In an exciting development for the gaming industry, publisher Devolver Digital has announced the acquisition of System Era Softworks, the talented team behind the popular space exploration sandbox game, Astroneer. The deal, reported by Game Developer, is valued at up to $40 million, marking a significant milestone for both System Era and Devolver.

System Era, founded in 2014 by experienced developers from renowned gaming companies such as EA, Valve, 343 Industries, Ubisoft, and Disney, expressed its enthusiasm for the partnership in a recent blog post. The studio described Devolver as a standard bearer in the indie development space, known for championing creative ideas and prioritizing the best quality experiences. System Era stated that the shared culture between the two companies made the acquisition a natural match.

While the potential collaboration between System Era and Devolver was previously explored a decade ago when Devolver nearly stepped in to publish Astroneer, this new partnership solidifies their connection. Under the guidance of Devolver, System Era will continue its operations as usual, with a renewed focus on supporting Astroneer and further developing its innovative gameplay. Additionally, System Era has an undisclosed project currently in the works, adding to the excitement surrounding this newly formed alliance.

European law firm Fieldfisher, representing Devolver in the acquisition, disclosed the financial details of the deal in a separate press release. The agreement will cost Devolver up to $40 million, with an initial consideration of $22 million. This initial amount consists of $20 million in cash upon closing and $2 million in shares and cash that will be issued and paid on the 12-month anniversary of closing. Furthermore, the deal includes $10 million in deferred consideration and a potential earn out of up to $8 million, both payable in a combination of cash and shares.

Astroneer, the flagship game developed by System Era, has seen remarkable success since its release, generating over $87 million in revenue to date and amassing a dedicated player base of more than 13 million users. This acquisition presents an exciting opportunity for Devolver to expand its reach beyond their strength in premium indie titles. Leveraging System Era's expertise in Expandable Game style development, as well as their live operations technology and existing intellectual property, Devolver aims to further diversify its portfolio in the gaming market.

The strategic partnership between Devolver Digital and System Era Softworks signifies a step towards the realization of both companies' ambitions. With a shared vision and a passion for innovation, this collaboration is poised to bring forth even more groundbreaking gaming experiences. As System Era joins Devolver, they see it not as a loss of independence, but rather as finding a home among like-minded individuals who epitomize the indie ethos. Exciting times lie ahead as these talented teams embark on their journey together.

This acquisition highlights the continued growth and dynamism of the gaming industry, providing opportunities for indie developers to thrive and collaborate with established publishers. Fans of Astroneer and Devolver Digital's diverse portfolio of games can look forward to exciting new projects and experiences in the future.

(Note: This news article is generated based on the provided information and may not include any additional facts or details beyond what is explicitly mentioned.)