Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier recently reported that Saber Interactive will leave Embracer Group and go private under an investor group paying $500 million. However, it may not be the only company taking the same route.
Replying to a tweet about Borderlands developer Gearbox being next, Schreier responded, “Stay tuned.” Reports emerged in September 2023 about Embracer potentially selling the company after $2 billion deal that fell through, leading to mass layoffs and studio closures. An internal email from Gearbox’s chief communications officer, Dan Hewitt, followed shortly after, mentioning the possibility of the company going independent.
Interestingly, Schreier reveals that Volition of Saints Row fame was given the same opportunity, but the deal “fell through.” The developer is one of the more high-profile shutdowns by Embracer, though several former employees have since reformed as Shapeshifter Games.
As for Gearbox potentially going private, the company hasn’t officially discussed the same, so stay tuned for further developments, possibly soon.