Rocket Boy Scoops Up PlayFusion in Strategic Acquisition
Build A Rocket Boy (BARB) has recently declared its purchase of the UK-based PlayFusion. Through a press announcement, former Rockstar developer (and past president of Rockstar North) Leslie Benzies’ company has acquired PlayFusion. As part of this agreement, PlayFusion’s CEO and CTO, Trace Gerhard, will serve as Co-CEO alongside Benzies.
“We have always appreciated PlayFusion’s ingenuity and forward-thinking approach to transmedia entertainment, and collaborating with them will elevate Build A Rocket Boy to a higher standard of excellence,” Benzies stated.
“Our objective has always been to place creativity in the hands of the players, and PlayFusion’s mutual enthusiasm for gaming will enable us to develop a powerful platform for our community to effortlessly create their own AAA quality games and craft compelling original online experiences in the near future,” he added.
Build A Rocket Boy’s significant actions—and job cuts—in 2024
Build A Rocket Boy has experienced a dynamic year, starting in January when it revealed it had acquired $110 million in Series D financing. The studio is presently working on three major projects, including the IO Interactive-published Everywhere, a AAA action title designed to demonstrate BARB’s introduction platform, a AAA narrative-driven action game titled MindsEye, and a series of user-generated content creation tools known as Arcadia.
However, the studio also laid off staff last February, just a month after announcing its successful funding round.
As for PlayFusion, it is currently focused on Ascendant Infinity, a “team-based and tactical FPS experience with an intense challenge.”