Embracer Group blamed for Borderlands downfall, but is it really their fault? Nah, blame lies with Gearbox and 2K. Embracer just wanted their money's worth after buying Gearbox. Gearbox's missteps with Borderlands 3 and Wonderlands are on them. Don't blame the devil, blame the game. 😉 #TruthHurts 💥
Key Takeaways
Table of Contents
- Take-Two Interactive parent company of 2K Studios and owner of the Grand Theft Auto series has consolidated all their holdings under one umbrella.
- Embracer Group is not the devil, and layoffs are standard operating procedures when it comes to business.
- Embracer Group bought Gearbox in 2021, well after the initial life cycle of Borderlands 3.
- Gearbox and 2K Studios have been the common denominators in the entire situation for the last 15 years.
- The news is not the worst for Borderlands fans, but business as usual for both Gearbox and 2K usually means bad news for them.
🤔 Is the Embracer Group Responsible for Borderlands’ Downfall?
Yesterday, Gearbox announced the news that they finalized terms that would see Take-Two Interactive parent company of 2K Studios and owner of the Grand Theft Auto series finally be able to unite their minority ownership in the Borderlands franchise and consolidate all their Holdings underneath one umbrella.
📊 The Embracer Group is Not the Devil
Throughout the community, there have been many different takes and opinions on the news. However, one of the most common threads is the misconception that the Embracer Group is the devil. This is not true. In fact, in the first 24 hours of ownership, Take-Two Interactive has laid off Gearbox's public relations team as well as countless others. This is standard operating procedures when it comes to business, and many companies are trimming the bloat that they were forced to acquire during 2020's lockdown in order to get business done in a timely fashion.
🎮 Embracer Group Bought Gearbox in 2021
Was the Embracer Group's ownership of Gearbox the last three years really that detrimental to the Borderlands franchise? Well, the Embracer Group bought Gearbox in 2021, well after the initial life cycle of Borderlands 3. Therefore, we cannot blame the Embracer Group for Gearbox's mishandling of Borderlands 3 at launch. Additionally, we cannot blame the Embracer Group for hiring Sweet Baby Inks consultation company to girl boss all over the Borderlands 3 storyline.
🤔 Who Is Responsible for Wonderlands?
We also cannot blame the Embracer Group for Wonderlands, which was released less than a year after the Embracer Group bought Gearbox and was already currently in development during Borderlands 3's lifespan. However, it's because they were working on Wonderlands when they came out with DLC 4 and Borderlands 3. Finally, we cannot blame the Embracer Group for Gearbox abandoning Wonderlands post-launch content after 6 months, as this was a decision made by Gearbox and 2K Studios.
🤝 The Common Denominators
The Embracer Group was just a vehicle that Gearbox could have used as a vehicle to cash out $1.3 billion if they hit every performance incentive that the Embracer Group stipulated in their contract. Instead, Gearbox decided to take $150 million of the $400 million they received from the Embracer Group up front to fund the god-awful looking Borderlands live-action movie all while cheaping out on development costs and time for Wonderlands. It's no wonder the Embracer Group was looking to recoup their money from their purchase of Gearbox.
💡 Key Takeaways
In conclusion, the news is not the worst for Borderlands fans, but business as usual for both Gearbox and 2K usually means bad news for them. The Embracer Group is not the devil, and layoffs are standard operating procedures when it comes to business. Gearbox and 2K
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