Warner Bros. Acquires Leading Online Gaming Studio

Boston-based Turbine, the largest privately held online gaming studio in North America, was recently acquired by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group.

Turbine, which was formed in 1994, has created a number of games for the Internet, including Dungeons & Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited and Lord of the Rings Online, the first massively multi-player online role playing game based on the books by J.R.R. Tolkien. In the acquisition, Warner Bros. will now have the gaming rights to the entire Lord of the Rings franchise. Additionally, Warner Bros. will gain digital publishing (proprietary) and social networking platforms.

“Turbine is a leader in online entertainment and a strong strategic fit for Warner Bros. as we continue to broaden our games portfolio and development capabilities,” says Kevin Tsujihara, president of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group. “Turbine’s renowned online game development and publishing expertise will help us develop additional online product offerings, while also providing us with new and innovative ways to market and communicate with our consumers.”

Warner Bros., other gaming franchises include Batman, F.E.A.R., Mortal Kombat and LEGO.

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