Keywords acquires Synthesis group

Rapidly running out of companies to buy, Keywords has now acquired the Synthesis group and once again expanded its QA, localisation and audio operations.

Synthesis has been operating for 20-years, providing QA, localisation and audio for titles such as Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto, Assassin’s Creed, Destiny and more.

Keywords is now in the process of completely taking over Synthesis Global Solutions in Switzerland, Sillabit in Italy and Synthesis Deutschland in Germany. It will also acquire “certain assets and employees” from the group’s operations in France, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, the US, Taiwan, Singapore, Korea and Japan.

The transaction will cost up to €18m and “is expected to be immediately earnings enhancing”, according to the official release. Founders Max and Luca Reynaud will retain their positions, as will Synthesis’ wider leadership team.

“We are delighted to be joining the Keywords group,” Synthesis CEO Max Reynaud said. “We firmly believe that the consolidation of the services market is an essential component in advancing the video games industry and one which will enable our multi-billion dollar, global clients to work with a leading provider that can serve their needs across all the major markets, game platforms and in support of their constant innovation in interactive content. 

“We at Synthesis have shared the vision of Keywords for some time and we are pleased to be able participate in the execution of Keywords’ strategy to become the ‘go to’ provider of technical services to the video games industry.”