SEISMIC GAMES ACQUIRES GRUE GAMES AS STUDIO EXPANDS ITS PRODUCTION IN AUGMENTED AND VIRTUAL REALITY GAMING
“Los Angeles-Based Company Confirms 4 New Games Are In Development For 2017”
Seismic Games today announced that it has acquired Grue Games in a partnership that brings together a powerhouse of leading creative, technical and development talent. Grue’s CEO and former Studio Head of Beachhead (Activision Blizzard), John Linden, will take on the new role of President and Trey Watkins, Grue’s Chief Creative Officer, leading the former Grue development teams. They will work closely alongside Seismic’s co-Founders Greg Borrud and Eric Gewirtz. Both studios are recognized for developing recent multi-format hit franchises including Skylanders Battlecast and Clan Wars for Call of Duty. The company and teams will operate under its “Seismic Games” brand.
Leading into the new year, Seismic Games is expanding rapidly and the newly combined studio has two new games based on major movie universes in development for 2017 and are collaborating on an original IP VR project. In addition to mobile and VR gaming, Seismic Games will bring their vast interactive experience to a brand new location-based attraction, to be announced at a later date.
In its expansion, the studio will continue to focus its leadership on releasing best-in-class mobile 3D games as well as building on new VR / AR technologies including their Element Engine shooter technology. Recently, Seismic Games grew with over 50 employees across its two offices in Los Angeles, and has recruited additional leadership hires to bolster these teams.
John Linden, President of Seismic Games commented: “The studio merge follows what has been an incredible year for both Grue and Seismic Games. It’s very exciting for the team and I to join forces with another like-minded studio who are equally as passionate in innovating and creating high quality games across mobile and VR platforms, with a key focus on taking mixed reality experiences and licensed game properties to the next level. We are very excited about our slate of games over the next few years.”
“Seismic Games has quickly grown into an independent studio that is at the forefront of creating high production, cutting-edge graphics and compelling multiplayer experiences across mobile and VR. Nurturing talent from both triple-A production and tech start-up backgrounds has meant that we have been able to build upon and develop on newer platforms without compromising creativity or player engagement. Teaming up with John, Trey and Grue Games has cemented our vision and will allow us to evolve faster,” said Greg Borrud, CEO of Seismic Games.
Established in 2011, Seismic Games was founded and is led by CEO Greg Borrud, a 20-year gaming industry veteran whose Pandemic Studios firm was acquired by Electronic Arts in 2007 for $860 million. Alongside Borrud, co-Founder Eric Gewirtz has served as the studio’s Chief Creative Officer and brings creative expertise with a background as director of ‘Star Wars: Battlefront’ 1 & 2, one of the best-selling Star Wars video games with more than 14 million units sold.
About Seismic Games
Seismic Games is a leading games studio dedicated to creating immersive and high quality video game franchises. Founded in 2011, the studio’s two offices develop mainstream original and licensed IPs such as Clan Wars for Call of Duty and Skylander Battlecast for mobile; and spearheads new innovations in interactive entertainment across AR/VR platforms. The company was formed by seasoned game industry executives who were behind some of the best-selling game titles at Pandemic Studios, Activision Blizzard, and Vivendi Universal. For more information visit: www.seismicgames.com<http://www.seismicgames.com/>.
