Bigpoint teams with Fox for free-to-play Ice Age title

German free-to-play publisher Bigpoint has partnered with Twentieth Century Fox to develop a new social browser game.

Ice Age Online, which will tie in with the movie franchise, will see users take control of their own sloth and rescue lost animals to build up their own camp.

The game will also include friend lists, leaderboards and the opportunity to compete in a number of challenges with other users.

The free-to-play social title, developed through the Unity engine, is set to release alongside its film counterpart Ice Age: Continental Draft in July.

“We’re excited to work with one of the most successful film franchises of all time,” said Bigpoint CEO Heiko Hubertz.

“We’re equally happy to begin working with Fox on this project and are eager to give Ice Age fans another way to enjoy the fun they’ve had at the movies.”

Fox Consumer Products president Jeffrey Godsick added: “Video games and film have an organic connection, and the online game space offers virtually limitless creative opportunities to extend the cinematic experience and the Ice Age brand.”

The news of a partnership with Twentieth Century Fox comes a week after the German publisher revealed it would be working with Square Enix for a new social title that aims “to encourage user-generated content”.