Wheely good deal
Longtime publisher Codemasters has acquired fellow Brit developer Slightly Mad Studios, the team behind the Project CARS series. The $30 million acquisition brings into the fold Slightly Mad’s 150-strong personnel, as well as three projects currently in development at the studio.
Codemasters has been focused on the driving/racing genre for some years now, having published multiple titles in the GRID, Dirt and F1 series, as well as more arcade-based racers such as Micro Machines and Onrush. Bringing on board a local studio dedicated to the genre is a logical business move.
Speaking with GamesIndustry.biz, Codemasters CEO Frank Sagnier said of new deal: “Codemasters’ acquisition of SMS will create a global leader in the racing genre. Their focus on AAA quality and the passion that they put into everything they create mirrors our own. Both companies have a number of world renowned, successful franchises along with exciting product development pipelines, supported by leading IP and some of the best talent in the gaming industry.”
Slightly Mad are currently working on mobile game Project CARS Go, a new racer rumored to be based on movie franchise The Fast & The Furious, and a third, undisclosed title.
Codemasters buys Slightly Mad Studios for $30 million [GamesIndustry.biz]