Quebec invests in WB Montreal

Warner Brothers Games Montreal has committed to hire another 100 staff over the next five years thanks to a $1.5 million investment from the Quebec government.

CTV reported that the grant, revealed by Quebec Premier Pauline Marois, is part of a larger $63 million project that will help the company buy new equipment in addition to the new employees.

“This Warner Brothers studio here in Montreal only opened three years ago but it is growing rapidly,” said WB Montreal studio chief Martin Carrier.

“In five years’ time the executives here expect that this studio will be on a par with every other Warner Brothers studio.”

The jobs are said to pay about $70,000 a year for employees averaging 30 years of age.

The developer of the upcoming Batman: Arkham Origins, Lego Legends of Chima Online, and the Wii U version of Batman: Arkham City currently employs 325 permanent staff.

“By the end of five years, it’ll be 2018, there should be 500 people here and I think we’ll be one of the best-known studios in the world,” said WB Interactive president Martin Tremblay.

This is the second time in a week the government has made a major investment in a video game company.

A $400 million deal with Ubisoft Montreal that is expected to bring 500 jobs was announced on Monday.