CD Projekt shoots down Sony acquisition rumor: ‘We’re not in such talks’

CD Projekt has shot down a persistent rumor that it’s in talks with Sony about an acquisition deal, saying unequivocally that no such negotiations are going down.

Speak of a attainable CD Projekt takeover has been kicking round for years: Approach again in 2015, as an illustration, Digital Arts was reportedly trying to purchase the studio—a rumor that CD Projekt shortly shot down. A yr later it occurred once more after CD Projekt made some behind-the-scenes strikes as “insurance coverage” in opposition to a hypothetical hostile takeover.

Hypothesis a few attainable buyout flared up once more in 2022 following the announcement of an bold multi-year growth plan and the stepdown of longtime joint CEO Marcin Iwiński, though analysts mentioned there was nothing in regards to the studio’s actions that pointed particularly towards an impending takeover.

The newest declare is that Sony is making ready so as to add CD Projekt to its lineup, a rumor that surfaced in March and has continued since then regardless of no actual proof to assist it. The newest enhance to that story occurred over the weekend, when Future 2 leaker Liz (through IconEra) posted on their Discord server that “PlayStation plans on shopping for CD Projekt Pink.” 

These items are normally left to blow over unremarked, however on this case—maybe as a result of the story has dragged on for therefore lengthy—the studio opted to shoot it down outright. “Re: The newest rumor,” CD Projekt Pink PR rep Ola Sondej mentioned on Twitter. “Yah, we’re not in such talks with Sony.” 

That is about as unambiguous because it will get.

Company acquisitions are sometimes pushed by the relentless pursuit of revenue or strategic objectives, which was at the very least a part of the speculation behind the rumors on this case—that Sony is in search of a counterpunch to Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision-Blizzard. I do not suppose that basically holds as much as scrutiny: Nearly as good (and profitable) as CD Projekt’s video games are, singleplayer RPGs merely would not have the presence and worth of a game sequence like Name of Obligation (there have been 16 mainline Name of Obligation video games because the launch of the primary Witcher videogame in 2007) and the money-printing MMO World of Warcraft. 

No matter these issues, it is truthful to say that CD Projekt would not want a savior. The corporate reported at present that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has now surpassed 50 million copies bought, and it is now gearing as much as begin selling the upcoming Cyberpunk 2077 growth Phantom Liberty, which can get its first actual airing on the Summer season Game Fest on June 8