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Developer Respawn Entertainment has been acquired by publishing partner EA.
Respawn was formed out of the ashes of Activision’s high-profile bust-up with former Call of Duty creators Infinity Ward. Founders Jason West and Vince Zampella left the studio in the wake of the turbulence, forming Respawn and signing a publishing deal Activision rival EA.
After the huge success of the first Titanfall, which controversially was an Xbox console exclusive, Titanfall 2 released last year to tremendous critical acclaim, but little in the way of sales.
EA has now acquired the studio for $455m (providing Respawn hits its targets). It is said to have multiple titles in development including a new Titanfall, a Star Wars title and a VR release.
“We’ve seen firsthand the world-class caliber of Respawn as a development studio with incredible vision, deep talent and an inspiring creative mindset,” EA CEO Andrew Wilson said.
“Our longtime partnership is grounded in a shared desire to push the boundaries and deliver extraordinary and innovative new experiences for players around the world. Together, we’ve brought this to life in the Titanfall franchise, and now with the Respawn team joining EA, we have exciting plans to accomplish even more amazing things in the future.”
Zampella added: “We started Respawn with the goal to create a studio with some of the best talent in the industry, and to be a top developer of innovative games. We felt that now was the time to join an industry leader that brings the resources and support we need for long term success, while still keeping our culture and creative freedom. EA has been a great partner over the years with Titanfall and Titanfall 2, and we’re excited to combine our strengths. This is a great next step for Respawn, EA, and our players.”
