Black Forest Games, the studio behind the Destroy All Humans! remakes, is returning to independent ownership following a management buyout that brings its nearly decade-long relationship with THQ Nordic to an end.
The German developer, which was acquired by THQ Nordic in August 2017, will now pursue a different business direction under its management while continuing to collaborate with its former parent company on game development projects.
The transition also sees Black Forest Games become a founding member and co-owner of Third Signal, a newly established independent group of game studios focused on developing premium games for PC and consoles. The group aims to give experienced development teams greater independence, resources, and creative freedom while allowing them to maintain their own creative identities.
“Some of the best games of the last decade came from teams of fifty, not five hundred,” said Third Signal founder and CEO Andreas Tobler. “Black Forest Games is one of them, and the right studio to launch Third Signal.”
Black Forest Games co-founder and CEO Adrian Goersch also expressed appreciation for the studio’s time under THQ Nordic and Embracer Group, while looking ahead to its next chapter.
“We are grateful to THQ Nordic and Embracer for nine good years and the games we made together. Now, we’re excited to shape our own future as owners again, to work on an exciting new project with a great team and strong partners behind us,” Goersch said.
Although the change in ownership marks a significant shift for the developer, the continued collaboration between Black Forest Games and THQ Nordic means the separation does not necessarily signal an end to their working relationship.
Founded in 2012 and based in Offenburg, Germany, Black Forest Games is best known for Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams, Rogue Stormers, Fade to Silence, and its remakes of Destroy All Humans! and Destroy All Humans! 2. Its return to independent ownership now opens a new chapter for the studio as it joins the emerging Third Signal group.