Sony acquires mobile developer Savage Game Studios

Sony has acquired mobile game developer Savage Game Studios in its foray into mobile development. This acquisition is joined by the creation of the PlayStation Studios Mobile Division, focusing on developing new mobile game experiences using new and existing PlayStation properties.

The acquisition of Savage Game Studios was announced on the PlayStation Blog. The development studio, based in Berlin and Helsinki, is comprised of several veteran developers from other mobile game companies, such as Rovio, Next Games and Wargaming, but has not yet released any games of its own. According to the announcement, Savage Game Studios is working on “a new unannounced AAA mobile live service action game” for its new parent company.

Sony’s acquisition of Savage Game Studios is part of the company’s wider push to expand beyond console development. This has been seen with the many high quality PC ports of its acclaimed console exclusives, such as Marvel’s Spider-Man and God of War. Considering how massive companies such as Activision Blizzard are now making a majority of their revenue from the highly lucrative mobile games industry, it is hardly surprising that Sony would want a piece of that action.

There is certainly a lot of potential for some great mobile games to be made using Sony’s resources and properties. Savage Game Studios CEO Michail Katkoff cites “the ability to potentially tap into PlayStation’s amazing catalog of IP and the fact that we will benefit from the kind of support that only they can provide” as one of the benefits of the acquisition on its end. Sony has dipped its toes into mobile development before on a few occasions, such as the mobile runner game Run Sackboy! Run! released around the launch of Little Big Planet 3.

Otherwise, the formation of PlayStation Studios Mobile Division represents a big step in a new direction. As such, this is probably not the last time that Sony will acquire a mobile developer to assist in these efforts. Regarding whether Sony will end up with a Pokémon GO or Diablo Immortal-sized hit on its hands, only time will tell.