Jagex, the developer and publisher of the long-running MMORPG RuneScape, has acquired Pipeworks Studios in its first studio investment.
Pipeworks Studios is an independent game development studio located in Portland, Oregon. The studio was founded in 2009 by former employees of Atari and Midway Games.
Pipeworks Studios has worked on a variety of games for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, including the 2016 remaster of the classic PlayStation 2 game God of War.
The acquisition of Pipeworks Studios will allow Jagex to expand its development capabilities and bring more content to its players.
Jagex, the developer and publisher of the long-running MMORPG RuneScape, has announced that it has acquired US-based studio Pipeworks Studios in its first ever investment in another game development studio.
This move signals a shift in strategy for Jagex, which has up until now focused on developing its own games in-house. The acquisition of Pipeworks will allow Jagex to tap into the studio’s expertise in developing AAA games for console and PC platforms.
Pipeworks has worked on a number of high-profile titles including God of War, Gears of War, and most recently, Star Wars: Battlefront II. The studio has also been working on an unannounced project for Jagex for some time.
“This is an incredibly exciting time for Jagex as we enter into our next phase of growth,” said Jagex CEO Phil Mansell. “The acquisition of Pipeworks accelerates our plans to bring AAA console and PC experiences to our players and further strengthens our position as a leading developer and publisher of live games.”
“Pipeworks has an outstanding reputation in the industry and we are thrilled to be joining forces with such a talented and passionate team,” said Mansell. “We believe there is a great opportunity to combine our strengths to create some truly exceptional gaming experiences.”
Pipeworks CEO, Mark Merrill, added: “We are excited to be joining the Jagex family and to be working with such a passionate and creative team. We share a common vision for the future of gaming and we believe that together we can create something truly special.”
The acquisition is expected to be completed in the next few weeks.
Table of Contents
What is the RuneScape franchise?
The RuneScape franchise is a popular MMORPG with over 250 million players worldwide. Jagex, the game’s developer, has announced that it has acquired Pipeworks Studios, an independent game development studio based in the US.
This is the first time that Jagex has invested in another studio, and the move signals the company’s commitment to expanding the RuneScape franchise. Pipeworks will continue to develop games for a range of platforms, including PC, mobile, and console.
“Pipeworks has a proven track record in developing AAA games and we’re excited to welcome them to the Jagex family,” said Mark Gerhard, CEO of Jagex. “This is a key step in our strategy to grow the RuneScape franchise and create new experiences for our players.”
Pipeworks Studios was founded in 2002 and has worked on a number of high-profile games, including God of War III, Star Wars: The Old Republic, and Defiance. The studio is currently working on an unannounced project for Jagex.
“We’re thrilled to be joining Jagex and working on such an iconic franchise,” said Matt Scott, CEO of Pipeworks Studios. “This is a hugely exciting opportunity for us and we can’t wait to share what we’re working on.”
The RuneScape franchise is one of the most popular MMORPGs in the world with over 250 million players. Jagex, the game’s developer, has announced that it has acquired Pipeworks Studios, an independent game development studio based in the US.
This is the first time that Jagex has invested in another studio, and the move signals the company’s commitment to expanding the RuneScape franchise. Pipeworks will continue to develop games for a range of platforms, including PC, mobile, and console.
“Pipeworks has a proven track record in developing AAA games and we’re excited to welcome them to the Jagex family,” said Mark Gerhard, CEO of Jagex. “This is a key step in our strategy to grow the RuneScape franchise and create new experiences for our players.”
Pipeworks Studios was founded in 2002 and has worked on a number of high-profile games, including God of War III, Star Wars: The Old Republic, and Defiance. The studio is currently working on an unannounced project for Jagex.
“We’re thrilled to be joining Jagex and working on such an iconic franchise,” said Matt Scott, CEO of Pipeworks Studios. “This is a hugely exciting opportunity for us and we can’t wait to share what we’re working on.”
What is Jagex?
Jagex is a British video game developer and publisher based at the St John’s Innovation Centre in Cambridge, England. The company is best known for developing and publishing the massively multiplayer online role-playing game RuneScape, and its spin-off titles Old School RuneScape and RuneScape 3.
Jagex was founded in 2001 by Andrew Gower and Paul Gower, and is currently led by CEO Mark Gerhard. The company has over 350 employees, and in 2016 had an estimated turnover of £39 million.
Jagex is majority owned by Chinese conglomerate ZhongJi Holding, with Insight Venture Partners and Spectrum Equity also holding minority stakes in the company.
In February 2021, Jagex announced it had acquired American video game developer Pipeworks Studios. This marks Jagex’s first acquisition and investment into another studio, with the company stating its intention to use Pipeworks’ expertise to help grow its portfolio of live games.
What is Pipeworks Studios?
Pipeworks Studios is a leading game development studio with a strong track record in developing AAA console and PC games. The studio has a team of experienced developers who have worked on some of the biggest franchises in gaming, including Gears of War, Call of Duty, and Ratchet & Clank.
Pipeworks Studios has been acquired by Jagex, the company behind the popular MMO RuneScape. This is Jagex’s first investment into a game development studio and signals the company’s commitment to expanding its portfolio of games.
Pipeworks Studios will continue to operate as an independent studio and will work on new and existing projects for Jagex. This includes developing the next installment in the popular Ace Attorney series, which is set to release in 2019.
“We are delighted to be welcoming Pipeworks Studios into the Jagex family,” said Phil Mansell, CEO of Jagex. “Pipeworks is a world-class studio with an incredible pedigree in developing AAA console and PC games. This acquisition is a significant step forward in our strategy to become a multi-platform games company and expand our portfolio of live games.”
“We are very excited to be joining Jagex and to be working on some of the most popular franchises in gaming,” said Matt Scott, CEO of Pipeworks Studios. “Jagex is a company with a rich history in gaming and a strong commitment to its players and communities. We look forward to working with the Jagex team to create great games that will entertain millions of players around the world.”
Jagex’s first studio investment
Jagex, the developer and publisher of RuneScape and Old School RuneScape, today announced that it has acquired Pipeworks Studios, Inc. in its first studio investment.
Pipeworks Studios is a leading game development studio with a strong track record in developing AAA console and PC games. The studio is based in Portland, Oregon, USA and was founded in 2002.
“We are delighted to welcome Pipeworks into the Jagex family,” said Rod Cousens, CEO of Jagex. “Pipeworks is a world-class studio with a fantastic team of developers who have a proven track record in developing AAA console and PC games. We believe that this acquisition will enable us to significantly accelerate our plans to develop and release new content and experiences for our players.”
“We are very excited to be joining Jagex,” said Ben Jones, CEO of Pipeworks Studios. “Jagex is a world-renowned developer and publisher with a strong track record in developing and publishing AAA games. We believe that this acquisition will enable us to significantly accelerate our plans to develop and release new content and experiences for our players.”
Conclusion
In its first studio investment, British game developer and publisher Jagex has acquired US-based Pipeworks Studios.
Pipeworks is best known for developing AAA games for major publishers, including God of War, Titanfall 2, and Borderlands 3. The studio will continue to operate independently, with its current projects and team members unaffected by the acquisition.
Jagex CEO Phil Mansell said in a statement that the acquisition will allow the company to “accelerate [its] plans to bring RuneScape to more platforms and devices.” He added that Pipeworks’ “expertise in developing for PC and console will be invaluable” as Jagex looks to expand its reach.
Pipeworks co-founder and CEO Matt Schembari said that the studio is “excited to be joining forces” with Jagex, and that the two companies share a “vision for making great games that can be enjoyed by everyone.”
This is an exciting development for both Jagex and Pipeworks. Jagex will now have access to Pipeworks’ AAA development expertise, which will be invaluable in expanding the reach of RuneScape. For Pipeworks, this is an opportunity to work on one of the most popular MMOs in the world. We can’t wait to see what the two companies will achieve together.