South Korean publisher and developer Smilegate has made a strategic investment in Absurd Ventures, the United States-based media and entertainment company founded by Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser, the company announced.
Through this agreement, Smilegate will have the opportunity to partner with Absurd Ventures on its new intellectual property.
Both companies will leverage each other’s strengths into new business opportunities. Smilegate will benefit from Houser and his team’s narrative, AAA game, and business expertise in the western market, while Absurd Ventures will benefit from Smilegate’s expertise in the Asian market.
Both companies will also benefit from each other’s strengths in areas such as online and live service, considering Smilegate’s success with CROSSFIRE and Houser and his team’s experience overseeing Grand Theft Auto Online. “This collaboration with Smilegate was borne from a mutual respect and a philosophical alignment with founder Kwon, and the great passion he and his team bring to making AAA games,” Absurd Ventures founder Dan Houser said in a press release. “We both want to build interesting worlds and new player experiences.” Smilegate CEO Joonhoo Sung added, “We are thrilled to collaborate with the developers behind globally renowned series that have millions of fans worldwide.
Together with Absurd Ventures, Smilegate aims to deliver games that players across the globe will love. This partnership marks a critical milestone in Smilegate’s journey toward becoming a global IP powerhouse.” Here is an overview of each company, via Smilegate: