Splash Damage has acquired Gamepires, the developer of Scum, from Jagex

Splash Damage has taken over Gamepires, the creator of Scum, from Jagex, the developers behind Runescape, in a deal supported by Emona Capital.

This acquisition represents a shift in strategic focus aimed at merging Splash Damage’s extensive expertise in multiplayer and first-person shooter games with Gamepires’ skills in open-world survival and live services, according to a company press release.

The collaboration aims to enhance premium development and partnerships while expanding the SCUM franchise and creating new intellectual properties.

Gamepires was acquired by Jagex in 2022 during Scum’s Early Access phase, with Devolver Digital as the original publisher.

Ben Hopkinson, the current chief financial officer at Splash Damage, will step into the CEO position for the newly formed entity. Hopkinson described this move as a "defining moment" for the company, which is based in Bromley.

This expansion follows shortly after a period where Splash Damage underwent consultations for redundancies, just three months ago. The developer parted ways with Tencent in September, after being taken over by "private equity investors," now known to be Emona Capital.

Emona Capital's investment is intended to facilitate the growth of Splash Damage, strengthening its position as a key independent developer, the company stated in a news release.

Emona Capital has supported several acquisitions as publishers streamline their development assets. In March 2025, it backed the acquisition of Secret Mode for an undisclosed amount. Its investment portfolio also includes Amber Studio, Blackbird Interactive, and Relic Entertainment.

Hopkinson stated, “Our independence coupled with Gamepires’ acquisition enhances our capacity to scale live-service games and develop advanced multiplayer experiences."

"With the strategic backing and industry connections of Emona Capital, we foresee a stable and promising future for Splash Damage."

Scum, released in 2018, quickly became a best-seller for Devolver, selling over a million copies within a month. Exiting Early Access in June 2025, the game has reached nearly six million in total sales, per GameDiscoverCo data.

Meanwhile, Jagex is centering its efforts on Runescape, rebranding itself as Jagex: The RuneScape Company. CEO Jon Bellamy shared with GamesIndustry.biz that they are investing "tens of millions of dollars" to bolster the brand, focusing on the iconic browser game and the new survival spin-off, Runescape:Dragonwilds.