Saber Interactive nets 'significant' equity investment to pay Embracer debts

Private equity firms Aleph Capital and Crestview Partners have made a "significant" investment in Saber Interactive, which will use the cash to pay off its debt to former parent company Embracer.

In March, Embracer sold Saber and several other subsidiaries to Beacon Interactive in a $247 million deal. That divestment included the option for Beacon to purchase Metro developer 4A Games and Pinball FX maker Zen Studios, but the company ultimately allowed both remain with Embracer.

Saber plans to use its latest investment to accelerate growth initiatives across its 13 studios in Europe, the United States, and South America.

"This investment aligns with our strategy of supporting dynamic companies that have the potential to shape the future of their industries," wrote Aleph managing director Jamie Rahamim. "We look forward to partnering with Saber’s talented leadership team to help them achieve even greater success on a global scale."

Both Rahamim and Crestview president Brian Cassidy will join Saber's board of directors alongside co-founders Matt Karch and Andrey Jones.

The saga of Saber in 2024

It has been an eventful year for Saber. As well as parting ways with Embracer, the studio launched Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II, which opened to 2 million players on launch day.

The game encountered a slight hitch when an unfinished, year-old build was leaked back in July. Saber asked players to avoid the leak to preserve the launch experience.

Saber's future projects include John Carpenter's Toxic Commando, A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead, and a remake of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. The company will also continue supporting Space Marine II.

In May, Game Developer spoke with Saber boss Matt Karch about the company's enduring 23-year history.