Sony Invests Another $1 Billion in Epic Games - News

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Sony Group Corporation in July 2020 invested $250 million in Fortnite and Unreal Engine maker, Epic Games, and in April 2021 invested another $200 million in Epic Games.

Epic Games today announced Sony Group Corporation and KIRKBI, the family-owned holding and investment company behind The LEGO Group, have each invested $1 billion. 

"As a creative entertainment company, we are thrilled to invest in Epic to deepen our relationship in the metaverse field, a space where creators and users share their time.” said Sony Group Corporation President and CEO Kenichiro Yoshida.

"We are also confident that Epic’s expertise, including their powerful game engine, combined with Sony’s technologies, will accelerate our various efforts such as the development of new digital fan experiences in sports and our virtual production initiatives."

KIRKBI CEO added Søren Thorup Sørensen, "Epic Games is known for building playful and creative experiences and empowering creators large and small. A proportion of our investments is focused on trends we believe will impact the future world that we and our children will live in. This investment will accelerate our engagement in the world of digital play, and we are pleased to be investing in Epic Games to support their continued growth journey, with a long-term focus toward the future metaverse."

"As we reimagine the future of entertainment and play we need partners who share our vision. We have found this in our partnership with Sony and KIRKBI," said Epic Games founder and CEO Tim Sweeney. "This investment will accelerate our work to build the metaverse and create spaces where players can have fun with friends, brands can build creative and immersive experiences and creators can build a community and thrive."

Epic Games' post-money equity valuation is now $31.5 billion.

A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel dedicated to gaming Let's Plays and tutorials. You can contact the author at wdangelo@vgchartz.com or on Twitter @TrunksWD.

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DonFerrari (on 11 April 2022)

If Sony keep like that they will own Epic in like 5 decades?

• +4

EspadaGrim DonFerrari (on 12 April 2022)

No because Tencent own 40% and Tim Sweeney owns 50%

• 0

DonFerrari EspadaGrim (on 12 April 2022)

If they buy 1Billion on shares per year from those two, why not?

• 0

2zosteven DonFerrari (on 12 April 2022)

the shares would have to be up for sale!

• +2

DonFerrari 2zosteven (on 13 April 2022)

I know that. I guess you and Spada missed the joke. Why would Sony buy bit by bit for 50 years?

• +1

VAMatt (on 11 April 2022)

That should put them at upper single digit percentage of ownership, correct?

• +4

G2ThaUNiT VAMatt (on 11 April 2022)

I believe so. Tencent owns 40% and Tim has 50% ownership last I checked. I'd prefer if Sony bought Tencent out of their share of the company!

• +10

Dallinor VAMatt (on 12 April 2022)

Estimated at 5.4%. This is an investment from Sony Group, as in an investment for music film media etc. Not purely a gaming investment.

• 0

Azzanation (on 12 April 2022)

Ironic they brought Bungie (Halo Devs) and now investing into Epic (Gears Devs)

• +2

SanAndreasX (on 11 April 2022)

How much of it is still owned by Communist China?

• 0

G2ThaUNiT SanAndreasX (on 11 April 2022)

40% still I believe

• +4

Imaginedvl SanAndreasX (on 11 April 2022)

Why don't just say China? Or you can even use the whole name (People's Republic of China) if you feel poetic? But this is very weird lol Or do you think there is "non-communist" China out there :)?

• -4

Kynes Imaginedvl (on 11 April 2022)

There is a non-communist China, the Republic of China (Taiwan)

• +13

Imaginedvl Kynes (on 11 April 2022)

Yah but no lol.

You are talking about the names here. Taiwan (Republic of China) is different than China (People's Republic of China). But none of those are ever called "communist china" or "non communist China".

Everybody on the planet knows that when you are talking about "China"l; it's not Taiwan and refers to mainland China. Why on earth would you call it "Communist China"...

And in any case; if you want to REALLY differentiate them by name, then the full names are "The People's Republic of China" and "Republic of China", not this non sense communist China... Unless you are salty about one being communist of course, which is probably what is going on here.

• -11

pitzy272 Imaginedvl (on 11 April 2022)

What’s your motivation for arguing this? You sound like you’re defending China. I’m assuming you don’t know the extent of corruption and immoral s$&@ that goes on in China; otherwise, you wouldn’t be getting worked up about him calling them communist China. The US is super corrupt, but China makes us look good.

• +12

Pemalite pitzy272 (on 12 April 2022)

I think people forget that Communist China isn't actually Communist.

And thus I think his criticism stems towards the fact that it's just word-play/political speak to undermine other philosophical, social, political, and economic ideologies that may actually have tangible advantages.

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Imaginedvl pitzy272 (on 12 April 2022)

My motivation is that this can offend someone for no reason; why post that in the first place in gaming news?
Don't get me wrong, I believe too that there is a lot of corruption and it looks also (from our point of view at least) that a lot of shits are going there.
Still, I think that people should refrain from posting that kind of stuff for no reason. And I'm arguing with the semantics anyway, Kynes is trying to tell me that "Communist China" is a thing when it is not.
So in short, I agree with you about corruption :) Just not with starting that kind of discussion/shit here.

• -7

Kynes Imaginedvl (on 12 April 2022)

If you want to know the difference between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China, read about the Chinese Civil War, the Chinese Communist Party, the People's Liberation Army and everything surrounding that tyranny.

• +5

Imaginedvl Kynes (on 13 April 2022)

You should also read my replies properly. Clearly, I know the difference and never said anything was pinky over there. or defended China for that account (actually even stated the opposite). Just pointed out how your "Communist China" comment was out of place in gaming news and not necessary at all. The fact that you even posted that last comment is even worrying me about how far you could understand how things are going there and just not follow the mass of "being" offended by it. Because from one point: "disagreeing on posting a political comment on a game article", you are flagging me as "you do not understand what is going on there and need to read about the tyranny bla bla bla"... This is so typical.

• +1

Chazore SanAndreasX (on 11 April 2022)

Around 46%

• +3

Jumpinbeans (on 12 April 2022)

This time next year Sony will buy Epic games. It fits in perfectly with what they are wanting which are online game services - add Fortnite/Rocket League and now Lego. Not just that but development of the game engines would work well alongside 1st party studios. Only complexity is untangling tencent but tbh the US government will probably sort that out for them.

• -2

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DonFerrari BraLoD (on 13 April 2022)

I don't think that is enough budget to make LoD sequel justice.

• +1