Epic Games has announced the acquisition of Porto Alegre, Brazil-based studio AQUIRIS, known for its popular arcade racing series Horizon Chase. The acquisition marks another step in Epic Games’ expansion, having acquired several indie developers in recent years. AQUIRIS will be rebranded as Epic Games Brasil, becoming the foundation of Epic Games’ presence in Latin America.
The AQUIRIS team will join Epic Games in creating groundbreaking content and social experiences within the widely popular game Fortnite. This move aligns with Epic Games’ strategy following its acquisition of Harmonix in 2021. AQUIRIS will continue supporting its previously released titles, such as Wonderbox, Horizon Chase 2, and Looney Tunes World of Mayhem.
Mauricio Longoni, AQUIRIS CEO and now Epic Games Brasil studio director, expressed his excitement for the acquisition, stating that it would spotlight the region’s developers for the entire gaming industry. Longoni is eager to leverage AQUIRIS’ experience using Unreal Engine to contribute to Fortnite’s future.
Epic Games’ Executive Vice President of Game Development, Alain Tascan, praised the AQUIRIS team’s impressive talents in creating innovative games with global appeal. Tascan expressed excitement in welcoming the team to Epic Games and emphasized the company’s eagerness to tap into the immense talent the Latin American region has to offer.
The acquisition follows an investment made by Epic Games in AQUIRIS in early 2022. AQUIRIS, founded in 2007, has developed award-winning titles like Wonderbox and the Horizon Chase franchise. The studio’s developers will work on groundbreaking content and social experiences within Fortnite, helping Epic Games establish a strong presence in Latin America.