Sorrent Joins Forces with European Mobile Publisher Macrospace
Deal Creates Global Leader in Mobile Gaming with Combined Distribution to More Than 90 Wireless Carriers and 800 Million Mobile Subscribers Worldwide
Wednesday 1 December 2004/... LONDON and SAN MATEO, Calif. - Sorrent, Inc., a leading creator and global publisher of mobile entertainment, today announced an agreement to acquire Macrospace, an award-winning mobile games publisher based in London. Like Sorrent, Macrospace has built a reputation on creating innovative, high quality mobile entertainment titles, including Fatal Force: Earth Assault, winner of the 2004 Mobile Consumer Choice award for best game. The integration of these companies will enhance Sorrent's global position as one of the leading players in the mobile entertainment marketplace.
Macrospace brings globally recognized licenses, advanced technology, superior original intellectual property, as well as established distribution relationships in Europe and Southeast Asia. Macrospace has also built a successful services division, with its ProvisionX service providing managed mobile games distribution services to carriers and media companies globally. Today's announcement builds on both companies' successes in their home markets of the U.S. and Europe respectively and leverages Sorrent's position as one of the leading developers and publishers in the global market for mobile games.
"Macrospace is one of the most highly regarded mobile gaming companies in Europe and is a true culture fit with Sorrent," said Greg Ballard, chief executive officer, Sorrent. "The company has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to quality. Their exceptional management team, innovative portfolio of games, and extraordinary technology and distribution significantly enhances our position in Europe and will be a substantial asset to Sorrent as we seek to become the leading mobile entertainment publisher in the world."
Macrospace creates some of the most popular mobile games on the market. The company has developed and published more than 40 mobile games including award-winning original titles and third party brands from licensing partners including Cartoon Network, Eidos, Square Enix and Celador International, creator of 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?' In addition to publishing and developing mobile games, Macrospace also brings games distribution technology to the combined entity through its ProvisionX managed mobile games service. ProvisionX gives wireless carriers the ability to offer mobile gaming content without having to manage the solution internally.
"This deal brings together two hugely talented companies to create a truly world-class organization across mobile games development, publishing and delivery," said Shukri Shammas, managing director of Macrospace. "Sorrent has worked hard to create a fantastic portfolio of games like DRIV3R, Atari's Deer Hunter and the FOX Sports branded titles. We very much look forward to working with Greg and the rest of the team to take this new entity to even greater heights as the market for mobile games continues to grow."
Macrospace will continue operations in London under its current management team. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
About Macrospace
Macrospace develops and publishes mobile games and provides mobile gaming solutions for network operators, service providers, handset manufacturers, media companies and brand owners around the world. Macrospace products and services are available through more than 90 carriers and 70 service providers, reaching over 700 million Java, BREW and i-mode subscribers. With expertise in single and multiplayer gaming, web emulation and content provisioning, Macrospace is uniquely positioned to offer complete end-to-end mobile gaming solutions. ProvisionXTM, the company's fully managed provisioning solution, is the most widely deployed Java download service worldwide. For further information, please visit www.macrospace.com.
About Sorrent, Inc.
Sorrent is a leading creator and global publisher of wireless entertainment. Sorrent's critically-acclaimed content features single and multiplayer games, based on original and licensed properties, including an award-winning suite of FOX Sports and Atari titles. Sorrent has developed a proprietary technology infrastructure that delivers graphically rich, fast-paced mobile games on more than 100 Java and BREW-enabled handsets. With offices in San Mateo, California and London, England, the company's extensive distribution network includes all of the U.S. wireless carriers, as well as some of the largest carriers around the world. Founded in 2001, Sorrent has attracted top tier venture capital firms including NEA, BA Venture Partners, Sienna Ventures and Globespan Capital Partners. For more information, visit www.sorrent.com.
Sorrent, Inc. is a trademark of Sorrent, Inc. FOX Sports is a registered trademark of FOX Interactive Television, LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. DRIV3R under license from Atari, Inc. 2004 Atari, Inc. All rights reserved.
Press Contacts:
Simon Smith-Wright
Barrington Harvey PR for Sorrent Europe
+44 1462 456780
John Ozimek
Macrospace
+44 (0)207 368 1122
USA:
Chris Clark
Alta PR for Sorrent
+1 415 503 3925