Game publishing giants join forces to capture "substantial market share" in Europe

Interplay and Virgin Interactive have announced that agreements have been made with regard to joint publishing, sales, marketing and distribution operations in Europe and America. Virgin, who have only recently split from Viacom, will distribute most of Interplay’s titles in Europe, while the situation is reversed elsewhere, with Interplay distributing Virgin’s titles in the United States and Japan.

Interplay have also acquired 49.9 per cent of Virgin as part of the deal. Essentially, this gives both companies a greater profile than they would otherwise have had, and enables them to cut substantial costs. Interplay chairman Brian Fargo said: “We have initiated efforts to reduce our operating costs company-wide and have implemented a narrower product development focus by returning to the kinds of titles, such as role-playing games, upon which we built the company and where we have a dominant position. Both Baldur’s Gate and Fallout have done very well and we have an exciting line-up of titles scheduled for introduction later this year”.

Commenting on the agreement, Peter Bilotta, co-president of Virgin said: “This transaction marks the beginning of what we believe will be a dynamic and profitable relationship for both companies. Virgin and Interplay have remarkably complementary people resources and product flow, and together we will control a substantial market share throughout Europe.” Let’s see the colour of the games, then…