Tencent's Growing Gaming Empire Expands with Kuro Games Acquisition
Tencent continues its aggressive expansion in the gaming industry, acquiring a controlling 51% stake in Kuro Games, the developer behind the popular action RPG, Wuthering Waves. This follows earlier rumors circulating in March, with Tencent purchasing a 37% share from Hero Entertainment, becoming the sole external shareholder.
While Tencent now holds majority ownership, Kuro Games has reassured its employees, via internal memo, that its independent operations will remain unchanged. This mirrors Tencent's strategy with other studios like Riot Games and Supercell, prioritizing developer autonomy and creative control.
This acquisition isn't unexpected, given Tencent's extensive portfolio of gaming investments, including significant stakes in Ubisoft, Activision Blizzard, and FromSoftware. The addition of Kuro Games significantly strengthens Tencent's presence in the action RPG market.
Wuthering Waves itself is experiencing a period of significant growth. Version 1.4 recently launched, introducing the Somnoire: Illusive Realms mode, two new characters, weapons, and upgrades. Players can also utilize available in-game codes for additional rewards.
The upcoming Version 2.0 update promises even more, including the introduction of Rinascita, a new explorable nation, along with new characters Carlotta and Roccia. Crucially, Version 2.0 will also mark Wuthering Waves' debut on PlayStation 5, bringing the game to all major platforms.
Tencent's investment provides Kuro Games with enhanced long-term stability, promising a bright future for Wuthering Waves and future projects.