Best managed companies | Objective: make acquisitions and be better

Behaviour interactive, the largest developer and independent video game publisher in Canada, focus on acquisitions and its desire to be better in order to ensure its growth.

Posted at 9:00 a.m.

Julie Chaumont special collaboration

The video game industry has experienced dazzling growth during the first two years of the pandemic. “We had 70 % increase in sales in 2020,” reveals Rémi Racine, co -founder and chief executive officer of Behaviour interactive.

Even if this increase in sales was not so radiant in the following years, this has increased the consumer pool. And this new base promotes the continuation of the growth of the company. “There, we have a growth of 5 to 10 % per year. »»

Last year, Behaviour Interactive acquired Fly, a Montreal studio specializing in immersive productions, and Red Hook, a Vancouver studio specializing in horror video game. “The reflection to buy studios – and we are still looking at – is to buy studios that have ip [propriétés intellectuelles] that generate income. This is why we are on the lookout to buy this kind of IP in the field, in horror games, “says Mr. Racine. Does Behaviour Interactive have new acquisitions in sight? ” No. But I would like it! »»

The desire to be better

In addition to acquisitions, the Montreal company is in the development of an internal game. “It’s more complicated. We ask ourselves questions. How do we make better games, in less time? Because the more time you take, the more the market changes. Will your initial idea be good when you get to the end? And also, how to make games that are attractive? It’s very difficult, ”says Rémi Racine.

He stresses that people remain attached to certain star games, which adds to the difficulty of putting a new game on the market that will harm success.

Behaviour Interactive has received an “gold” designation by the most managed companies program in Canada. This distinction highlights its adaptability and versatility. “It is not true that every year is experiencing crazy growth. We made mistakes, because we have to take risks. The challenge is to maintain growth. I think if you are targeting stability, you will decrease. You always have to have the desire to be better. It is not just to say: you have to do 5 or 10 %, you have to identify where you want to be better and there you work accordingly. And the result will be better. »»

Rémi Racine admits that the current year will probably not be the most fruitful, but that the company should be able to make its figures. “Until now, this year, we are roughly we are target on sales. Not quite on it, a little below, but we should catch up. »»