No, Tencent Didn't Just Buy DayZ's Developer

Bohemia Interactive, famous for being behind DayZ, has not in fact been bought out by Tencent. It was reported earlier in the week that Tencent had invested a whopping $260 million in the studio, but this has since been refuted by the Chinese company.

The Information published an article earlier this week which stated that Tencent had acquired "between 70% and 80%" in Bohemia Interactive as part of the tech giant's expansion into the European market. However, this figure, as well as Tencent's involvement with the Czech company at all, has since been refuted in a press release by Tencent.

The last big investment made by Tencent in the region was in Sumo Group, a large British developer with a hand in titles like Forza Horizon 4, Team Sonic Racing, and more. Acquiring Bohemia Interactive would have added the Czech company to a growing portfolio of gaming investments where Tencent has controlling interests; the company would join the likes of Riot Games, Path of Exile's Grinding Gear Games, and Supercell.

The press release from Tencent issued in the wake of recent investment speculation reads as follows:

We've been made aware of a story written by The Information regarding financial moves made by Tencent regarding Bohemia Interactive. The information in that article is incorrect. Tencent has not purchased a stake in Bohemia Interactive and it remains an independent studio.

Since then, Bohemia Interactive has also commented publicly on the speculation around this alleged $260 million deal. The CEO of the studio, Marek Španěl, has taken to the company's official site-wide forums to confirm that his company has not, in fact, been acquired by Tencent. Španěl noted that the company had been "talking to numerous potential partners in the past about possible strategic cooperation" but reiterated that Bohemia Interactive would currently "remain an independent studio".