Mobile gaming giant Tencent has recently announced its acquisition of Visual Arts, a Japanese visual novel developer and publisher, along with several multimedia projects.
The move comes as Visual Arts CEO Takahro Baba retires from his role. Baba expressed his desire to continue running the company but acknowledged his age and the uncertainties that come with it. To ensure the preservation of the company and its works, Baba transferred his shares to Tencent. Genki Tenkumo, a longtime producer, director, and scenario writer, will take over as the new CEO, while Baba will continue to provide advisory support.
A Series of Acquisitions
Tencent has been actively expanding its portfolio through acquisitions. Prior to this announcement, the company acquired Techland, the developer of Dying Light, and also took ownership of Lucid Games, the creator of Destruction All-Stars, during the month of July. These acquisitions demonstrate Tencent’s expansion beyond its traditional mobile focus, capitalizing on multiple revenue streams.
Visual Arts has previously developed games for mobile devices, including the recent release of Heaven Burns Red in 2022. With Tencent’s acquisition, the company may increase its focus on developing more titles for phones.
In our list of the top 50 mobile game makers of 2022, Tencent was included. Stay tuned for our upcoming list for 2023 in the following months.