Time for another million-dollar acquisition in the gaming world.
The online gambling company Playtech has acquired YoYo Games, which makes the GameMaker: Studio cross-platform developer tool, for $16.4 million, according to Gamasutra. Playtech told Gamasutra that the purchase it to help the company enter the casual gaming space. The GameMaker: Studio engine helped make popular independent games like Hotline Miami and Spelunky.
Many gamers, like those on the forums at NeoGaf, feared that this would be bad for the popular developer platform. Former YoYo chief executive officer calmed fears on Twitter that this acquisition would negatively affect GameMaker:
Thx to everyone for kind wishes on the sale of @yoyogames For those of you who are concerned, don’t be. This is all GOOD. #watchthisspace
— Sandy Duncan (@lordoftheyoyo) February 16, 2015
Duncan also noted on Twitter that while he is no longer CEO, is still “very much involved.”
YoYo Games started in 2007 after acquiring the rights to GameMaker from a professor, Mark Overmars. It focuses on easy, inexpensive tools for independent and novice developers. Last October, YoYo Games also debuted GameMaker: Player, a service that enabled GameMaker: Studio developers to easily share their games. The YoYo Games Twitter account mentioned today that paid content is coming to GameMaker: Player.
We’re launching paid content for GameMaker: Player soon, be sure to sign up as a developer if you haven’t already! https://t.co/4pyJNdCVpZ
— YoYo Games (@YoYoGames) February 17, 2015
If nothing else, this confirms that GameMaker is continuing to operate.