Two MMO forces are now bound together in will and purpose — or at least in stocks and finances.
Tencent, the world’s biggest games publisher by revenue, recently purchased 9% of Frontier Development’s stock in a transaction that topped $23 million. The Elite: Dangerous developer said that the sale of the 3.37 million shares will be used to invest in growth and increase its cash reserves.
So what’s Tencent’s next move in world domination? The Chinese company is heavily revising its popular mobile MOBA, Honour of Kings, in order to appeal more to western sensibilities and giving it a new name, currently Arena of Valor. Additionally, the company has signed a deal with DC Comics to bring in (why not) Batman and the Joker as playable characters.
The MOBA has drawn the ire of the Chinese government, but even so, it’s amassed 55 million daily players and looks poised for global success.
