Next stop for Ubisoft’s global development push: India

Ubisoft has added another studio to its large and growing global development empire, having agreed to buy Gameloft’s Pune, India-based studio.

Opened at the end of 2006, the studio employs 120 developers and testers. At first they will initially port titles to handheld consoles and support Ubisoft’s other testing teams. In time, Ubisoft hopes the team will be come 200-strong within 12 months – reaching 500 within the next few years.

"Following on the recent announcement of our new Singapore studio, this acquisition will reinforce Ubisoft’s presence in Asia and the southeast region in particular. India has a promising future in the videogame industry and this is an opportunity for us to establish ourselves in the country," stated Christine Burgess-Quémard, executive director, worldwide studios at Ubisoft.

In the official announcement of the acquisition, Ubisoft pointed out that ‘Pune’s extensive university system (one of the largest in Asia) sees 80,000 engineers graduate each year’ – presumably a talent base the firm hopes to tap into.

Ubisoft continues to grow its development resource around the world – with specific emphasis on emerging markets and the East. In the past year it has expanded its Casablanca studio, opened a new base in China and Singapore, and also acquired a Japanese team.