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Global games firm moves in

AN INTERNATIONAL video games firm has set up a new base in the North East and has already taken on engineers from the former Midway studio in Gateshead, which collapsed last year.

Icelandic game developer CCP has opened its fourth global studio in Gateshead Quays to focus on console game development, charting new paths for gameplay and business models that aim to breathe new life into connected consoles.

The first major job for the new studio will be to collaborate with CCP Asia in Shanghai to develop the first person shooter game Dust 514.

“The decision to establish a UK studio was an easy one for CCP,” said Richard Smith, technical director of CCP Newcastle.

“The North East has a distinguished heritage of game development, an experienced console-development talent pool and local universities producing exceptional graduates.

“We have been able to assemble a world-class team of console developers with unparalleled Unreal Engine expertise and integrate them with CCP’s global organisation.”

CCP’s founding engineers in the region come from Midway Games, where they were widely recognised as some of the UK’s top talent in the sector.

Midway closed its doors in Gateshead, last summer with the loss of 74 jobs.

The move came after its American owners fell into financial difficulty and filed for bankruptcy.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .