Square Enix invests in cloud gaming platform Blacknut

gamedeveloper.com:

Square Enix has invested an undisclosed amount into cloud gaming provider Blacknut.

Blacknut was founded in 2016 and operates a cloud gaming service that offers a catalog of over 500 titles as part of a monthly subscription.

The company describes its platform as a "click-to-play experience" that works across "all internet-connected screens" including computers, mobile devices, smart TVs, and set-top boxes.

Blacknut explained the cash will help support ongoing research and development to "cement" its technological lead, accelerate the market reach of its B2B solution, and add more games to its portfolio.

Square Enix's director of business development Hideaki Uehara believes the deal will help the Japanese company "stay on top of new developments" in the cloud gaming space, while also expediting the publisher's further growth.

The news comes shortly after Square Enix sold key studios and franchises, including Deus Ex and Tomb Raider, to Embracer for $300 million. 

The company said the funds from that sale would be used to further invest in fields including cloud gaming and blockchain projects -- though it later backtracked on the latter remark -- and has very quickly made good on that pledge.