Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group’s Reliance Big Entertainment will acquire a 50% stake in British video games developer and publisher Codemasters for an undisclosed amount. The balance shareholding will vest with venture capital firm Balderton Capital, which had invested in Codemasters in 2005, said a statement from Reliance Big Entertainment.
Codemasters has major franchises in cricket games (The Ashes), racing games (Formula 1, Dirt2 and Race Driver Grid), performance games (Dance Factory) and military simulations (Operation Flashpoint 2). It has annual revenues in excess of $150 million.
Zapak Digital, the gaming division of Reliance Big Entertainment will oversee the Codemasters investment, the statement said.
Zapak CEO Rohit Sharma said: ?We are excited to partner with Codemasters and believe its very strong technology, development and distribution presence will complement our global gaming portfolio.?
Codemasters CEO Rod Cousens said: ?Reliance and Zapak have immense resources and will help us realise the full potential of our game coding and online excellence across so many platforms, and especially in the world’s fastest growing markets.?