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Capcom Acquires Tenchu Z Dev, MotoGP License
by David Jenkins [PC, Console/PC, Mobile Phone, Mobile Console]
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March 31, 2008
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Officials from Japanese publisher and developer Capcom have announced they are to acquire developer K2, best known for its recent work on the Xbox 360 title Tenchu Z. The studio will become a wholly owned subsidiary through a simple exchange of stock.
Although Capcom has never traditionally published any of K2’s major retail release, the two companies have recently worked together behind the scenes - most recently in creating additional content for console hit Lost Planet: Extreme Condition.
No changes are expected in respect to K2’s name, current activities, head offices or CEOs. In a statement, Capcom indicated that the main reasons for the acquisition was to “make it possible to allocate development resources more efficiently in response to shifts in market conditions. This is expected to facilitate the strategic development of software and create synergies.”
Capcom officials have also announced that the company has secured exclusive worldwide rights to publish official video games and create peripherals based on the MotoGP motorcycling championship, across all hardware platforms.
The PlayStation license for MotoGP has always been handled separated, with Capcom acquiring the rights from Namco Bandai for the release of last year’s MotoGP 07. The license is better known however, via THQ’s series of Xbox 360 and PC titles - traditionally developed by Climax Racing.
Since the acquisition of Climax Racing by Disney Interactive, THQ has decided not to renew the license, with Capcom acquiring the rights for the next five years. As a result games based on the 2008 season are already being planned on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, PC, PlayStation 2 and mobile handsets.
“We are very excited to have signed this long term agreement with Dorna Sports, which for the first time grants one publisher worldwide multi-platform rights to the adrenaline fuelled world of MotoGP", said Mark Beaumont, executive vice president, officer and head of Capcom consumer software publishing in the Americas and Europe. “We feel this move to a single publisher will greatly benefit our ability to develop titles that deliver more authenticity and excitement to the consumer”.
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