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EA Interactive agrees to buy Real Racing developer Firemint

Agent SquEAk

EA Interactive agrees to buy Real Racing developer Firemint
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In the world of mega-global corporate takeovers, EA is a canny consumer. Last year it acquired Chillingo, the publisher responsible for bringing both Angry Birds and Cut the Rope to the world, and now it's announced that will acquire Firemint, the developer responsible for Flight Control and the critically lauded Real Racing series.

In a press release, exective VP and general manager of EA Interactive Barry Cottle writes, “The Firemint team is remarkable for its critical and commercial success. Having them as part of EAi will accelerate our position as worldwide leader in game development for mobile devices and online gaming platforms.”

The move follows EA's recent acquisition of Mobile Post Production Inc (MPP), which ports games to smartphone platforms.

Cottle adds, “The added technical expertise of MPP, combined with the creative talent of Firemint and our EAi studio teams, fuels EA’s leadership in delivering top selling, high quality games across mobile phones and smartphones, tablets and future digital interactive entertainment platforms.”

Firemint has won two Pocket Gamer iPhone Game of the Year Awards, with Flight Control and Real Racing 2 respectively. Because there have only been two Pocket Gamer iPhone Game of the Year Awards, Firemint holds the distinction of winning 100 per cent of them.

The studio's casual title Agent Squeek will arrive on iOS later this year.

Rob Hearn
Rob Hearn
Having obtained a distinguished education, Rob became Steel Media's managing editor, now he's no longer here though.