Ubisoft buys TrackMania studio in online push

Nadeo, the development studio behind racing title TrackMania, has been purchased by Ubisoft for an undisclosed fee.

The publisher said that the acquisition was “an important step” in wider plans to expand into the online and multiplayer sector. Nadeo’s tech and expertise in the online field will be shared across other Ubisoft-owned development studios.

“Through Nadeo, Ubisoft will gain an expert team, one of the best on-line technologies around as well as a flagship multiplayer game that enjoys an unrivalled reputation among a loyal and committed community,” added Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot.

TrackMania remains Nadeo’s most famous work since the studio was founded in 2000. The racing title is often seen as a frontrunner in the field of player racetrack creation and online play.

As many as 700,000 players go online with the game each month, with over ten million registered players in total. According to Ubisoft, “almost 15 million” custom race tracks have been made within the game.

News of the Nadeo acquisition follows Ubisoft’s takeover of online multiplayer specialists Massive Entertainment. Guillemot said that the buyout would help Ubisoft expand into the MMO space.

“Joining Ubisoft is a huge opportunity for us to develop and innovate and take Nadeo to new horizons”, said Nadeo CEO Florent Castelnérac. “The team was keen for this acquisition to happen. Like players in a community, we see ourselves as being a complementary fit with Ubisoft and believe that we can share and quickly move ahead together”.

Both companies did not suggest that the buyout has affected Nadeo’s plans to release TrackMania 2 in 2010.