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UK-based Codemasters uses Motorsport Games for its esports business around the DiRT Rally franchise, currently hosting the 2.0 World Series and following on from the World RX Esports Series, which has attracted 1.24 million live views. Motorsport Games also hosted the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the largest motorsport event in history with a cumulative audience of more than 14.2 million viewers, as well as the release of the NASCAR HEAT video game franchise.
Take-Two – which owns the 2K and Rockstar Games brands – would add F1 to its roster of other mainstream sports, including NBA basketball and PGA golf.
Founded in 1986, Codemasters is one of the UK’s oldest video game studios and motorsport has played a key role in its evolution to one of the most successful names in the business. He received the 485 pence per share offer on Friday, and it is understood that the Codemasters board will recommend that shareholders accept the offer.
Following the advent of the PlayStation games console, Codemasters released the highly acclaimed TOCA touring cars – originally based on the British Touring Car Championship – and the Colin McRae Rally series, which has since evolved into DiRT , before continuing to produce the official F1 game. from 2009. Codemasters discontinued the touring car-based series after the 2006 release of TOCA Race Driver 3, although Motorsport Games won the long-term license to create an official British Touring Car Championship game from from 2022.
Codemasters has developed and released 13 F1 video games, with its latest iteration – F1 2020 – available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, and Google Stadia.
In a statement from the New York-based company, he said, “Take-Two believes the combination of Take-Two and Codemasters would bring together two world-class interactive entertainment portfolios, with a very complementary fit between the 2K edition. by Take-Two. label and Codemasters in the racing genre.
In addition, Take-Two believes that it can bring benefits to Codemasters performance by leveraging Take-Two’s global distribution network and 2K’s operational expertise in publishing, including live operations. , analysis, product development and brand and performance marketing. ”
As details of the proposed $ 973 million deal emerged, shares of Codemasters rose 8.6% to 470 pence on Friday afternoon. Take-Two’s own shares rose nearly 3% over the same period. A decision on the acquisition would be needed before December 4 for it to progress, in accordance with the UK city code on acquisitions and mergers.
Codemasters also recently struck a deal to produce the official World Rally Championship video game starting in 2023.
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