Report: Warner Bros to pay $160 million for Turbine

A source close to the negotiation between Warner Bros and Lord of the Rings Online studio Turbine has said that the media giant will pay around $160 million for the developer.

Speaking to The Boston Globe, the source speculated that the figure would include sums to be paid to Turbine shareholders in future years if the company meets certain financial targets.

Details of the deal, which will give Warner - through Turbine - complete control over all future games based on the Lord of the Rings novels, emerged earlier this week.

"I view this as Hollywood coming to Boston," said Turbine's chief executive Jim Crowley, who added that the deal underscored Boston's increased prominence in the games industry.