Ubisoft Massive acquires Southend Interactive

Ubisoft Massive has acquired the entire team of Malmo-based developer Southend Interactive.

As reported by Swedish website Sydsvenskan, the acquisition means the studio’s 24 developers will now all join the team at Massive, which houses around 200 staff.

As part of the deal, Ubisoft Massive has also purchased Southend’s development technology.

The move was later confirmed by Southend senior gameplay programmer Bjorn Persson, who tweeted: “So now it’s official; Ubisoft Massive hires all of Southend Interactive in one fell swoop”.

Yesterday Massive revealed it was working on a new MMO called Tom Clancy’s The Division.

The multiplayer-focused game, which is being developed for Xbox One and PS4, takes place during the weeks following a national pandemic, where players must help prevent complete social collapse.

As well as appearing on next-gen consoles, the title will also have a companion app on mobile in which users can take control of a drone, which can provide air surveillance to help console players scout out areas ahead and form new tactics to take out fortified enemy positions.

Fore more details on the game and its development, you can read our press-briefing interview with Ubisoft Massive MD David Polfeldt on Tom Clancy’s The Division here.