Warframe dev will remain indie after Tencent buyout: no changes coming

Tencent now owns Warframe developer Digital Extremes, but fear not: The devs will remain independent and community-driven.

Published
Updated
1 minute & 38 seconds read time

Tencent now owns Leyou Technologies and all of its associated subsidiaries, which means Tencent also owns Warframe devs Digital Extremes. Luckily nothing is changing for the developer.

Warframe dev will remain indie after Tencent buyout: no changes coming 23

Chinese juggernaut Tencent just made a big purchase that includes Halo dev Splash Damage and Warframe developer Digital Extremes. So what does this mean for the future of Warframe? According to the developers at Digital Extremes, nothing will change under Tencent's rule.

The studio will remain 100% independent and Tencent won't jump in and influence new content creation, upcoming updates, or future optimizations on PC/PS5/Xbox Series X.

"Yes, we will continue to create great content for Warframe and we will remain creatively independent. Warframe's direction will remain in the hands of its development team, which is 100% dedicated to its community," the studio said in a recent update.

"Our focus will remain on listening to you, our community, upgrading Warframe based on your feedback, and developing the kind of great stories, gameplay, and incredible new space ninja action you've come to expect from us. Tencent is well known for respecting the creative decisions and integrity of its studios, and for giving them the autonomy and independence to experiment, innovate and thrive."

Tencent's involvement with Leyou seems to mirror its other studios, which focuses on arming developers with resources to create monetized online games that deliver revenue over time. The Warframe acquisition was smart and solidifies Tencent's grasp on a particular F2P market set in the somewhat-niche third-person shooter genre.

Tencent also took this approach with Grinding Gear Games when it purchased an 80% majority in the studio in 2018. GGG remains independent and has full creative freedom over the Path of Exile franchise.

Right now DE will focus on:

  • New next-gen console optimization patches
  • The New War updates
  • Epic space battles
  • Big surprises for 2021 (possibly a new expansion?)
NEWS SOURCE:digitalextremes.com

Derek joined the TweakTown team in 2015 and has since reviewed and played 1000s of hours of new games. Derek is absorbed with the intersection of technology and gaming, and is always looking forward to new advancements. With over six years in games journalism under his belt, Derek aims to further engage the gaming sector while taking a peek under the tech that powers it. He hopes to one day explore the stars in No Man's Sky with the magic of VR.

Newsletter Subscription

Related Tags