Slitherine has obtained the Warhammer Blood Bowl license from the financially struggling French publisher Nacon

Slitherine Software, known for its expertise in wargame and strategy titles, has obtained the license, publishing rights, and back catalog for the Blood Bowl series from Nacon. This follows Nacon's recent insolvency filing. The agreement includes publishing the forthcoming Warhammer Blood Bowl game.

The well-established developer Cyanide Studio will continue to develop the game. Slitherine has committed to maintaining and expanding the Blood Bowl video game series while emphasizing player feedback and long-term support.

Cyanide, along with three other studios owned by Nacon, including Spiders, the developer behind Greedfall, filed for insolvency in March. Spiders later ceased operations after failing to find a buyer. According to Marco Minoli, Slitherine's Director of Publishing, the deal allows Nacon to sustain its studio setup and endows the franchise with dedicated publishing proficiency from Slitherine.

"We aren't taking an ownership stake in Cyanide, but we are securing a long term development deal with them."

Minoli explained that while Slitherine won't own a share in Cyanide, they are ensuring continued development of the game. He further stated that this move represents a significant investment for Slitherine.

As restructuring began at Nacon, Slitherine saw an opportunity to preserve a cherished franchise. They reached out to Cyanide with a compelling proposition, explaining why Slitherine would be an ideal partner. Despite other interested parties, Slitherine's proposal aligned with Cyanide's vision for the game.

The Blood Bowl series, a strategic sports game set in the Warhammer fantasy universe, has sold nearly a million copies on Steam according to GameDiscoverCo data. Slitherine has previously handled publishing for the Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector and Warhammer 40,000: Gladius games.

Patrick Pligersdorffer, CEO of Cyanide, stated, “We are pleased to collaborate with Slitherine to secure the future of the Blood Bowl video games,” acknowledging Slitherine's track record in publishing superior strategy games as a complementary fit.

The acquisition aligns with Slitherine's broader strategy to expand its role in the strategy and tactics genre, following a series of recent acquisitions and publishing agreements.