Tencent, the Chinese tech giant, has reportedly become the majority shareholder in Kuro Games, the studio behind the popular games Wuthering Waves and Punishing: Gray Raven. Let's explore the implications of this acquisition.
Tencent's Increased Stake in Kuro Games
Tencent's share in Kuro Games has risen to approximately 37%, giving them a controlling 51.4% stake overall. This follows the departure of two other shareholders, making Tencent the sole external investor. This significant increase builds upon Tencent's initial investment in Kuro Games in 2023.
Maintaining Independence
According to sources cited by the Chinese news outlet Youxi Putao, Kuro Games will retain its operational independence. This mirrors Tencent's approach with other successful studios like Riot Games (developers of League of Legends and Valorant) and Supercell (Clash of Clans and Brawl Stars). Kuro Games' official statement emphasizes that this acquisition will foster a "more stable external environment" and support its long-term independent strategy. Tencent has yet to publicly comment.
Kuro Games' Success
Kuro Games is a prominent Chinese game developer. Their action RPG, Punishing: Gray Raven, and their recent open-world adventure RPG, Wuthering Waves, have both achieved considerable success, each generating over $120 million USD in revenue. Both games continue to receive regular updates, and Wuthering Waves has even earned a Players' Voice nomination at The Game Awards.
