Developer-cum-publisher Data Design Interactive has opened a new US office in Sarasota, Florida.

The studio will operate as a separate US registered company.

The firm says the HQ can ‘provide the correct creative atmosphere required to work effectively on today’s demanding Next-Gen projects’ – including PS3 and Xbox 360 titles.

The company has also revealed that it is set to double its headcount in the UK following a successful year for its self-published Popcorn Arcade games.

MD of DDI Stewart Green said,

"With so many games companies losing millions, and UK companies forced to leave the country to cut costs, I’m pleased to be part of a British success story, and this has been a very successful year for our company.

“Our titles have sold very well and we now need to expand the company to keep up with the global demand for even more of our titles. The decision to open a US office is not an exit from the UK, in-fact our UK office is still undergoing expansion with a doubling of UK staff planned this year."

Green added:

"The decision to open a US office is not an exit from the UK, in-fact our UK office is still undergoing expansion with a doubling of UK staff planned this year."