Lego Plans to Develop Video Games in-House Again
– 1 min read
Danish toy giant Lego wants to develop video games in-house again, according to a media report. This is probably a result of the huge success of Lego Fortnite.
Lego CEO Niels Christiansen told the Financial Times that the company is looking to build up in-house games development again after strong growth in recent years (revenue 2024: DKK 74.3 bn (approx. €10 bn), +13% yoy; operating profit 2024: DKK 18.7 bn (approx. €2.5 bn), +10% yoy). He said: "We can definitely say as long as we're under the Lego brand we can cover experiences for kids of all ages, digital or physical. [Games development in-house] is something we're building up."
The FT report also states that Lego has invested "several hundred million dollars" to triple the number of software engineers since 2022, in order to strengthen its digital infrastructure. Almost 20 years ago, when the company was on the brink of bankruptcy, Lego outsourced its video game studio and other business activities. Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (2022), for example, was developed by TT Games and distributed by Warner Bros. Games. Lego Fortnite is being developed by Epic Games.
The Lego Group's 2024 annual report highlights the success of Lego Fortnite, which has more than 87 million players: "Gaming is a favourite pastime among kids and we are exploring new and exciting ways of blending digital and physical play. Since its launch in December 2023, Lego Fortnite has engaged over 87 million players. This year, we expanded the Lego Fortnite gaming experience with the release of the first physical sets and Lego Islands within the Fortnite universe. We also welcomed the popular gaming franchise Animal Crossing to the Lego Portfolio."
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