Digital Illusions untitled game which is being launched in 2006/2007 will also be developed for Sonys Playstation Portable (PSP). Digital Illusions licenses the right to develop the product for PSP, Xbox and Playstation 2 (PS2) to Electronic Arts’ studio in Great Britain. Furthermore the Company announces that the PSP version of Battlefield 2 Modern Combat is out on hold.
- To Digital Illusions licensing is an attractive solution since the Company doesn’t have enough resources personnel-wise to produce versions for all platforms internally at the moment, said Patrick Söderlund, CEO at Digital Illusions.
In the games sector, major games are released for all significant platforms simultaneously in order to achieve maximum coverage and revenues. Digital Illusions focuses on rapidly becoming one of the leading developers for the next generation's platforms – Xbox 360 from Microsoft and Playstation 3 from Sony. For the moment, the Company does not have sufficient personnel resources to simultaneously develop several different games for all significant platforms. For Digital Illusions it is therefore an attractive solution to license out the production for certain platform versions, because it enables the Company to obtain a greater product portfolio without additional costs.
Digital Illusions licenses the right to develop the PSP, Xbox and PS2 versions of the untitled game to Electronic Arts (EA). The PSP version is a new contract while the Xbox and PS2 versions were planned to be developed internally earlier. Now the development is moved to EA’s UK studio instead.
In the licensing model, Digital Illusions does not have any development costs. The Company therefore receives royalties as of the first sold game for the platform, instead of when the game has first covered its development budget. At the same time, Digital Illusions receives a lower royalty level per sold game because the product is developed externally.
The untitled game for PSP, Xbox and PS2 is planned for a 2006/2007 debut, at the same time as the product’s versions for the next generation consoles Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 are launched. Publisher of the game is Electronic Arts.
The PSP version of Battlefield 2 Modern Combat, planned to be launched during the first quarter of 2006, is put on hold. The foremost reason is lack of personnel resources. If and when it will be released is yet to be decided. Battlefield 2 Modern Combat will be launched for Xbox and PS2 during the forth quarter 2005, and for Xbox 360 during the first quarter 2006.