Tencent invests in Spec Ops: The Line studio Yager

Spec Ops: The Line studio Yager has received investment from Tencent, it announced on Monday.

The Chinese tech giant has become a minority shareholder in the Berlin-based game development studio, which remains fully independent under its existing corporate structure and leadership.

The investment will be used to bolster Yager’s development and publishing efforts for current free-to-play multiplayer game The Cycle and future projects.

“Tencent is not only the world’s leading games company but also a prolific investor with a stellar track record: We’re humbled to join the line-up of Tencent partners which reads like a games industry Who’s Who,” said Yager CEO Timo Ullmann.

“We’re confident that this will greatly enhance the scope of our business, not just by getting access to Tencent’s network and resources but by tapping the vast industry know-how Tencent possesses.”

Tencent’s globalisation strategy has been led by investments in and partnerships with video game companies.

As well as owning League of Legends maker Riot Games, it has a 40% stake in Epic Games and holds shares in Activision Blizzard, Ubisoft and PUBG Corporation parent company Bluehole, among others.

In November 2019 it acquired a 10% stake in Sumo Group, the parent company of Team Sonic Racing studio Sumo Digital, while Bayonetta developer PlatinumGames said in January that it had received investment from Tencent which will see it remain independent while allowing it to explore self-publishing.