Ubisoft has been a busy little multinational videogame corporation this week. Yesterday, the company announced that it would be publishing the next multi-format title from Nottingham developer Free Radical Design. Enticingly described as "an action game based on new IP for release in fiscal year 2006-2007" (oooh, those marketing people really know how to get us excited), the title is set to appear on PC and next-gen consoles. The leading quote in Ubisoft's press release is a typical piece of circumlocution:
"Ubisoft is looking forward to working closely with Free Radical, renowned for creating beautiful and engaging gameplay in epics such as the TimeSplitters series," said Virginie Gretz, director of third-party development for EMEA at Ubisoft. "With this game, we plan to take players to a new level of intensity and create an environment at once terrifying, enthralling and impossible to resist."
In other words, "we're not telling you anything".
Anyway, it's interesting to note that this appears to be a one game deal. Free Radical Design has already worked its way through Eidos and EA over the last five years and is clearly still not ready to commit to a long term relationship. The tart.
But Ubisoft is not finished there...
Today, the busy company also extended its publishing deal with Sony Online Entertainment, arranging to publishing two new PSP titles - Field Commander and Untold Legends: The Warrior's Code - in Europe, Asia and Australasia next spring. From the press bumph:
Developed by Sony Online Entertainment, Field Commander is the first military turn-based strategy game for the PSP system and offers engaging, challenging skill-based warfare in a realistic military setting. Untold Legends: the Warrior's Code, developed by SOE, is the sequel to the highly successful Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade. It will enthrall gamers with an all-new, epic storyline brought to life through dramatic in-game cinematics and character voice-over, an evolutionary combat experience and unique 3D graphics with real-time lighting and handcrafted environments.
It took ages to delete all the TM symbols from that...
