Torchlight Developer Echtra Games Acquired by Zynga

Torchlight Developer Echtra Games Has Been Acquired by Zynga — And It's Working On a New Cross-Platform RPG


Published: March 3, 2021 8:00 AM /

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Zynga Echtra Games cover

Social gaming company Zynga (FarmvilleWords With Friends) has acquired Torchlight developer Echtra Games — and a new cross-platform RPG is already in the works.

Echtra Games was founded roughly five years ago to serve as the developer of Torchlight 3, a game that originally was aiming for an MMORPG experience as Torchlight Frontiers before shifting to a more traditional model fitting the franchise's predecessors. It has a new cross-platform project in the works — but now, it's going to be making it under the umbrella of Zynga.

As for Zynga, it got a serious boost in popularity in its early days thanks to the success of Farmville and other games on Facebook. It certainly hasn't rested on its laurels, though — it's been gradually expanding into other platforms and its acquisition of Echtra Games is a big part of that strategy.

Zynga Echtra Games slice

Why Did Zynga Acquire Echtra Games?

First and foremost, Zynga acquired Echtra Games to add a talented team of developers to its roster. Having a man like Max Schaefer on your team is certainly worth it, especially since he contributed to the massive success of the Diablo franchise in his time at Blizzard Entertainment.

That's not the only reason, though. Zynga has been focusing on making more cross-platform games. Echtra Games will be making a new cross-platform RPG and that fits in neatly with Zynga's business strategy going forward.

"We share Zynga’s vision that cross-platform play is an essential part of the future of RPGs and interactive entertainment and are eager to apply our vast experience and talents to this effort." – Max Schaefer, CEO of Echtra Games

What is this mystery game? We know nothing about it other than it's going to be an RPG made by Echtra Games, so I imagine it will probably be a game in the style of Diablo and Torchlight. Then again, the Torchlight developer might throw us for a loop with something entirely different,

Finally, Zynga is picking up a bit of technology as part of the deal according to a press release. Echtra Games' cross-platform development tools and technologies are coming along for the ride, making it even easier for Zynga to focus on its future strategy of cross-platform releases.

We can't say for sure what Echtra Games' next project will look like or when it will launch. For now, you can buy its latest release Torchlight 3 on PC and consoles starting at $39.99 or your regional equivalent — there's a fair amount of new content on the way, so now's as good a time as any to dive in!

What do you think about Zynga acquiring Torchlight 3 developer Echtra Games? What do you think this developer's next game will look like? Let us know in the comments below!

Have a tip, or want to point out something we missed? Leave a Comment or e-mail us at tips@techraptor.net


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More Info About This Game
Learn more about Torchlight III
Game Page Torchlight III
Developer
Echtra Games
Platforms
PC