In a significant development in the gaming industry, Chinese tech giant Tencent has acquired a majority stake in Kuro Games, the studio behind popular titles such as Wuthering Waves and Punishing: Gray Raven. This move marks a new chapter for both companies, and here’s what it entails.

Tencent Takes 37% Stake In Kuro Games

Tencent has recently bolstered its investment in Kuro Games by purchasing an additional 37% of the company's shares. This acquisition brings Tencent's total ownership to 51.4%, securing a controlling interest. With this shift, Tencent emerges as the sole external shareholder of Kuro Games, following the exit of two other shareholders. The tech conglomerate initially invested in Kuro Games in 2023, and its influence has since grown substantially.

Despite this significant stake, a Kuro Games insider, as reported by Chinese news outlet Youxi Putao, assures that the studio will maintain its independence. This operational model mirrors Tencent's approach with other investments, such as Riot Games (developers of League of Legends and Valorant) and Supercell (behind Clash of Clans and Brawl Stars). Kuro Games stated that this change will foster a "more stable external environment" and bolster its strategy for long-term independence. As of now, Tencent has not issued an official statement on the acquisition.

Kuro Games, a leading Chinese game developer, is renowned for its action RPG Punishing: Gray Raven and the newly released open-world adventure RPG Wuthering Waves. Both games have been commercially successful, each generating over $120 million USD in revenue, and continue to receive regular updates. Notably, Wuthering Waves has been nominated for Players’ Voice at the upcoming The Game Awards, highlighting its acclaim within the gaming community.