Virtuos acquires Black Shamrock
Chinese outsourcing firm picks up Dublin-based core game studio to bolster European presence
Virtuos accelerated its Western expansion today, announcing the acquisition of Dublin-based Black Shamrock Studios.
"We are delighted to welcome the entire team at Black Shamrock Studios into our growing global organization," Virtuos CEO Gilles Langourieux said. "By tapping into English-speaking European talent directly, this will accelerate Virtuos' expansion of our advanced design and content creation capabilities, which our clients are demanding. The studio and its talented team have started to make a name for themselves in creating core gaming experiences that engage audiences."
Founded just last year, Black Shamrock specializes in strategy and RPG titles for core gamers, and is currently working with Paris-based Cyanide (which also backed the studio) on Werewolf: The Apocalypse. Despite the acquisition, Black Shamrock "will continue to operate as an independent studio" and will retain its previous focus. The studio is anticipating staffing up to a team of 50 by year's end, with a headcount of 100 by the end of 2018.