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submitted 8 months ago by simple@lemm.ee to c/games@lemmy.world
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[-] WarmSoda@lemm.ee 135 points 8 months ago

Larian Studios does technically have a single shareholder in Tencent—which owns around 30% of the company. However, an important piece of context is that Tencent appears to own what's called a "preference" share, meaning that Tencent doesn't have voting rights when it comes to Larian's decision making. The rest of the company belongs to CEO and Founder Swen Vincke and his wife.

Interesting, did not know that.

[-] RagingRobot@lemmy.world 14 points 8 months ago

This is great but my fear is that one day he will go public and not share the profits with the employees. I worked at a company like that. Said they would never sell until they did for a record amount that they didn't really share with the employees.

[-] pantyhosewimp@lemmynsfw.com 4 points 8 months ago

The US needs more mutual companies in general but it could work for a gaming company too.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutual_organization

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[-] hoshikarakitaridia@sh.itjust.works 47 points 8 months ago

You know, they got a point. You gotta believe in the project, and when you do it properly, you will make the money back, and much more.

[-] echo64@lemmy.world 26 points 8 months ago

Okay, but where's that money coming from? Someone has to upfront pay for things. Larian are lucky, they have a majory investor that was not looking for any control, they released in early access and had runway money from previous projects to go with. They are the exception, not the rule, unfortunately.

Publishers no longer publish third parties for the most part, so everyone who isn't a subsidiary of a large company has to find funding somewhere.

[-] Enoril@jlai.lu 19 points 8 months ago

From me for example. I follow this studio and team since many years and i've participated to the funding of Divinity: Original Sin (DOS) more than a decade ago...

They got money from several sources but mainly because (or i should say thanks to) they delivered good products, they have being able to survive and work on BG3. Luck is not the reason, they've worked hard to achieve that...

[-] echo64@lemmy.world 2 points 8 months ago

They have, I've been playing their games from their first divine divinity game. But they are still in a lucky situation, privileged from the reality that everyone else has to go through.

[-] bouh@lemmy.world 1 points 8 months ago

They worked hard for decades. They've been betrayed and hampered by editors in the past until kick-started. It's not a lucky situation, they built this luck.

[-] echo64@lemmy.world 1 points 8 months ago

they worked hard, they are in a lucky and privileged situation unlike almost every other company.

Consider an amazing actor or director that you respect. They worked hard, they made amazing things, and they got super lucky. Talent and hard work guarantees nothing.

[-] surewhynotlem@lemmy.world 14 points 8 months ago

Indy studios exist and some self fund. They're not going to be releasing AAA games, but they're not expected to.

But yes, if you want to create the game equivalent of an MCU film, you need significant starting capital.

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[-] gapbetweenus@feddit.de 7 points 8 months ago

You want tell me that to run a good business, one has to be able to negotiate preferable terms with investors?

[-] echo64@lemmy.world 2 points 8 months ago

If the implication is that they should be negotiating better terms. Well, good luck with that. I've been a part of many teams involved with investor negotiations. You need their money a hell of a lot more than they need your teams risk.

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[-] bozo@lemmy.world 36 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Building games that are actually fun is going to make you the most money, that's it.

Say it louder for the publishers in the back.

It's infuriating how game design is devolving into engagement treadmills instead of simply being fun, concise experiences. The industry needs more Hi-Fi Rushes and less Suicide Squads.

[-] flumph@programming.dev 6 points 8 months ago

Also, does the point of creating a game have to be making the "most" money? Isn't it enough to make something awesome and a profit?

[-] Flumpkin@slrpnk.net 26 points 8 months ago

The problem is publishers and the huge risk you're selling to create a hit. You still have shareholders. Those who take the risk in financing a game development and those who own the IP.

Unless you got extremely lucky and can gamble with your own cash you always have shareholders in game development.

[-] FenrirIII@lemmy.world 23 points 8 months ago

I don't really enjoy their games, but I love them as a studio

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this post was submitted on 16 Feb 2024
590 points (99.0% liked)

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