14 DAY TRIAL // Sony Online Entertainment, the division of the hardware and software giant Sony that was focused on multiplayer titles on the PC and consoles, announces that it has been acquired by an investment company called Columbus Nova and is now called Daybreak Game Company.
As of this moment, the company is entirely independent and will continue to work on its portfolio of existing games, none of which is any longer associated with Sony.
This means that for now Planetside 2, DC Universe Online, EverQuest and H1Z1 are not affected in any way by the change of name and ownership, although effects might be felt in the long term.
The official announcement explains that the new change was necessary and that Daybreak Game Company “embodies who we are as an organization, and is a nod to the passion and dedication of our employees and players. It is also representative of our vision to approach each new day as an opportunity to move gaming forward.”
The firm claims that the move to Columbus Nova means that it has more resources available that can be used to expand already existing game universes and that it will also be able to work on platforms that were until now off-limits.
Multiplatform can create more revenue and attract more players
SOE has traditionally only launched its titles on the PlayStation 4, the PS3, and the PC.
The move means that it can also deliver them on the Xbox One and the Xbox 360, but for the time being there are no clear plans to move Planetside 2 to the Microsoft devices.
At the moment, Daybreak Game Company is working on both EverQuest Next and on its companion Landmark, but it is unclear whether major changes will be implemented to them in order to make them better multiplatform experiences.
The official forums of the company are currently debating the announcement, with most players being cautiously optimistic about the effect it will have on the video games the former Sony Online Entertainment team is working on.
The main Sony console business will also be affected but it is highly unlikely that a drop in sales for the PlayStation 4 will follow.
The company might have plans to spin off and sell other gaming-related assets in the future, but given the secrecy that surrounded the Daybreak Game Company transaction, it’s unlikely that an announcement will be made until they are completed.
