Even with the pandemic in 2020, many video game companies saw record profits driven by people who needed something to do while staying at home. The Swedish-based Paradox Interactive has released its financials for 2020, reporting an increase of revenue compared to previous years.
Paradox Interactive is a video game publisher behind titles like the space-faring grand strategy gameStellaris, the mafia-simEmpire of Sin, andCrusader Kings III. It also currently owns the rights to theWorld of Darknessfranchise, which includes properties likeVampire: The Masquerade,Werewolf: The Apocalypse, andWraith: The Oblivion, which is getting a VR title later this year. Paradox isn’t the main developer and publisher on all of the game adaptations of these properties, but it is the publisher forVampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2.
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In the report,Paradox Interactiveannounced its revenue for 2020 increased by 39% compared to the previous year, with the company reaching about $217 million in revenue. Even though the company saw a decrease in profits in Q4, the overall year for Paradox was considered a success. Both the monthly players of Paradox titles as well as the number of Paradox account holders increased in 2020.
Also in 2020, Paradox saw the release ofthe highly-reviewedCrusader Kings III,which will continue to receive content updates through its expansion pass. However, even though Paradox invested more into game development in 2020 with about $73.9 million, many of the games' development cycles were negatively affect by COVID-19. CEO Ebba Ljungerud even revealed that Paradox cancelled a game toward the end of the year that hadn’t even been announced.
Ljungerud also commented onthe reception ofEmpire of Sin, saying the company wasn’t satisfied with the game’s launch. Perhaps the biggest blow to Paradox Interactive was the continuously troubled development ofVampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2. The game had been in development for several years, and was finally planned to release in 2020 before ultimately being delayed into 2021. Just recently, Paradox has removed the developer from the project, delaying the game even further.
Looking on the bright side, Paradox Interactive should enjoy its successful year, but should find ways to continue the company’s growth going forward.
