Continuing its practice of accumulating third-party development talent in the game market with Boston MMO studio Turbine (Lord of the Rings Online, Dungeons and Dragons Online.) While the financial negotiations were not disclosed in full, this dominant share of the company adds Turbine to Warner Brothers growing collection, the company having already bought the controlling rights to Midway (Mortal Kombat), Rocksteady (Batman: Arkham Asylum), TT Games (Lego titles), Monolith (Condemned), and Snowblind Studios (the upcoming Lord of the Rings: War in the North). The addition of Turbine will hopefully give Warner Brothers “[a] proprietary digital publishing platform that enables dynamic direct-to-consumer relationships, robust online merchandising opportunities and vibrant e-commerce functionality for online games.”
“Turbine is a leader in online entertainment and a strong strategic fit for Warner Bros. as we continue to broaden our games portfolio and development capabilities,” said Kevin Tsujihara, president, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group. “Turbine’s renowned online game development and publishing expertise will help us develop additional online product offerings, while also providing us with new and innovative ways to market and communicate with our consumers.”
“Turbine is recognized globally for its industry-leading technology, groundbreaking graphics and its unique ability to create and operate massive and persistent online worlds which greatly enhance players’ social gaming experiences,” added Martin Tremblay, president, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “The Lord of the Rings Online and Dungeons & Dragons Online have both been an enormous success for Turbine and we look forward to working with their talented development team to continue creating award-winning online games.”
“We have been looking to expand access to our online worlds to more players and more markets,” said Jim Crowley, president and CEO, Turbine, Inc. “This acquisition is very exciting because it allows us to expand globally while continuing to focus on creating spectacular online games that our loyal fans and players have come to expect.”