Zynga Acquires Torchlight Developer Echtra Games To Work On New Cross-Platform RPG

Zynga has acquired Torchlight developer Echtra Games, with the studio now working on an unannounced cross-platform RPG. Zynga – the social game behemoth behind FarmVille and Words with Friends – says it acquired Echtra to strengthen its cross-platform development capabilities. In a press release, it was also revealed that Echtra is currently working on an unannounced cross-platform role-playing game. It's not clear whether the new game will be a Torchlight sequel, or a brand new game for the studio. "The Echtra Games team strengthens Zynga’s cross-platform play future by adding talented developers with extensive cross-platform play experience as well as proprietary cross-platform development tools and technologies that have been built on top of the Unreal Engine," the release reads. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/02/17/star-wars-hunters-nintendo-switch-teaser-trailer"] This game will be made in partnership with another Zynga studio, NaturalMotion, whose animation middleware Euphoria can be seen in games like Red Dead Redemption and Grand Theft Auto V. NaturalMotion is also partnering with Zynga's newest studio in Austin to create a squad-based, online arena multiplayer Star Wars game, Star Wars: Hunters. Zynga CEO Frank Gibeau said: “Max [Schaefer] and his team at Echtra Games are responsible for some of the most legendary game properties ever created, and they are experts in the action RPG genre and cross-platform development. I’m excited to welcome the Echtra Games team into the Zynga family. This acquisition will be instrumental in growing our iconic licenses and brands from mobile to PCs and consoles, while helping to further expand Zynga’s total addressable market.” Here's a 2020 interview with Echtra Games' Max Schaefer and Matt Uelmen, who previously worked on Diablo II before they developed the Torchlight series. We reviewed Torchlight 3 in early access, scoring it a 6 and calling it a "decent action-RPG." [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.