Namco Bandai Games Expands European Distribution Agreement with Codemasters® On 2013 Lineup in Every Key Territory Of Europe Including United Kingdom and Ireland
NAMCO BANDAI Games will distribute Major Forthcoming Codemasters Titles Including GRID 2™, the long-awaited sequel of the critically acclaimed Race Driver: GRID™, available in 2013 on PlayStation®3, Xbox 360® and PC -
PARIS, FRANCE – 11 February 2013 – NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe S.A.S., one of the video game industry's leading distribution, marketing and sales companies, today announced the signing of a new agreement to continue its distribution of major titles from global video game developer and publisher Codemasters® across continental Europe and Australasia.
Expanding the partnership established in 2010, the agreement will see NAMCO BANDAI distribute GRID 2™, the much anticipated sequel to the acclaimed BAFTA award-winning title, in every key territory of continental Europe, including United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Russia, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Austria, Switzerland and parts of Eastern Europe, the entire Benelux and Nordic regions, plus Australia and New Zealand. In addition to GRID 2, the agreement encompasses major forthcoming games to be published by Codemasters on its Codemasters Racing label, including as yet unannounced titles.
“Our partnership with Codemasters started a few years ago with a few number of territories. Throughout the years, we have built a trustworthy relationship leading us to add key countries every year in our partnership. Today we are taking a new step by adding the United Kingdom and Ireland to our distribution agreement offering Codemasters the full potential of our network but also support in marketing and communication” said Alberto González Lorca, VP Third Parties, NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe.
“As the dynamics of interactive entertainment change and evolve, then the shift to collaborative support via structured agile partnerships, which extend cost efficiencies and provide for stronger alliances, is the way forward,” said Rod Cousens, CEO, Codemasters. “We have progressed our relationship with Namco Bandai Partners for more than two years and, during that time, we have expanded territorial reach, which has worked well. We are now able to build on this and further extend our relationship to embrace more countries, including the UK and functions. By working together in this fashion we play to each other’s strengths and are trailblazing an arrangement which is likely to become more prevalent in a borderless industry.”
For more information about NAMCO BANDAI Games and its entire line up, please visit the NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe official website at www.namcobandaigames.eu. For more details on GRID 2, visit www.gridgame.com[/i]
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About GRID 2
GRID 2 will challenge players to be fast, be first and be famous. Going behind the wheel of a handpicked selection of automotive icons spanning four decades, gamers will race their way to the top of a new, evolving world of motorsport. From Paris to Abu Dhabi, Chicago to the sun-kissed California coast and beyond, beautifully created city streets, licensed circuits and edge-of-control mountain roads will become home to the most visceral and exhilarating racing yet. GRID 2 is in production at Codemasters Racing Studios and will be published by Codemasters on May 31st 2013 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and PC.
About NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe S.A.S.
NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe S.A.S., part of NAMCO BANDAI Holdings Inc., is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive content for platforms including all major video game consoles and PC, with marketing and sales operations in 50 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Australasia. The company is known for creating and publishing many of the industry’s top video game franchises, including PAC-MAN™, Tekken™, SOULCALIBUR™, NARUTO™, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, Dragon Ball®, GALAGA™, RIDGE RACER™ and ACE COMBAT™. More information about the company and its products can be found at www.namcobandaigames.eu or www.facebook.com/namcobandaigames.europe.
About Codemasters
Codemasters, the award winning video game developer and publisher, has a 25-year heritage. With titles distributed globally, Codemasters is a leading developer and publisher of driving and racing entertainment games including DiRT, GRID and the official FORMULA ONE series of games including the BAFTA award-winning F1 2010, F1 2011 and F1 ONLINE: THE GAME. Codemasters employs over 500 people and operates multiple development studios from its Warwickshire HQ and Birmingham sites in the UK with a further art studio based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Codemasters is a winner of the coveted Grand Prix Award from the Develop Industry Excellence Awards, an award bestowed on the company felt by Develop to have contributed the most to the games medium in recent times. In March 2010, Reliance Big Entertainment Ltd. (RBEL), a part of India’s Reliance ADA group, acquired a 50 per cent shareholding in the company, alongside existing investor, Balderton Capital, the leading European venture capital firm. For more information on Codemasters’ product portfolio, please visit www.codemasters.com. Join in the conversation with @codemasters on Twitter or Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/codemasters.
© 2012 The Codemasters Software Company Limited ("Codemasters"). All rights reserved. "Codemasters”®, “Ego”® and the Codemasters logo are registered trademarks owned by Codemasters. “Codemasters Racing”™ and “RaceNet”™ are trademarks of Codemasters.
“PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox Live, and Kinect are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.
Press Release © 2013 NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe S.A.S.. All rights reserved.
Expanding the partnership established in 2010, the agreement will see NAMCO BANDAI distribute GRID 2™, the much anticipated sequel to the acclaimed BAFTA award-winning title, in every key territory of continental Europe, including United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Russia, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Austria, Switzerland and parts of Eastern Europe, the entire Benelux and Nordic regions, plus Australia and New Zealand. In addition to GRID 2, the agreement encompasses major forthcoming games to be published by Codemasters on its Codemasters Racing label, including as yet unannounced titles.
“Our partnership with Codemasters started a few years ago with a few number of territories. Throughout the years, we have built a trustworthy relationship leading us to add key countries every year in our partnership. Today we are taking a new step by adding the United Kingdom and Ireland to our distribution agreement offering Codemasters the full potential of our network but also support in marketing and communication” said Alberto González Lorca, VP Third Parties, NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe.
“As the dynamics of interactive entertainment change and evolve, then the shift to collaborative support via structured agile partnerships, which extend cost efficiencies and provide for stronger alliances, is the way forward,” said Rod Cousens, CEO, Codemasters. “We have progressed our relationship with Namco Bandai Partners for more than two years and, during that time, we have expanded territorial reach, which has worked well. We are now able to build on this and further extend our relationship to embrace more countries, including the UK and functions. By working together in this fashion we play to each other’s strengths and are trailblazing an arrangement which is likely to become more prevalent in a borderless industry.”
For more information about NAMCO BANDAI Games and its entire line up, please visit the NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe official website at www.namcobandaigames.eu. For more details on GRID 2, visit www.gridgame.com[/i]
# # #
About GRID 2
GRID 2 will challenge players to be fast, be first and be famous. Going behind the wheel of a handpicked selection of automotive icons spanning four decades, gamers will race their way to the top of a new, evolving world of motorsport. From Paris to Abu Dhabi, Chicago to the sun-kissed California coast and beyond, beautifully created city streets, licensed circuits and edge-of-control mountain roads will become home to the most visceral and exhilarating racing yet. GRID 2 is in production at Codemasters Racing Studios and will be published by Codemasters on May 31st 2013 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and PC.
About NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe S.A.S.
NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe S.A.S., part of NAMCO BANDAI Holdings Inc., is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive content for platforms including all major video game consoles and PC, with marketing and sales operations in 50 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Australasia. The company is known for creating and publishing many of the industry’s top video game franchises, including PAC-MAN™, Tekken™, SOULCALIBUR™, NARUTO™, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, Dragon Ball®, GALAGA™, RIDGE RACER™ and ACE COMBAT™. More information about the company and its products can be found at www.namcobandaigames.eu or www.facebook.com/namcobandaigames.europe.
About Codemasters
Codemasters, the award winning video game developer and publisher, has a 25-year heritage. With titles distributed globally, Codemasters is a leading developer and publisher of driving and racing entertainment games including DiRT, GRID and the official FORMULA ONE series of games including the BAFTA award-winning F1 2010, F1 2011 and F1 ONLINE: THE GAME. Codemasters employs over 500 people and operates multiple development studios from its Warwickshire HQ and Birmingham sites in the UK with a further art studio based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Codemasters is a winner of the coveted Grand Prix Award from the Develop Industry Excellence Awards, an award bestowed on the company felt by Develop to have contributed the most to the games medium in recent times. In March 2010, Reliance Big Entertainment Ltd. (RBEL), a part of India’s Reliance ADA group, acquired a 50 per cent shareholding in the company, alongside existing investor, Balderton Capital, the leading European venture capital firm. For more information on Codemasters’ product portfolio, please visit www.codemasters.com. Join in the conversation with @codemasters on Twitter or Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/codemasters.
© 2012 The Codemasters Software Company Limited ("Codemasters"). All rights reserved. "Codemasters”®, “Ego”® and the Codemasters logo are registered trademarks owned by Codemasters. “Codemasters Racing”™ and “RaceNet”™ are trademarks of Codemasters.
“PlayStation” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox Live, and Kinect are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.
Press Release © 2013 NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe S.A.S.. All rights reserved.