[This unedited press release is made available courtesy of Gamasutra and its partnership with notable game PR-related resource GamesPress.]
February 14, 2013 — Wargaming, the leading
free-to-play MMO developer and publisher, today announced its
agreement to acquire Seattle-based developer Gas Powered Games, the
maker of memorable and critically acclaimed franchises such as
Dungeon Siege, Supreme Commander and Demigod.
Wargaming will take full ownership of Gas Powered Games,
bringing into its fold a contingent of veteran developers,
including CEO and company founder Chris Taylor. The acquisition
will further bolster Wargaming’s push into multiplatform
expansion, including the recent acquisition announcement of
Chicago-based Day 1 Studios and MMO middleware provider Big World
Pty Ltd.
“Gas Powered Games’ heritage and development
pedigree shows us just how valuable an addition Chris and his
company will make to the Wargaming family,” said Victor
Kislyi, CEO of Wargaming. “Gas Powered Games has a long track
record of providing incredibly engaging AAA gaming experiences and
we can’t wait to start working with them.”
“Wargaming growth in recent years has been tremendous, and
we’re looking forward to joining one of the fastest growing
gaming companies in the world,” added Chris Taylor, CEO of
Gas Powered Games. “I’m sure our experience and
expertise will help us contribute even more to Wargaming’s
global success.”
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About Wargaming
Wargaming is an award-winning online game developer and
publisher and one of the leaders in the free-to-play MMO market.
Founded as a privately held company in 1998, Wargaming has shipped
more than 15 titles and employs over 1400 people across such key
regions as North America, Europe, Russia, Asia, and Australia.
Currently, Wargaming is focused on its team-based MMO war series
dedicated to mid-20
th century warfare that will include the company's
flagship armored MMO World of Tanks, launched in April 2011 and
currently boasting 50 million players worldwide, the flight combat
World of Warplanes, named one of the most anticipated MMOs, and the
naval World of Warships, both scheduled for release in 2013.
In June 2012, Wargaming announced the Wargaming.net Service, the
epicenter of the online battle gaming universe that will gather the
series under a single portal —
www.wargaming.net.
Official website:
·
www.wargaming.com
About Gas Powered Games
Gas Powered Games was founded in May 1998 by acclaimed game
designer and industry visionary, Chris Taylor. The founding
principle for GPG was to create immersive AAA games that push the
boundaries of interactive entertainment.
The company's first project, Dungeon Siege, was released in
April 2002, and its sequel, Dungeon Siege II was released in August
2005. Both games were critical and commercial successes, selling in
excess of 1.7 million copies. Other games in the Dungeon Siege
franchise include Dungeon Siege: Throne of Agony for the PSP
(developed cooperatively with SuperVillian Studios) and Dungeon
Siege II: Deluxe Edition.
GPG followed the success of Dungeon Siege with Supreme
Commander, a revolutionary RTS game that has been hailed by critics
for its innovative gameplay, Strategic Zoom and streamlined Command
& Control system. Supreme Commander received numerous Editors'
Choice awards and went on to critical and commercial success.
Recent and current projects include Space Siege, Demigod, and
Supreme Commander 2.
With its office in the Pacific Northwest, GPG is a short
distance from Seattle, Washington, and currently employs some of
the industry's best designers, programmers, writers and
artists.
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