Zynga has, the developer of Flashlight 3 (Through Rock Paper Shotgun) The studio was started by Blizzard North co-founder and co-creator of the Diablo series Max Schaefer after he left his previous stint at Runic Games in 2016. Runic, which Schaefer also co-founded, had worked on the first two games Torchlight, as well as the criminally underestimated Hob. And it is his involvement in Echtra Games that attracted Zynga, who is best known for games like, to the studio.
“Max and his team at Echtra Games are responsible for some of the most legendary game properties ever created and are experts in the action RPG genre and cross-platform development,” said Zynga CEO Frank Gibeau. “This acquisition will be instrumental in the growth of our iconic PC and console furniture licenses and brands.”
Zynga did not disclose the terms of the agreement, but shared its plan for Echtra. The developer will work with NaturalMotion, another of his original studios, in a new multiplatform RPG. It’s an unusual match, to be sure, but Schaefer said his team is excited to apply their talents to Zynga’s vision.