In a surprise move announced this afternoon, investment management firm Columbus Nova announced it has purchased Sony Online Entertainment from its long-standing parent company, Sony Computer Entertainment. The studio behind MMOs like Everquest, DC Universe Online, Planetside 2, and H1Z1 will now operate as an independent firm called Daybreak Game Company, according to a press release. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

The announcement hints that the former SOE might be looking to take some of its properties to systems aside from the PC and PlayStation consoles they currently live on. "We will continue to focus on delivering exceptional games to players around the world, as well as bringing our portfolio to new platforms, fully embracing the multi-platform world in which we all live [emphasis added]," Daybreak president John Smedley said in a statement.

Smedley was even more explicit about the company's multi-platform future in a tweet following the announcement: "Can't wait to make Xbox One games!" And in a post on the company's official forums, the Daybreak team states outright that they will be developing for "PlayStation and Xbox, mobile and more!"

All current and upcoming SOE games will continue to operate and be developed as normal, Daybreak said in that same forum post. "In fact, we expect to have even more resources available to us as a result of this acquisition," the company added, leading to "new exciting developments for our existing IP and games."

Sony Online Entertainment formed in 1998, and it launched Everquest as its first product in 1999, attracting nearly half a million subscribers for the game by 2004. The studio recently released zombie-themed survival game H1Z1 via Steam Early Access and is currently working on Everquest Next, the latest entry in a series that still has its share of dedicated fans.

The sale comes as parent company Sony is struggling financially, projecting a loss of over $2 billion for the fiscal year ending in March, a result that would mean $10 billion in losses over 8 years. There are bright spots within the company though, such as the thriving PlayStation division.