Lionsgate opens new game development arm

Entertainment company and film production outfit Lionsgate has opened a new game development arm.

Nerdist Industries CEO Peter Levin has been named as president of Interactive Ventures and Games for the firm, and will be responsible for expanding the company’s new games business.

He will be charged with the development of new IP, investment in existing games and leveraging Lionsgate’s franchises and other properties in the gaming sector. Levin previously has experience in games acting as an executive advisor to Angry Birds developer Rovio.

Lionsgate’s existing portfolio of films includes The Hunger Games, Divergent and The Expendables 2.

"Peter is a perfect fit for our entrepreneurial culture, and he is ideally qualified to lead the continued growth of our content business into the video game space and other interactive digital ventures," said Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer.

"Gaming has become one of the most explosive growth areas of the content business, and Peter’s mandate will be to build a portfolio of premium digital properties as we expand our leadership in films and television programming into digital content as well."