RuneScape’s Jagex confirms it’s being sold for the fourth time in eight years as it talks up ‘forever games’

February 9, 2024 11:30 AM

Rumors from earlier this week that suggested RuneScape company Jagex was once again for sale have now been proven correct, thanks to a formal press release from the parties involved. Luxembourg-based private equity firm CVC Capital Partners, Austin-based private equity firm Haveli Investments, and UK-stationed Jagex have indeed announced that CVC has “agreed to acquire” Jagex from its current owner, Carlyle. While the terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, earlier reports pegged the deal at £900m, roughly $1.13B US.

“CVC Capital Partners will support Jagex by leveraging its expertise and resources to assist the company’s continued subscriber and revenue growth, alongside its community driven philosophy as it looks to build upon the success of RuneScape and Old School RuneScape and create more forever games under the Jagex brand,” the PR declares.

Jagex CEO Phil Mansell uses his quote to praise both the buyers and sellers in the deal, suggesting that CVC will “help Jagex build on [its] portfolio of forever games, furthering [its] aims of supporting and growing [its] community of forever fans.”

As we’ve noted, Jagex, which operates the RuneScape franchise as well as owns several more like SCUM through its subsidiaries, has changed hands at least four times in the last eight years, more than tripling in value during that time, though according to Sky News’ reporting earlier this week, other interested buyers this round “expressed uncertainty about the company’s business plan and development pipeline, denting hopes of it achieving a reported £1bn valuation.” The sales have generated more than their fair share of drama as well, touching on everything from a RICO lawsuit to a bribery-related death sentence for one executive in China.