leaving fan reception poor and the franchise in an indefinite limbo. This kind of tampering raises some red flags, and rightfully so. While not as notable a name as major western AAA companies, Embracer Group has large overseas influence that branches out from video games to television aimed at families and children.

How will this bode for the future of Metro games? Is this a series that should try its hand at expanding into multiplayer?