Jagex Parent Company Sells Developer To U.S. Macarthur Fortune Holding, Development To Proceed In U.K. Studio

For avid video game players that came up during the age of dial-up internet, you surely remember the rise of RuneScape at the time. And despite the internet adopting fiber optic internet and download speeds that towers of those of the era before, the classic Jagex series is still a very popular game. Just this past January, it was reported that 2019 marked a monumental year for the entirety of the two decade old franchise.

When speaking with gamesindustry.biz, standing Chief Executive Officer Phil Mansell reveals that more than a million players have subscribed to Jagex’s advertised service divided between Old School RunsScape & RuneScape 3.Now further into 2020, a new report shares that Jagex is under new ownership.

Previous owner Hongtou Network Technology based in Shanghai has reportedly sold the Cambridge team for $530 million, gamesindustry.biz reports. The Chinese company is said to have sold Jagex to American firm Macarthur Fortune Holdings. With the new acquisition, the American marketing company shares to invest in development, marketing, and research in efforts to continue expansion of the current RuneScape player base.

Additionally, the report also discloses that Macarthur Fortune Holdings had also purchased former Jagex owner Hongtou Network Technologies with the same reservoir to acquire the studio; the Platinum Fortune. As of writing, the amount for purchasing the Chinese firm has yet to be revealed.

The purchase of Jagex might draw concerns as for the future of development for RuneScape, but gamesindustry.biz informs that the team will remain at its studio in Cambridge following the acquisition.

What do you think might result from the recent acquisition?

Source: gamesindustry.biz