Despite The MMO Being Dead In The West, Tencent Now Controls Swords Of Legends Online's Developer

Tencent has acquired yet another game studio as they now own 94% of Chinese developer Wangyuan Shengtang, the developer of MMORPG Swords of Legends Online. Tencent already owned a 20% stake in the developer. Add to that the 43% ownership of the studio by the recently Tencent acquired Dongtai Yunpen Culture Co. and the 31% ownership of the studio by Guangxi Tencent Venture Capital, and you come up with the 94% stake Tencent now has in the Swords of Legends developer.

As reported on by SCMP (via GamesIndustry.biz) Wangyuan founder Meng Xianming is staying on as chief developer as Tencent has reportedly given the studio free rein to continue developing its games. Tencent and Wangyuan were already working together on a new RPG titled Ash Echoes. While the Swords of Legends MMO didn't fair well with western audiences, the game (known as Gujian in China) remains very popular with the Chinese audience. The MMO has seen over six million units sold and even has a TV show based on it.

Going forward, Tencent will have access to all Wangyuan IPs, development resources, and marketing distribution channels, although it seems like they will allow the studio to continue forward with business as usual, for the moment at least.