The video game industry has grown into a multi-billion dollar juggernaut, with new studios and games popping up faster than you can say “game on.” While some studios still fly solo, others have been snapped up by larger companies, resulting in a few major players dominating the scene.
These big-time players own multiple studios and franchises, giving them the power to produce a wide range of games for all kinds of platforms. For instance, Microsoft snatched up Activision Blizzard, which includes studios like Blizzard Entertainment and Treyarch, responsible for hits like World of Warcraft and Call of Duty.
In this article, we’ll dive deeper into some of the biggest gaming companies in the industry and the sub-companies under their wings. We explore their history, major franchises, and future plans and provide insight into how they have become dominant players in the gaming industry.
Who Owns What in Gaming Industry
We’re about to unveil the top 10 gaming companies in the world based on their revenues and market share. But we won’t stop there – as we dive into each company, we’ll also explore their major subsidiaries and flagship games, giving you a comprehensive overview of the heavyweights in the industry.
Here are the biggest game companies in the world:
- Tencent
- Sony
- Microsoft
- Nintendo
- Take-Two Interactive
- Electronic Arts
- Sega
- Valve
- Ubisoft
- Capcom
And that’s not all. We will provide you with a rough summary of each company’s recent acquisitions and future plans. This will include any rumors or speculations about their upcoming release so you can get a glimpse of what’s to come.
Tencent
Probably you’ve heard of Tencent, the Chinese conglomerate holding company that’s taken the gaming world by storm. Founded back in 1998, Tencent has made a name for itself as one of the largest game companies in the world, with investments spanning game development studios, publishing, esports, and streaming platforms.
As you can see from the picture above, the game companies owned by Tencent do not stop counting. Riot Games and Epic Games make them the biggest game company in the world.
Some of the games in Tencent’s library are: Valorant, League of Legends, Fortnite, Clash of Clans, Path of Exile, Fall Guys and Life is Strange.
The fact that a China-based company has some of the biggest series in the Western market does not make other players in this market very happy in economic terms. It’s a bit difficult to predict what will happen in the coming years, but they can continue their purchases since they increased their profits in the last quarter of 2022.
The last important information we can say about Tencent is that they also have the Unreal Engine, thanks to the ownership of Epic Games. This is of particular interest to independent artists.
Sony
When you think of Sony, the second-largest gaming giant in the world, you usually immediately think of PlayStation. Although Sony as a company is much more, we will talk about its unstoppable rise in the gaming industry in recent years.
First, let us start with the basics. Sony Corporation is a Japanese multinational holding company whose gaming division was established in the mid-1990s. PlayStation consoles have become a staple in the gaming industry, and millions of gamers worldwide enjoy their games.
Some games in Sony’s library are: The Last of Us Part, Uncharted, God of War, Gran Turismo, Days Gone, and more.
But Sony’s investment in the gaming industry does not stop there. The company has also developed and published several games through its subsidiary Sony Interactive Entertainment, including Horizon Zero Dawn and Spider-Man. In addition to game development, Sony has also invested in other areas of the gaming industry, such as virtual reality with its PlayStation VR headset.
It’s also worth noting the time-limited agreements they have made with independent studios to develop PlayStation exclusive games such as Bloodborne and Death Stranding.
Sony’s most important step in gaming in recent years has been to bring console exclusive games to PC, respectively. Now players (even after a long time) can play quality Sony games on the computers.
Microsoft
Now, let’s turn our attention to one of the most exciting players in the gaming industry: Microsoft. With its recent investments and aggressive strategies on Game Pass, Microsoft has captured the attention of millions of gamers worldwide.
But Microsoft’s gaming empire is even larger than you might think. In addition to owning the Xbox console and brand, they’ve also acquired many of the industry’s biggest game developers. These include studios like Bethesda Softworks, Obsidian Entertainment, and Double Fine Productions.
Some of the games in Microsoft’s library are: Call of Duty, Warzone, Overwatch, Diablo, Forza Horizon, Minecraft, and more.
Last year’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard for a whopping $68.7 billion sent shockwaves through the gaming industry. While some players saw the move as positive, others criticized the trend of huge game companies buying up everything in sight.
In addition to building a strong portfolio of game series, Microsoft’s cloud gaming service, Xbox Game Pass, has made it easier than ever for gamers to access and enjoy various games.
Nintendo
While other game companies are busy making acquisitions and expanding their reach, Nintendo remains focused on its exclusive game series and consoles, just like it did on day one.
Some of the games in Nintendo’s library are: The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, Super Smash Bros, Pokemon, and more.
Nintendo Switch has been praised for its unique features and family-friendly appeal. The company’s focus on creating enjoyable, immersive experiences for players of all ages has helped it maintain a loyal fan base and establish itself as a major player in the gaming industry.
It is very difficult for Nintendo to make an unforeseen acquisition in the coming days. Because they are very committed to service and game development in their own lines and player community, maybe we’ll see Switch 2. Who knows?
Take-Two Interactive
When it comes to the gaming industry, you might not immediately think of Take-Two Interactive. But don’t let their low profile fool you – this company is a big player in the industry. Think of them like the quiet kid in class who’s secretly a genius at video games.
One reason for Take Two’s influence is their ownership of Rockstar Games, the studio behind the blockbuster Grand Theft Auto franchise. They’ve also got a stake in Zynga, the mobile game company responsible for hits like Words With Friends and Farmville. It’s kind of like Microsoft’s ownership of Minecraft – it may not be the first thing that comes to mind, but it’s a big deal once you realize it.
Some of the games in Take-Two Interactive’s library are: Grand Theft Auto, NBA2K, Civilization, Red Dead Redemption, Bioshock, and more.
While they haven’t always made the best decisions – looking at you, NBA2K – the future looks pretty bright for Take-Two and their subsidiary, Rockstar Games. That’s because fans around the world are eagerly anticipating the release of GTA 6, the latest installment in the hugely popular Grand Theft Auto franchise.
With previous GTA games breaking records and wowing players with their expansive open-world gameplay, the expectations for GTA 6 are sky-high. Everyone is waiting for Rockstar Games to outdo themselves once again, and it’s safe to say that the pressure is on.
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts may not be the most beloved company in the gaming industry, but they’ve shed their image as a giant, evil corporation that everyone loves to hate. That title now belongs to game companies like Tencent and Microsoft. And with the pressure off, EA is free to focus on the impressive resources they have at their disposal.
Despite facing criticism in the past, EA’s commitment to producing quality games and investing in new technologies has helped it remain a major player in the gaming industry.
Some of the games in Electronic Arts’ library are: FIFA, The Sims, Apex Legends, Battlefield, Star Wars Battlefront, and more.
Love it or hate it, the FIFA series alone is enough to make EA one of the biggest players in the gaming industry. While some criticize the franchise for not changing enough, millions of fans continue to play and eagerly anticipate each year’s release.
But despite their success, EA has faced rumors of a potential acquisition by Sony in response to Microsoft’s recent acquisition of Activision Blizzard. While such a move wouldn’t be surprising, we’ll have to wait and see what happens.
Other Giants
While many game companies remain independent, there are a select few that are considered huge thanks to the game series and studios they own. These companies have created beloved franchises that gamers around the world have grown to love and play regularly.
- Sega: Yakuza, Total War, Company of Heroes, Alien Isolation
- Valve: Counter Strike 2, Dota, Half-Life, Steam*, Left 4 Dead
- Ubisoft: Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, Rainbow Six, The Division
- Capcom: Resident Evil, Street Fighter, Monster Hunter
There are also a few notable ones that shouldn’t be forgotten. CD Projekt Red – with its critically acclaimed Witcher series and the ambitious Cyberpunk 2077 is one of them. Also, we can talk about Konami on this because they have IPs like PES, Metal Gear Solid, and Silent Hill.
Then there are game companies that aren’t quite among the biggest but can’t be considered small either. Square Enix – with franchises like Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts; and Bandai Namco – with its beloved Tales series and Dragon Ball Z games, have both made significant contributions to the gaming world.
From Software, known for the challenging Dark Souls series, Bloodborne and Elden Ring (best game ever) has also earned a loyal following among gamers.
Independent Developers
Finally, the indie gaming scene is thriving, with countless talented studios and developers producing innovative and engaging games. Some notable indie companies worth mentioning include:
- Kojima Productions
- Klei Entertainment
- Supergiant Games
- Quantic Dream
- Paradox Interactive
That’s all we have to say about who owns what in the gaming industry for now. Since it is in a constantly changing and developing structure, we can see surprise purchases at any time. But whether you think of huge game studios or indie producers – we all want to play great games.
If you’re a digital artist or creator, like many of the amazing people here, it’s impossible not to be excited about the potential in the gaming industry. Don’t forget to check out our other resources that may be useful to you.
Based in Istanbul, Turkey, Burak is a Writer at Vertex Mode. He loves video games, high-production shows, post-apocalyptic stories, and more.
