Twin Sails Interactive splits from Asmodee and Embracer to become an independent publisher

Gloomhaven Digital and Ember Knights creator Twin Sails Interactive has separated from Embracer Group through a management buyout.

The company announced this development in a blog post and mentioned that it now possesses “full independence and greater flexibility” to chase its vision for growth.

Twin Sails had been operating under the umbrella of tabletop game publisher Asmodee Group AB, which is a subsidiary of Embracer Group.

Last year, Embracer converted Asmodee into an independent publicly traded company in search of “winning formulas” after implementing a rigorous restructuring plan.

Twin Sails will retain its entire team post-buyout and will continue to be led by CEO Nicolas Godement, production director Laurent Lichnewsky, and marketing director Adrien Rotondo.

“This marks an exciting new chapter for Twin Sails Interactive,” said Godement. “Our experience with Asmodee was invaluable, and we appreciate the collaboration that has guided our growth. Now, as an independent publisher, we move forward with assurance, ready to embrace our imaginative and energetic vision for the future.”

Asmodee’s CEO Thomas Koegler stated that the decision will allow both companies to “flourish in their unique areas of expertise.”

“We eagerly anticipate Twin Sails Interactive continuing to achieve success and innovate, delivering fresh, engaging experiences to players globally—and we wish them a journey filled with achievements, creativity, and new possibilities,” he added.

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Looking ahead, Twin Sails aspires to usher in a “new era” after having served as Asmodee’s video game division for the better part of a decade.

“We will continue to advocate for creative titles with strong visual identities and passionate teams behind them,” stated marketing director Adrien Rotondo. “Our aim is to collaborate with our partner studios to create enduring game brands that evolve through updates, new content, and additional titles in the series.”

In discussions with Game Developer via email, Godement frequently referred to the Total War series to demonstrate how indie developers can aim for long-term franchise potential without depending solely on character-driven intellectual properties. “Total War has no central storyline or recurring characters, but the player fantasy of ‘epic historical battles’ is very clear,” he explained.

The idea, he stated, is that signed games can have lifespans that last at least 5 to 10 years. The publisher has been releasing updates for Ember Knights and Terraforming Mars for several years now via “live operations” with consistent updates, downloadable content, and new features. Some games may be signed with the expectation of sequels instead of live updates. He mentioned that the company has “had occasions” where they began discussing a second project before the first game was even signed.

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“Beyond pre-production, that long-term culture must permeate every level of our organization, including embracing community lore to establish it as ‘marketing canon’ or defining cross-promotion strategies within a brand. It’s about treating the game like a valuable brand from day one, rather than something you launch and then abandon,” he stated.

The company’s current publishing lineup includes Boomtown: A Different Kind of Story, Data Tower, and Ember Knights.

Twin Sails is actively seeking new projects and collaborations.

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