Tencent Offloads Battalion Developer Bulkhead to New Consortium Led by Team 17 Owner

In a significant move, Chinese entertainment giant Tencent has divested its ownership of UK-based game developer Bulkhead to a newly formed consortium. This consortium comprises Super Media Group, Everplay Group PLC - the parent company of Team 17, and Hiro Capital. Bulkhead, known for its first-person shooter titles, notably Battalion 1944, was previously acquired by Splash Damage in 2022, which was then owned by Tencent before being sold to private equity. Currently, the studio is working on a new IP called Wardogs, slated for early access on PC in 2026 and later on other platforms. Wardogs will be published by Team17. The formation of Super Media Group took place in October, with Bulkhead's key executives, including CEO Joe Brammer, CTO Kevin Chandler, and CFO Mark Pinney, serving as its directors. Everplay Group PLC, formerly known as Team17 Group, has acquired a 20% stake in Super Media Group, valued at £2 million. While Hiro Capital holds a minority stake, the exact percentage remains undisclosed. Super Media Group is also considering co-development opportunities for future installments of Team17's Hell Let Loose franchise. Bulkhead's CEO, Joe Brammer, expressed excitement about the partnership, emphasizing the team's enthusiasm for collaborating on the Hell Let Loose franchise and the upcoming launch of Wardogs. Everplay's interim executive chair, Frank Sagnier, highlighted the strategic importance of this partnership, underscoring the potential for new game content and reinforcing Everplay's position in the FPS genre. The terms of the acquisition, including the purchase price, were not disclosed. Bulkhead was previously acquired by Splash Damage in 2022 for an undisclosed sum. Following Tencent's sale of Splash Damage to private equity investors, the entire Splash Damage studio has been undergoing consultation ahead of potential redundancies.