The developer and publisher behind some of the most popular free-to-play MMOs is under new ownership. Sony Online Entertainment, the company behind EverQuest, Planetside 2, DC Universe Online and the new H1Z1, has been sold by Sony to a management investment firm called Columbus Nova.

The company’s new branding won’t mention their new or former owners. SOE makes a clean break as Daybreak Game Company.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed however the size and popularity of the former SOE’s games would lead me to think that we’re not talking about a transaction for $5 and a pack of chips. That being said, SOE is coming of its peak as evidenced by the significant layoffs at their San Diego and Austin studios in 2013 as part of a cost cutting measure.

So far, it looks like Daybreak’s new management isn’t going to shrink the former SOE to make more money. In fact, expanded offerings seem to be the order of the day. Daybreak is focusing on bringing EverQuest Next to market as soon as possible. And without being owned by Sony Computer Entertainment, Daybreak is looking to take its games beyond PC and PlayStation consoles. They’ve already confirmed interest in bringing their games to the Xbox One in the near future.

The one thing that worries fans of companies that are bought by someone else is what changes they’ll make to that company. In the case of Daybreak, it looks like it’ll be steady as she goes for the current games with a move to Xbox in the near future. Considering that I still dabble in Planetside 2 every now and then, I was a little worried about what would happen with this purchase. The good news is that it looks like PS2 and the rest will be there for years to come.

Source: Tech Crunch