I don't get how this whole thing with video game developers and publishers works. I mean, I was going to say that Gearbox doesn't actually own Cryptic but then I got to thinking that NCLimpSoft was only a publisher for Cryptic, once, but yet was able to shut down CoH.
However it works I'm thinking that this isn't a step down for Cryptic. May be a step up. Gearbox is a 'merican company with a parent company that has over 100 studios under it. Some further googling also revealed they seem partial to preserving classic games. I read something that said they own Dark Horse comics, too.
Wiki says this about Gearbox's parent company, Embracer "At an early age, Swedish entrepreneur Lars Wingefors (edit:Head Dude at Embracer) began successfully selling a diverse range of products, including Christmas magazines and plastic bags, and when he was 13 years old, he founded LW Comics, a company that sold second-hand comic books.[5][6]"
Whereas Perfect World is (was?) a China based company that didn't really seem very invested in Cryptic.
Embracer seems to have the cash, too.. (also from Wiki) "In December 2021, Embracer launched its intent to acquire Asmodee for €2.75 billion, as to incorporate it wholly as Embracer's ninth operational group and allowing Embracer to expand into the board game market.[52] That same month, Embracer also acquired Perfect World Entertainment, including its publishing arm and Cryptic Studios, from the Perfect World holding group and Perfect World Europe, for $103 million. Once approved, Perfect World Entertainment would become part of the Gearbox division.[53] It further acquired Dark Horse Media, the parent company for Dark Horse Comics and Dark Horse Entertainment, establishing Dark Horse as its tenth operating division.
Oh wait, what was that about Perfect World...?
So, yeah. May be a step up for Cryptic.