GTA maker Rockstar Games acquires Indian game developer Dhruva Interactive

New York-based games developer Rockstar Games has agreed to acquire Dhruva Infotech Pvt. Ltd’s Indian game developer and game art production studio Dhruva Interactive from Swedish games developer Starbreeze AB.

The transaction is likely to be concluded in the coming weeks, as per a company statement.

Rockstar Games said that the Dhruva team will operate alongside its team of about 500 members at its Bengaluru office. “The addition of the Dhruva team… will expand the studio’s capabilities and reinforces our belief and commitment to the local development community,” said Daniel Smith, Studio Manager, Rockstar India.

Rajesh Rao, CEO and founder of Dhruva Interactive, said: “Our studio was created with the aim of creating a world-class game development community in India, and so bringing the Dhruva team under the Rockstar Games label is proof that we have succeeded.”

Founded in 1997, Dhruva Interactive is regarded as India’s first game development studio. The Bengaluru-based studio employed nearly 300 developers specializing in varied aspects of art and design. Dhruva Interactive has contributed to the development of games such as Forza Motorsport 7, Halo 5, Sea of Thieves and Quantum Break.

Swedish game developer Starbreeze had acquired a 90.5% stake in Dhruva Interactive for $8.5 million (Rs. 57.6 crore) in 2017.

Rao will work with Rockstar Games in the near term to support the transition and advise on how to continue strengthening the game development community in India, the statement said.

Dhruva’s core business revolved around game content creation across a variety of platforms and genres. The company provided end-to-end game client and server development services from its three studios (two in Bengaluru and one in Dehradun) for mobile phones, tablets and personal computers. In 2006, Dhruva Interactive had raised $5 million in a funding round led by Clearstone Venture Partners.