Improbable, known for its metaverse technological innovations, announced the sale of its gaming division, The Multiplayer Group (MPG), to Keywords Studios for £76.5 million ($97.1 million). This move strengthens Keywords Studios’ ‘Create’ division by incorporating MPG’s extensive expertise in multiplayer game development. MPG has worked with prominent game studios and publishers including Activision Blizzard, Bethesda, Epic, and 2K.
Growth and Leadership
Born in 2018, MPG has experienced significant growth, expanding to over 360 employees worldwide. Following the acquisition, the leadership team consisting of Andy Norman, Rocco Loscalzo, Vaughan O’Brien and Roger Cheung will continue to lead MPG. Their guidance should prove critical to achieving the growth targets envisioned over the next two years under the Executive Incentive Plan.
Bertrand Bodson, CEO of Keywords Studios, said: “We are very excited to have the MPG team join Keywords. MPG is a company we have long admired for their high-quality work, blue-chip customer base, deep experience in AAA multiplayer game development, and use of technology and data analytics. “This acquisition is an important step in our strategy to strengthen our platform and expand our services in the area of large-scale professional multiplayer game development, which is seeing increasing demand, especially in the live services space.”
As Keywords Studios expands its reach, Improbable refocuses its focus on the thriving area of metaverse development. The company plans to expand its experimental Metaverse events to expand its current capacity.
Digital Revolution: Metaverse and Web3
In its latest annual report, Improbable highlights the current relevance of the metaverse and Web3 technologies. The company predicts a change in gaming that will gradually blur the boundaries between physical and digital reality.
“The Metaverse is poised for growth in 2024, driven by the convergence of gaming, VR/XR and web3 technologies,” said Herman Narula, co-founder and CEO of Improbable. Headsets like Apple’s Vision Pro and the success of Meta Quest 3 will further fuel demand for immersive Metaverse experiences. Gaming companies will integrate metaversional elements into their products, creating new brand activation opportunities. “The consolidation of the gaming and web3 sectors will lead to a stronger, more innovative and resilient startup ecosystem, with companies pooling resources and expertise to develop groundbreaking metaverse applications.”
Development of the Web3 ecosystem will begin soon, providing a level of maturity and stability not seen in previous phases. Asia is expected to emerge as a significant player shaping the future across the digital frontier. It is expected to serve as a hub for online communities, digital asset economies and digital events, demonstrating key characteristics of the rapidly evolving technological landscape.