Infogrames acquire GT Interactive, forming one of the foremost interactive entertainment companies

Infogrames Entertainment, established leading developers, publishers and distributors of interactive entertainment, today announced they had reached an agreement to acquire control of GT Interactive for a total investment of $135 million. As a result of this transaction, Infogrames will rank as one of the top interactive entertainment companies worldwide, continuing the trend towards company acquisitions and mergers in the gaming industry.

Infogrames founder and Chairman Bruno Bonnell said, "This transaction demonstrates our commitment to making Infogrames the number one player in this market. In the past two years we have demonstrated our ability to purchase and turn around such companies as Ocean in the UK and Philips Media's European assets. Similarly, I am confident that Infogrames can drive GTI back to profitability."

This transaction is intended to benefit the shareholders of both companies. In GTI, Infogrames acquire an interest in seven award-winning internal development studios, among which are Humongous Entertainment, Cavedog, Single Trac, Entertainment, WizardWorks Legend and Reflections.

What does this mean for each platform? Well, on the PC, Infogrames will be able to expand their impressive product offerings of such franchises as Mission Impossible and Test Drive to include GTI's best-sellers like Driver and Abe's Odyssey. Infogrames have no official announcements concerning the arrival of such titles on the DC, but with their current aggressive mindset towards PC to Dreamcast ports, chances are we'll see more than a few titles on Dreamcast as a result of the deal. GT Interactive also have two Game Boy Color games in the works: Oddworld Adventures 2 in development at Saffire and Driver, being developed by Crawfish. Infogrames have many games coming out for the Game Boy Color, including Mr. Nutz, Worms: Armageddon, Test Drive 6, Test Drive: Off Road 3 and Boarder Zone.

The transaction doesn't appear to affect gamers in any way other than the likelihood that GT Interactive's games will have the Infogrames name on the packaging. It might also mean that French gamers will get GT Interactive's games a bit earlier than in the past. We'll keep you posted on any more details as and when we get them.


Courtesy of IGN.com