SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — The makers of the highly popular video game "Fortnite" have acquired a San Diego-based developer.
Epic Games acquired San Diego's Psyonix, an independent video game developer, for an undisclosed amount. Psyonix is known for another popular game, "Rocket League," that is routinely featured in e-sports competitions.
The companies expect to close the acquisition deal sometime between the end of May to early June.
"Rocket League" pits teams of rocket-powered cars against each other in a soccer-style game, as each tries to score a giant ball into the other team's goal. The game would become Psyonix's landmark title after it was released in 2015.
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The deal isn't supposed to effect the game or the game's community in any way, according to a statement by Psyonix.
"In the short term, nothing will change at all! We’re still committed to providing Rocket League with frequent updates that have new features, new content, and new ways to play the game for as long as you’ll have us," the statement read in part. "In the long-term, we expect to bring Rocket League to the Epic Games store and to leverage our new relationship to grow the game in ways we couldn’t do on our own before."
Psyonix hinted at being able to use Epic Games' resources to elevate "Rocket League" in the e-sports industry.
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Epic Games has developed its own clout in e-sports with its game "Fortnite," which skyrocketed in popularity last year. The game raked in an estimated $2.8 billion in 2018, according to Nielsen, and has continued to increase its gaming community.
As for Psyonix in San Diego, the statement only says the team will not change.
"We are the same team that we’ve always been, only now, we have the power and experience of Epic Games behind us!" Psyonix says. 10News has reached out to Psyonix for comment.
Psyonix was founded in 2001 by Dave Hagewood in North Carolina, home of Epic Games headquarters, before the company was moved to San Diego in 2009.
