Zen Studios, best known for its pinball games, is now one of THQ Nordic's development studios. The Hungarian studio is also celebrating its 25th anniversary.

On the occasion of Zen Studios' 25th anniversary, THQ Nordic announced that Zen Studios is now part of its roster of development studios. Best known for its digital pinball games, the Budapest-based studio has collaborated with brands such as Star Wars, Marvel, NBCU and the Monsterverse, as well as creating interactive storytelling games.

The Embracer Group acquired Zen Studios via Saber Interactive in November 2020. In March 2024, Saber was sold to Beacon Interactive. Some of the studios under Saber, including Zen Studios, were not included in the sale. However, Saber retained the option to purchase Zen Studios (as well as 4A Games) at a later date. In September 2024, Embracer announced that it would retain ownership of both companies.

THQ Nordic: "At a time when the pinball genre was fading, Zen kept the silver ball alive by transforming it into a digital-first experience, making the game accessible to players around the world. With the first iteration of Pinball FX in 2007, Zen pioneered the idea of a free-to-play pinball platform, introducing in-app purchases and downloadable tables long before they became standard in the industry. The studio also embraced mobile gaming early, ensuring that a high-quality pinball experience could reach players on every screen - console, PC, or handheld device."


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Written by

Marcel Kleffmann
Marcel Kleffmann