Ubisoft acquires Trials franchise developer RedLynx
Ubisoft has announced its acquisition of RedLynx, the Finland-based creator of the Trials franchise, for an undisclosed amount.
Commenting on the acquisition, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said: "The team at RedLynx has developed exceptionally strong digital brands that stand out for their high replay value, their long tail sales and their multiplatform positioning. We are delighted to welcome RedLynx to the Ubisoft family.
"Their expertise in asynchronous online games and physics-based game mechanics provides us with a great opportunity to bring their powerful brands, most notably Trials, to an even broader range of fast-growing digital platforms."
Founded in 2000, RedLynx has developed over 100 titles for various digital distribution channels, including PC, consoles, mobile phones, tablets and interactive TV. It's flagship brand, Trials, has seen over 2 million paid downloads across the main game and both sets of DLC on Xbox Live.
"We were attracted by Ubisoft’s focus on creativity and quality, and the fact that they base their long-term strategy on both the traditional and digital distribution video game markets,' said Tero Virtala, RedLynx CEO. "The reality of today’s market is not about platforms, it’s about creating excellent gaming experiences that consumers can play on any device or screen they like.
"As part of the Ubisoft team, RedLynx will be able to focus even more intently on creating stand-out, excellent brands that push the boundaries of online gaming in many new growth areas. With Ubisoft, a wider audience will get the chance to enjoy our games, we’ll generate more value for our brands, and also leverage our experience more broadly in digital distribution channels."
Trials Evolution, the next title in the franchise, will be released in the coming months, and the studio's DrawRace 2 for the iPhone and iPad is the best-selling racing game on iOS in Europe and North America.
RedLynx is the fifth acquisition by Ubisoft in the online segment and preceded by Massive Entertainment, Nadeo, Quazal, and Owlient.