Epic Games has acquired Brazilian studio Aquiris, renaming it Epic Games Brasil, and moving its focus to working on Fortnite. Aquiris was well-known for its critically acclaimed arcade racing series, Horizon Chase, which gained popularity on mobile before expanding to PC and consoles with the release of Horizon Chase Turbo in 2018. In early 2022, Epic invested in the studio and signed a publishing deal for multiple games, before acquiring it outright for an undisclosed sum. The move echoes Epic’s purchase of Harmonix in 2021, which saw the studio pivot to creating music experiences for Fortnite.While the acquisition of Aquiris is certainly good news for Epic Games, it does raise questions about the future of smaller independent studios in the industry. As major players like Epic continue to acquire and absorb smaller studios, it can make it more difficult for independent developers to compete and find success.
There is also the concern that studios may be forced to shift their focus away from their own projects and towards working on titles like Fortnite. While this can certainly provide stability and financial security for these studios, it can also limit creativity and diversity in the industry as a whole.
Nevertheless, the acquisition of Aquiris by Epic Games is just the latest example of consolidation in the gaming industry, and it remains to be seen what the long-term effects of this trend will be.
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