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Take-Two Acquires Illusion Softworks

By Skyler Sutter on Tuesday, January 8, 2008 at 5:10 PM EST  

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Take-Two Interactive, publisher of the popular Grand Theft Auto series, announced today that they have officially acquired developer Illusions Softworks, who is currently hard at work on the sequel to 2002’s crime game, Mafia.

NEW YORK–(Business Wire)–Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:TTWO) today announced the acquisition of Illusion Softworks, a premier Central European-based game development studio with operations in Brno and Prague, the Czech Republic. Illusion Softworks has approximately 200 employees and will join Take-Two’s 2K Games publishing label as its newest studio, 2K Czech.

Established in 1997, Illusion Softworks is the creator and owner of several hit video game franchises, including Mafia, Hidden & Dangerous and Vietcong. The studio is currently working with 2K Games on Mafia II, the sequel to the original Mafia, which helped establish the gangster genre and sold more than two million units.

“The acquisition of Illusion Softworks reflects our strategic focus on owning high-value intellectual property as we continue to expand our portfolio of triple-A titles,” said Ben Feder, Chief Executive Officer of Take-Two.

Christoph Hartmann, President of 2K, said, “Adding 2K Czech to our network of development studios demonstrates our strong commitment to creating great franchises and building world-class creative teams. The 2K Czech team is responsible for several very innovative and highly-regarded franchises and we look forward to continuing to develop new and existing IP together.”

“We have an excellent working relationship with 2K Games and the utmost respect for them,” said Petr Vochozka, CEO of 2K Czech. “We are pleased to become a 2K studio and are confident that this new partnership will strengthen our current and future projects.”

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3 Responses to “Take-Two Acquires Illusion Softworks”

  1. New Mafia 2 Screens : Primotech on March 6th, 2008 9:31 pm

    [...] Games’ newly acquired studio 2K Czech has released an impressive set of screenshots for their upcoming third-person [...]

  2. Drive-By Sighting: New Mafia 2 Screens : Primotech on March 6th, 2008 10:19 pm

    [...] Games’ newly acquired studio 2K Czech has released an impressive set of screenshots for its upcoming third-person action [...]

  3. Borderlands, Mafia II, Midnight Club LA, GTAIV Episodic Content In 2008-09 : Primotech on March 11th, 2008 6:04 pm

    [...] will arrive on the PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 during this time-frame, as will 2K Czech’s (formerly Illusion Softworks) 1950s crime thriller Mafia II (PC, PS3, Xbox 360). Again, BioShock 2 is tentatively scheduled for [...]

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