SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) — Ubisoft said Tuesday it has bought Canadian special effects studio Hybride Technologies in a move that will wed the French firm's hot videogames with Hollywood films.
Montreal-based Hybride has put its cinematic special effects prowess to work in films including "Sin City" and animated blockbuster "300."
Ubisoft intends to use Hybride technology to make more film-like videogames and as leverage for getting movies made from its titles, such as its franchise based on Tom Clancy military espionage fiction novels.
"This alliance is a true first for the industry," said Yannis Mallat, head of Ubisoft's studio in Montreal. "Ubisoft and Hybride share the same vision of entertainment convergence."
Hybride, which has grown to 80 employees since being founded 15 years ago, will continue doing computer-generated special effects for film makers.
Ubisoft envisions Hybride becoming a top 3D animation studio in an entertainment industry that fuses videogaming with films.
"The future of our industry depends on our ability to create brands that captivate audiences and to extend those brands to other forms of entertainment," Ubisoft chief executive Yves Guillemot said in a statement.
"The sharing of technological and creative expertise between Ubisoft and Hybride will position the two companies at the head of the pack in an entertainment industry in rapid evolution," said Hybride founder Pierre Raymond.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
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