Black Forest Games leaves THQ Nordic in buyout, co-founds studio group Third Signal

Black Forest Games has split from THQ Nordic via a management buyout. The studio co-founded Third Signal, an independent game studio group, as part of the move.

Black Forest Games will continue to develop and publish games under its own label. It will also collaborate with THQ Nordic on "game development tasks."

Third Signal says it will support small development teams and provide them with resources. Its stated focus is producing premium games for PC and console. Additional studios joining the group have yet to be announced.

Andreas Tobler is CEO of Third Signal. He previously served as VP of Plaion's games portfolio and business development. He said some of the best games of the last decade came from teams of 50, not 500, and called Black Forest Games the right studio to launch the group. He described the vision as a developer-driven group giving teams independence, resources and creative freedom.

In a statement, Black Forest Games thanked THQ Nordic and Embracer for nine good years and said it is excited to be an owner of its own future again. It said it is working on a new project with a strong team and partners behind it.

THQ Nordic acquired Black Forest Games in 2017. The studio reportedly cut its staff by half in 2024 following Embracer's restructuring program.