Certain Affinity, a developer known for its co-development projects on major franchises and games like Call of Duty, Halo, and Hogwarts Legacy, has been sold to Keywords Studios. You might not have heard of the Dublin-based Keywords, but the company is gigantic--it owns 50 companies around the world, many of which are connected to the video game industry in one way or another.

Keywords paid an undisclosed sum for Certain Affinity, and as part of the buyout, CEO Max Hoberman and president Paul Sams will stay on with the company. Keywords said it's excited about Certain Affinity's future, which includes a "strong pipeline of high-quality projects." One of these is the game Exodus, which features Oscar-winner Matthew McConaughey. Certain Affinity is a co-developer on the game with Archetype Entertainment, which itself is a division of Wizards of the Coast.

Keywords CEO Bertrand Bodson said the company has "enormous respect" for Certain Affinity, while Hoberman said he was "thrilled" to sell to Keywords "at this most difficult time in the market." He said selling to Keywords gives Certain Affinity and its 180+ employees "stability and a supportive home."