Devolver Digital Acquires Astroneer Developer System Era In A $40 Million Deal

November 2, 2023 Marc Marasigan Comments

Austin-based video game publisher Devolver Digital has acquired Astroneer developer System Era Softworks in a $40 million deal. System Era will continue to work independently on the multiplayer sci-fi sandbox and its other unannounced game, but will now do so as part of the Devolver family which includes Serious Sam developer Croteam.

“This partnership, working in-house with Devolver, lets us focus on what we love, the way we love to do it,” System Era said in its official press release. “We don’t shed independence lightly. But with Devolver, we don’t think System Era is losing independence, we think it’s finding a home among a like-minded confederation of talented people, under a banner that is synonymous with the indie ethos and we can’t wait to continue our journey, together.”

“Today, after almost a decade of mutual admiration and friendship, Devolver Digital and System Era declare their undying love for one another in the only way they know how: by turning down the lights, turning up the heat, and forming a strategic business relationship,” Devolver announced.

In line with the acquisition, Devolver Digital will be paying System Era half of the $40 million in cash once the deal is closed and $2 million in cash and shares on the first anniversary of the acquisition. The Astroneer developer will also receive $10 million as deferred payment and up to $8 million in potential earn out, both of which will also be payable in cash and shares.

Both parties had apparently tried to ink a publishing deal for Astroneer nearly a decade ago that ultimately fell through, but it looks like it all worked out in the end.