Ubisoft create film studio focused on game adaptations

In a move which should really surprise nobody, following the box office success of Prince of Persia, French publisher Ubisoft has announced Ubisoft Motion Pictures - a new studio designed specifically to adapt gaming franchises for film and tv.

Variety reports that Jean-Julien Baronnet (former CEO of EuropaCorp) will be leading the Paris-based division.

This isn't the first time the company's stretched into the murky waters of transmedia - in 2007, Ubisoft Digital Arts was launched, the company which later created the ground-breaking 3D video game for James Cameron's Avatar.

Gamers and film fanatics around the world are salivating (albeit slightly apprehensively) over the idea of Assassin's Creed or Splinter Cell making it to the big screen. Ubisoft's last outing, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time grossed $335 million worldwide, with all fingers crossed this success can be repeated.

(Thanks, Joystiq!)