Paradox Interactive Buys White Wolf

According to Shams Jorjani, VP of acquisitions and portfolio strategy at Paradox Interactive, the Swedish video game publisher will be sending a press release in a little while, but the news is too important to sit on it. Paradox Interactive has bought White Wolf and its IPs, which include Vampire: The Masquerade, Vampire: The Requiem and the entire World of Darkness line. The company employs many fans of the IPs, and they’re apparently excited to bring new blood to them.

New, fresh blood is certainly needed, because the company and its IPs pretty much seem to run out of steam after CCP’s World of Darkness MMO was canceled. Personally, I’m very excited to see what Paradox will do now with White Wolf’s properties. They have talented internal teams and good relationships with vibrant third-party studios, and that clearly bodes well for the future.

Update: Here’s the press release, which further elaborates on the news. Apparently White Wolf Publishing will operate as an independent subsidiary of Paradox with its own brand and will be led by CEO Tobias SjÃ¶gren, former EVP of Business Development at Paradox. Here’s the full PR:

Paradox Interactive Acquires White Wolf Publishing from CCP Games
New Paradox Subsidiary will Operate Independently and Manage All White Wolf Properties, Including World of Darkness and Vampire: The Masquerade
STOCKHOLM – Oct. 29, 2015 – Paradox Interactive, a global games developer and publisher, today announced the acquisition of White Wolf Publishing from CCP Games in an all-cash deal. Now a subsidiary of Paradox Interactive, White Wolf Publishing is a licensing business that owns and manages intellectual properties including World of Darkness, Vampire: The Masquerade and Werewolf: The Apocalypse. Led by CEO Tobias SjÃ¶gren, former EVP of Business Development at Paradox, White Wolf Publishing will operate as an independent entity with a dedicated team.
White Wolf Publishing has a long history of producing gaming universes that span mediums, including tabletop and collectible card games, PC games and books. Paradox Interactive acquired all of White Wolf’s brands, and its new subsidiary will pursue development opportunities across relevant categories of games under the White Wolf Publishing name.
(Like Paradox’s games, White Wolf’s properties have dedicated, passionate communities. While there are similarities in spirit, White Wolf’s IPs have very different themes than Paradox’s titles, and deserve their own brand and team,) said Fredrik Wester, CEO and President of Paradox Interactive. (We have great respect for White Wolf’s gaming worlds and see big opportunities for their expansion in the future under our new subsidiary.)
(Over the last 20 years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with beloved studios like DICE and Paradox on the business management side of games, and as a developer earlier in my career. I look forward to bringing my experience to bear as we pursue new ways to interact with White Wolf’s universes,) said Tobias SjÃ¶gren, CEO of White Wolf Publishing. (The White Wolf IPs are well suited for all kinds of media and we see great potential to expand them in the future.)
“At CCP, we have great admiration for the White Wolf brands and communities, and it was extremely important to us that the acquiring company share the same respect and understanding,) said Hilmar Veigar PÃ©tursson, CEO of CCP Games. (With Paradox, we know we are leaving the brands in good hands.”
For more information about White Wolf Publishing, please visit www.whitewolf-publishing.com.
About Paradox Interactive
Since 1999, Paradox Interactive has been a leading global publisher and developer of PC games and is world-renowned for its strategy catalog. Paradox’s steadily-growing portfolio includes established PC strategy franchises such as the critically-acclaimedEuropa Universalis, Crusader Kings, Victoria and the Hearts of Iron series, as well as franchises in other genres such as Magicka and Cities:Skylines. Its online community consists of millions of highly-engaged and active gamers. For more information, please visit www.paradoxplaza.com.
About CCP
CCP is a leading independent game developer and has been praised for its artistry, game design and unique player-driven, infinitely scalable storytelling narratives. CCP is the creator of the critically-acclaimed science-fiction game EVE Online (PC/Mac) as well as DUST 514®, a groundbreaking, free-to-play, massively multiplayer online first-person shooter for the PlayStation®3. The company is currently developing Gunjackâ„¢, a virtual reality action game for the Samsung Gear VR mobile platform and EVE: Valkyrieâ„¢, a multiplayer virtual reality spaceship dogfighting shooter for PCs and the PlayStation®4. Founded and headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland, in 1997, CCP is privately held, with additional offices in Atlanta, Newcastle, and Shanghai. For more information, visit www.ccpgames.com.