UBI SOFT ACQUIRES THE LEARNING COMPANY’S ENTERTAINMENT DIVISION
PARIS, France - March 7, 2001 Ubi Soft has signed a deal with parent company, Gores Technology Group, for the acquisition of the entertainment division of The Learning Company. Thanks to this acquisition, Ubi Soft, one of the world leaders in interactive entertainment, becomes the publisher of the next two episodes of the Myst" series and grows its catalog by more than 80 titles, including other world-renowned brands like Pool of Radiance™, Prince of Persia, Chessmaster" and Harpoon. Additionally this new operation in the U.S. considerably reinforces the presence of the Ubi Soft group in North America.
Myst represents a turning point in the history of video games, with its surreal setting, sparse yet poetic storyline and breathtaking graphics. Since its creation in 1993, Myst and its various sequels have been in the top 10 of video game sales on all formats, with more than 10 million copies sold worldwide. The May 7th release of Myst" III: Exile on PC and Mac will carry the legend forward, as sales for the game are estimated to surpass a million copies worldwide. Ubi Soft will also bring this game to the new generation consoles.
This acquisition confers upon Ubi Soft the exclusive publishing rights to 88 titles. Among these titles are such leading brands as Pool of Radiance™, The Legend of Alon D’Ar™, Earth 2150: The Moon Project™, Championship Surfer™, Silent Hunter II™, and Dogz, and Catz. These games will enrich Ubi Soft’s strong brand catalog with diverse titles that include adventure, role-playing and sports games, all geared toward an adult target audience. Ubi Soft thus fills out its PC offerings, which should represent more than a third of its global catalog over the next twelve months. Additionally, the acquisition of TLC’s Entertainment Division allows the Ubi Soft group to reinforce its position in the U.S. through the integration of the company based in Novato, California, as well as through numerous contracts with first-rate American development studios. Moreover, Ubi Soft anticipates that Myst" III: Exile will be the best selling PC product in the U.S.