“The Chinese player base is the holy grail”: Tencent buys 15.75% stake in Helldivers 2 dev Arrowhead as huge profit numbers emerge

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According to a recent report by Swedish news outlet Dagens Industri (DI), it’s been disclosed that Tencent, a significant Chinese multimedia conglomerate with substantial investments in the gaming sector, has purchased a small portion of shares in Helldivers 2 developer Arrowhead Game Studios.

The report indicates that a large company purchased about 15.75% of a Stockholm-based studio’s shares in July 2024 for nearly $83 million. This acquisition values Arrowhead, in its entirety, at approximately SEK 5.1 billion, or around $532 million. Interestingly, the remaining shares of this developer are owned by its original management team.

In addition to this, it was uncovered that by 2024, Arrowhead had amassed SEK 959 million ($100 million) in earnings, with an operating profit of SEK 729 million ($76 million). The release of Helldivers 2 was nothing short of triumphant; the $40 cooperative multiplayer shooter managed to sell a staggering 12 million copies within three months. This game not only set a record as the fastest-selling title under PlayStation Studios but has also continued to thrive on Windows PC and PS5, more than a year after its release.

In a recent discussion, Johan Pilestedt – Arrowhead’s creative head, co-founder, and ex-CEO – shared insights on Tencent’s minority purchase. According to him, this investment is intended to boost Arrowhead’s performance in the competitive Chinese gaming market.

He stated that securing entry into the vast Chinese gaming market is like finding the elusive key to success, as it offers us tremendous financial power.

As an analyst, I find myself in a state of uncertainty regarding Tencent’s role in Arrowhead Studios and their upcoming games. However, it was clarified on the Helldivers Discord server that their next game will not be published by PlayStation, and they are self-funding it entirely. This means they hold complete control over the project’s decisions.

It’s noteworthy to mention that Helldivers 2 has garnered a massive and dedicated Chinese player base. These players played a crucial role in defending Equality-on-Sea, a city within the game’s fictional China depiction, against the Illuminate during the Battle for Super Earth. Earlier this week, an official social media account of China’s U.S embassy shared about this event.

Last year’s announcement that Tencent had made a purchase is approximately two months after the reported collaboration between Ubisoft and Tencent became official, with the French publisher selling a 25% share to Tencent and establishing a new division for its Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six series. This strategic move was largely perceived as part of Ubisoft’s attempts to bounce back from a string of lackluster releases in recent times.

What’s next for Arrowhead?

I must admit, I was taken aback that the collaboration between Tencent and Arrowhead slipped past my radar for nearly a year, but it’s clear now that this partnership could prove incredibly beneficial for Arrowhead as they chart their course ahead. It’s hard to argue with Pilestedt’s observations about the potential in the Chinese market, especially after witnessing Black Myth: Wukong skyrocket to such incredible heights of success.

Of course, my curiosity keeps poking me about the future ventures of Arrowhead. While Helldivers 2 continues to thrive with regular live-service updates, I don’t foresee this changing anytime soon. Yet, it’s evident that they’re also cooking up something new. Whatever it may be, count me in; Helldivers 2 is among my all-time favorite cooperative games, so I’m eager to join them on their next journey.

Helldivers 2 proudly takes its place among the top-tier options for both PC and PS5 gaming, particularly appealing to fans of cooperative shooters, high-octane sci-fi action, wacky physics, and humorous satire. Normally priced at around $40, it’s worth keeping an eye out for deals to save some money. Currently, the best deal is available at CDKeys, where you can grab this explosive game for approximately $28, thanks to a discount that knocks off almost $12 from the original price.

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2025-06-06 21:39