Paradox, Never Sell Out

[General Karthos]

Please, Paradox, whatever people may think of the games, the company, the DLC, I think all of us here on the forums can agree that you must NEVER sell out. Don't sell yourself to a larger company the way BioWare did to EA. I'd give you money for nothing to avoid this happening. I love you guys, I love your games, I love your attitudes, I love your interactions with the community.

I haven't seen any rumors about anything; this is just spontaneous, out of the flue. I've been going over my game library and I realize that you are the only guys left from whom I will purchase games without hesitation. BioWare used to be on that list, but since they were purchased by EA, I can barely stand them any more.

You have a unique and wonderful culture, and you obviously enjoy your jobs. So please... keep the faith. Remain Paradox. Whatever problems we may occasionally have with you, we all love you.

 

[Fonz]

One side of me wants more people to play Paradox games, but the other side says its best if Paradox stays niche enough so it doesn't get "Creative Assemblied"

 

[Plague109]

As much as I love Warhammer I am a little frightened that the game CA is making is not going to do the franchise justice.

 

[General Karthos]

As much as I love Warhammer I am a little frightened that the game CA is making is not going to do the franchise justice.

So let's make a Stellaris mod that does!

 

[Korashy]

Remember that there is two paradox. Paradox Publishing and Paradox development Studios.

 

[ahhheygao]

One side of me wants more people to play Paradox games, but the other side says its best if Paradox stays niche enough so it doesn't get "Creative Assemblied"

Please don't remind me. Thanks to R2TW, my PTSD triggers every time I see a game tout its pre-release awards and nominations...

 

[Plague109]

Please don't remind me. Thanks to R2TW, my PTSD triggers every time I see a game tout its pre-release awards and nominations...

You mean you don't like your landing craft drifting through the beach? These are some advanced strategies we can now employ in Stellaris.

 

[Jarac Rassen]

*EA approaches with bags full of money*

 

[jaredstanko]

paradox will never get bought unless it loses its publishing arm, and that would mean that they are failing financially, and since they make hand over fist dlcing us, and have been steadily on a path upward since ck2 went mainstream, i seriously doubt paradox will ever sell out

i think they are a great company but if anything bad happens itll be from BECOMING the EA, not by getting sold to it, since they are not only a development team but also a publisher.

paradox could totally kill the 4x and GS genre by becoming the face of it and then beginning to suck.. but that wont happen

 

[AluminumSoldier]

According to this tweet they're planning on having an IPO sometime in 2016.

Here's the linked article run through google translate. Can't testify for it's accuracy, but it's workable. Someone more acquainted with business than I will have to give an opinion on it. I don't know enough to comment.

Spoiler: Article

Paradox Interactive is one of Sweden's fastest growing game developer. CEO Fredrik Wester, who owns just over 39 percent of the company, has previously stubbornly avoided the questions about IPO despite market pressure has been great. But now he confirms that the company launched an IPO process. "The important thing is to get the owners who are long term and want to be part of our journey," he says. Other major owners of Paradox is the investment company Spiltan and financier Peter Lindell, principal owner of the venture capital firm Rite Internet Ventures. Avanza will keep the listing process, but the prospect is still not yet confirmed. "We have a fun and different way to do this spreading of ownership on. The process will take take place in the traditional way. Exactly how do we talk about when all the details are clear, "said Chairman Hakan Sjunnesson. The company's employees and fans of the game world will thus be prioritized. But the door is not closed for institutional investors. "We expect that they too will be interested. No one is excluded, "says Håkan Sjunnesson as via private company owns more than 4 percent of Paradox Interactive. The reason for listing is that the company needs capital. "We have cash in the bank and we would need banking assistance for buying it is also no problem. But a note of course gives access to the capital market, we would like to make acquisitions. Currently, we have no such immediate plans ", said Fredrik Wester.At the recent spread of ownership two years ago invested financier Peter Lindell nearly 84 million in a combination of rights issue and purchase of shares valued Paradox Interactive to 500 million."We have not yet confirmed how much of that will be sold out now, it's a small part of everyone's possession. But clearly the company is worth much more today, "says Håkan Sjunnesson.The investment company Spiltan has previously valued its holdings of 37 percent of Paradox Interactive to between 480 and 813 million. It would give an overall value of the company at 1.3-2.2 billion.Paradox recently published its financial statements for 2015, which showed record sales. Net sales were SEK 604 million and profit before tax rushed to 242 million. The figures were slightly doped since the company postponed some game launches in 2015.Fredrik Wester do not want to give any detailed forecast for the next few years."It is always difficult because it depends on how the market looks like, what games we can release and what other games are launched. But the plan is to grow aggressively over the next four years. "He sees three elements that can be developed further in the company. In addition to PC games, which are sold mainly via Steam, the company aims to go into games for consoles and step into the mobile gaming world for real."We've said it a long time and now it's time to go in there."Paradox released five new games in the last year and a number of so-called expansions to existing games. This year the company come up with several games, including a strategy game in space "Stellaris" and World War strategy game "Hearts of Iron IV"."We have invested major resources in both games and had a strategy to make them more elaborate in order to be able to become big sellers," said Fredrik Wester.Last year, Paradox Interactive a mega hit with 'Cities: Skylines, "which first month sold a million copies.Last fall, the company was bought roleplaying White Wolf Publishing. The idea is to produce board games, books and ultimately new PC games on the trademarks of White Wolf's briefcase.Fredrik Wester tone now down expansion plans for Asia."We are for a number of discussions but has no partner ready for the market," he says

 

[Korashy]

paradox will never get bought unless it loses its publishing arm, and that would mean that they are failing financially, and since they make hand over fist dlcing us, and have been steadily on a path upward since ck2 went mainstream, i seriously doubt paradox will ever sell out

i think they are a great company but if anything bad happens itll be from BECOMING the EA, not by getting sold to it, since they are not only a development team but also a publisher.

paradox could totally kill the 4x and GS genre by becoming the face of it and then beginning to suck.. but that wont happen

I wouldn't say never, they could still be bought out, or merge with another publisher (a la activision blizzard), but they seem to be doing really well, and already dominate their niche market, so there isn't really any reason to.

 

[Beric]

Remember that Paradox is currently looking at going public this year. Could have some interesting implications.

 

[Zavaleta]

Paradox Interactive is planning on doing an IPO public offering of stock this year. How the company manages its internal culture and objectives while being beholden to stockholders will probably decide the fate of the studios soul. Has got me worried.

 

[Korashy]

According to this tweet they're planning on having an IPO sometime in 2016.

Here's the linked article run through google translate. Can't testify for it's accuracy, but it's workable. Someone more acquainted with business than I will have to give an opinion on it. I don't know enough to comment.

Spoiler: Article

Paradox Interactive is one of Sweden's fastest growing game developer. CEO Fredrik Wester, who owns just over 39 percent of the company, has previously stubbornly avoided the questions about IPO despite market pressure has been great. But now he confirms that the company launched an IPO process. "The important thing is to get the owners who are long term and want to be part of our journey," he says. Other major owners of Paradox is the investment company Spiltan and financier Peter Lindell, principal owner of the venture capital firm Rite Internet Ventures. Avanza will keep the listing process, but the prospect is still not yet confirmed. "We have a fun and different way to do this spreading of ownership on. The process will take take place in the traditional way. Exactly how do we talk about when all the details are clear, "said Chairman Hakan Sjunnesson. The company's employees and fans of the game world will thus be prioritized. But the door is not closed for institutional investors. "We expect that they too will be interested. No one is excluded, "says Håkan Sjunnesson as via private company owns more than 4 percent of Paradox Interactive. The reason for listing is that the company needs capital. "We have cash in the bank and we would need banking assistance for buying it is also no problem. But a note of course gives access to the capital market, we would like to make acquisitions. Currently, we have no such immediate plans ", said Fredrik Wester.At the recent spread of ownership two years ago invested financier Peter Lindell nearly 84 million in a combination of rights issue and purchase of shares valued Paradox Interactive to 500 million."We have not yet confirmed how much of that will be sold out now, it's a small part of everyone's possession. But clearly the company is worth much more today, "says Håkan Sjunnesson.The investment company Spiltan has previously valued its holdings of 37 percent of Paradox Interactive to between 480 and 813 million. It would give an overall value of the company at 1.3-2.2 billion.Paradox recently published its financial statements for 2015, which showed record sales. Net sales were SEK 604 million and profit before tax rushed to 242 million. The figures were slightly doped since the company postponed some game launches in 2015.Fredrik Wester do not want to give any detailed forecast for the next few years."It is always difficult because it depends on how the market looks like, what games we can release and what other games are launched. But the plan is to grow aggressively over the next four years. "He sees three elements that can be developed further in the company. In addition to PC games, which are sold mainly via Steam, the company aims to go into games for consoles and step into the mobile gaming world for real."We've said it a long time and now it's time to go in there."Paradox released five new games in the last year and a number of so-called expansions to existing games. This year the company come up with several games, including a strategy game in space "Stellaris" and World War strategy game "Hearts of Iron IV"."We have invested major resources in both games and had a strategy to make them more elaborate in order to be able to become big sellers," said Fredrik Wester.Last year, Paradox Interactive a mega hit with 'Cities: Skylines, "which first month sold a million copies.Last fall, the company was bought roleplaying White Wolf Publishing. The idea is to produce board games, books and ultimately new PC games on the trademarks of White Wolf's briefcase.Fredrik Wester tone now down expansion plans for Asia."We are for a number of discussions but has no partner ready for the market," he says

Yup and it's not exactly surprising, from what's been heard they are doing very well financially, and have grown a lot in recent years. It's natural that they would do this especially if they are planning on acquiring smaller franchises and publishing other studios work. I'm sure there'll be a number of people becoming millionaires due to founder stock.

 

[Korashy]

Paradox Interactive is planning on doing an IPO public offering of stock this year. How the company manages its internal culture and objectives while being beholden to stockholders will probably decide the fate of the studios soul. Has got me worried.

Bigger question will be if core people with founder stock will suddenly cash out and decide they won't have to work anymore. It'd put 5 on it that Johann for example is going to become a very wealthy individual from that. Though of course i could be completely wrong

 

[Jarac Rassen]

I wouldn't say never, they could still be bought out, or merge with another publisher (a la activision blizzard), but they seem to be doing really well, and already dominate their niche market, so there isn't really any reason to.

If they merged with, say, Stardock, they could really corner the 4X market.

 

[Kriegs_]

well, i don't actually know what IPO means but i sure hope it isn't bad lol

 

[Admiral Howe]

If they merged with, say, Stardock, they could really corner the 4X market.

Oh, God, no....better to be bought by EA.

 

[DàbiànLājīdàrén]

Paradox isn't big enough to sell out. Rome 2 alone probably made more money than all of Paradox's games combined, despite how big a sack of shit it was. That's just how marketing works.

 

[Sinister2202]

you underestimate Fred the king platypus