When it comes to business and money-making ventures, there is little to nothing that can outshine things that are put on the internet.
With billions and billions of dollars that can be made from the billions of potential consumers, many companies embrace internet-based technologies to reach more audience, or to just make more money.
This time, the same goes to Square Enix.
The Japanese entertainment conglomerate and video game company is selling three of its North American game development studios - Eidos Interactive, Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix Montreal - to Swedish firm Embracer Group.
Because of this, according to a press release by Embracer, the company is also acquiring the intellectual property for "over 50 games," including some popular ones like Tomb Raider, Deux Ex, Thief, and Legacy of Kain.
In total, the acquisition includes around 1,100 employees across the three studios in eight global locations.
The price for all that, is a reported $300 million on a cash and debt free basis.
According to Square Enix, that the sale was needed to cover its planned investments into blockchain-related technologies, and to "assist the company in adapting to the changes underway in the global business environment by establishing a more efficient allocation of resources."
This includes enabling "the launch of new businesses by moving forward with investments in fields including blockchain, AI, and the cloud."
In other words, the assets are being sold so Square Enix can cut down on costs amid a challenging global business environment and invest in new and emerging technologies.
At this time, Square Enix stated that it is retaining ownership of games like Life is Strange, Outriders and Just Cause franchises.
While the sale can certainly earn Square Enix a substantial amount of money, the sale has led to some backlash on social media networks.
Many of those people are fans and gamers of some of Square Enix's games.
For example, one user said the move was "like selling your house for magic beans."
People criticize Square Enix's decision simply because the games the company is selling, are among some of the most popular games in the gaming industry.
The most popular, would be the Tomb Raider game franchise.
The games see players navigate British archaeologist Lara Croft through a series of ancient tombs and hazardous ruins.
With millions and millions of copies sold and pirated, Tomb Raider's heroine has become a cultural icon, inspiring numerous films and merchandise
Square Enix is best known for its Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest and Kingdom Hearts games.
As for Embracer Group, the company that formerly known as Nordic Games Licensing AB and THQ Nordic AB, is a video game and media holding company based in Karlstad, Sweden.
Originally, the company was founded as a comic book and games retailer, before becoming one of Europe's largest gaming groups after buying a slew of major studios.
The most famous, was when it acquired THQ back in 2013.
With many of Square Enix's properties become the Embracer's, many people started wondering whether the price was right.
After all, Eidos-Montréal studio head David Anfossi once said that in 2018, the game Shadow of the Tomb Raider costed the company as much as $100 million to make, and another $35 million to promote.
Gaming analysts said the deal price for Square Enix's Western assets was surprisingly low, but many others suggested that the company had long been seeking a buyer.
And this acquisition essentially made many to see that the gaming industry is so focused on trying to make money that only works online, that famous games are becoming increasingly undervalued.
