Zynga has gobbled up Echtra Games, the developer of Torchlight 3 (Via Rock Paper Shotgun). The studio was begun by Blizzard North co-founder and Diablo series co-maker Max Schaefer after he left his past spell at Runic Games in 2016.
Runic, which Schaefer co-founded also, had chipped away at the initial two Torchlight games, just as the criminally underestimated Hob. What’s more, it’s his contribution in Echtra Games that drew Zynga, which is most popular for games like FarmVille, to the studio.
“Max and his team at Echtra Games are responsible for some of the most legendary game properties ever created, and they are experts in the action RPG genre and cross-platform development,” Zynga CEO Frank Gibeau said. “This acquisition will be instrumental in growing our iconic licenses and brands from mobile to PCs and consoles.”
Zynga didn’t reveal the details of the deal, however it shared its plan for Echtra. The designer will work with NaturalMotion, another of its first-party studios, on another cross-stage RPG. It’s a strange match, certainly, yet Schaefer said his group is eager to apply its gifts to Zynga’s vision.
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