Activision Scoops up UK Game Studio

Bizarre Creations, the studio responsible for the Project Gotham Racing series, will help Activision build its offering of racing games.

Video game publisher Activision finally climbed behind the wheel with racing titles on Wednesday with its purchase of British developer Bizarre Creations, the crew behind the Project Gotham Racing series. Bizarre’s racing games will be among the first in Activision’s extensive portfolio.

Racing games represent 10 percent of the total gaming market and $1.4 billion in sales, and Bizarre is considered a leader in segment for the numerous awards the Project Gotham titles have raked in. Its non-racing titles include Geometry Wars and the upcoming The Club.

Despite the acquisition, Bizarre will still maintain a high level of independence. It will keep its name, continue its current developments, and wield full creative control over its titles.

Financial details of the arrangement weren’t announced. Bizarre stated that its first Activision releases would be a character game and a racing games, which Activision expects will be released some time in the 2009 fiscal year.