IGN and Ubisoft sign digital download deal

Gamers in North America are now able to purchase and download some of Ubisoft's most popular PC titles via the Internet, following an agreement between the publisher and US website IGN.

Under the terms of the deal, the games will be distributed via IGN's Direct2Drive digital retail store. Titles already confirmed as part of the agreement include Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory, Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30, Cold Fear, Heritage of Kings: The Settlers and Silent Hunter III.

"Partnering with Direct2Drive will provide Ubisoft with the ability to expand the distribution of its new games to tens of millions of gamers, helping Ubisoft to drive incremental sales," said Jay Cohen, vice president of publishing at Ubisoft.

"Our mission at Direct2Drive is to offer the world's best PC games for digital sale and download," added Jamie Berger, IGN's vice president and general manager of consumer products. "Ubisoft is publishing some of the most anticipated titles of 2005 and we're excited to join Ubisoft in offering these games for secure digital download to our customers in North America."

Direct2Drive was established in September 2004 and currently has more than a hundred games and strategy guides available for download, with prices ranging from $5.99 up to $49.95 for Splinter Cell and Brothers in Arms pre-orders.