Embracer’s potential sale cancelled for Metro’s 4A Games and Pinball dev Zen Studios

Embracer has announced the proposed sales of Metro developer 4A Games and Pinball developer Zen Studios have been cancelled.

The pair of studios had been included as an option in the $247 million sale of the Saber Interactive division to a group of private investors. However, on Friday Embracer confirmed that the deal had now been settled and the option to include 4A and Zen in the deal cancelled.

The developers will now remain at Embracer. 4A has two ‘AAA’ titles in development, according to Embracer.

“We are satisfied with the conclusion of this transaction and very glad to see the great teams and assets of 4A Games and Zen Studios remain within Embracer,” commented Embracer CEO Lars Wingefors.

“They will be important building blocks in our continued journey. 4A Games has currently two AAA titles under development that we eagerly await to announce.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank [Saber founder] Matthew Karch for his contributions over the years, and at the same time congratulate the Saber team on the successful release of the iconic Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, that will make a great start in their new structure.”

After several years of rapid expansion through mergers and acquisitions, the Embracer Group announced last May that a $2 billion deal had collapsed at the last minute, leading it to embark on a restructuring programme that would involve the closure of studios and the cancellation of multiple projects.

Now completed, this restructuring resulted in almost 1,400 job cuts, and the cancellation of 29 unannounced games during a six-month period in 2023.

As part of its restructuring, Embracer closed Saints Row developer Volition, Campfire Cabal, and TimeSplitters studio Free Radical Design, while the likes of Borderlands maker Gearbox and Saber Interactive were sold.