Sega signs next-gen pact with Silicon Knights

Agreement will see the Twin Snakes developer working on an unnamed game for unidentified consoles to be released at an undetermined date.

In a release issued this morning, Sega announced an agreement to acquire and publish next-generation game content from Canadian developer Silicon Knights. The Ontario-based developer is known for such recent games as Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes and Eternal Darkness for the GameCube, as well as Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain for the original PlayStation. No titles or release dates were mentioned.

"We intend to establish Sega as a leading publisher on the next generation of game hardware, and only the highest possible quality of Western-developed content will get us there," said Simon Jeffery, president and COO, Sega of America. "Silicon Knights has a rich history of developing great games that push hardware technology, so we expect this relationship will result in a powerful, new, and highly commercial franchise."

"Silicon Knights believes that the next generation [of] systems will be the catalyst propelling video games as the dominant form of entertainment in this century," said Denis Dyack, president of Silicon Knights. "We are very excited to collaborate with Sega on a next-generation project, because we share a vision--to take the medium of games to new heights and move people as never before."

While the announcement did not identify which next-gen platforms it would be developing for, Silicon Knights is almost certainly developing a game for a console other than the Nintendo Revolution. Nearly a year ago, the shop announced it had ended its agreement to develop exclusively for the GameCube. Nintendo itself described that the deal's end was designed to allow Silicon Knights to "pursue its vision of video game entertainment with other companies."

The deal marks the second major next-gen development deal for Sega in nearly as many weeks. Earlier this month, the company announced it had purchased the Creative Assembly. The UK-based studio of the acclaimed Total War PC strategy series is now focused on the current-gen action game Spartan: Total Warrior, "as well as developing new ventures for next-generation platforms," revealed Sega.

9 Comments

  • king_bobo

    Posted Oct 8, 2008 7:04 am GMT

    So how long have they been working on this now? When will it be announced? Hmm...

  • ebookerd1

    Posted Nov 2, 2007 6:37 am GMT

    Sega has produced quality games over the years. But I have to agree the last 4 years after the BS DC fall (won't get in to it because I loved my DC and yes you can call me out I am still bitter Shenmue 3 was supposed to come out) have been a little lack luster on there behalf. Sonic Adventure was one of the last great games minus VF5 (Awsomness!) I want sega to get back on their horse and become a gaming titan like back on the old days with classic titles!

  • Taegre

    Posted Aug 9, 2007 8:27 pm GMT

    henry4th "too bad the lawsuit is going to bring an end to it."

    That part is not confirmed. First, you have to see who wins the lawsuit. Secondly, if it does turn out that Silicon Knights ripped off Unreal, then they did so without Sega's knowing, and I'm sure they'd try to negotiate with Epic to keep SK developing that title. Sega's been trying very hard to re-cement itself in the gameworld this year. They'll need as many games under their belt as possible for that to work.

  • henry4th

    Posted Jul 20, 2007 12:29 pm GMT

    now it's comfirmed through Silicon's lawsuite against Epic, the game wasactually meant for ps3. too bad the lawsuit is going to bring an end to it.

  • galduke

    Posted Jul 20, 2007 1:12 am GMT

    Nintendo doesn't suck the life out of companies, but sega might (ignore VF5 and look at the bulk of their games). I think nintendo might have dumped rare because of a lack of "innovation" (their favorite word). By this I mean ALL of their games were either derivative (compare or kameo with majora's mask, or star fox adventures with zelda) or repetitive (I'M DONE COLLECTING NOTES\BANANAS\HONEY etc.) and had a tendency of making established franchises suck (donkey kong country, star fox). About the only thing that came from them that I can say I thoroughly enjoyed was golden eye, and the team that made that now works on the time splitter series.

  • MacUser511

    Posted Nov 5, 2006 6:12 pm GMT

    dekasuperlink, thats crap. Nintendo merely did a crap job last generation, but this time they're coming back. How about you come back when you can spell "sense" and actually prove your point.

  • SH_guY

    Posted Oct 16, 2006 7:03 am GMT

    i think silicon knights rocks and i hope if they do make a sequel to eternal darkness its not a peice of junk that ruins the eternal darkness name

  • Berem

    Posted Jul 9, 2006 11:34 pm GMT

    Im sure they will make a new eternal darkness for the Wii... or some other system, doesn't matter as long as they make it Ill buy it for whatever console it comes out on.

  • dekasuperlink

    Posted Dec 22, 2005 6:45 am GMT

    Nintendo has a way of sucking the best out of developers then throwing them away. Silicon knights did a great job on eternal darkness and metal gear solid, but like Rear, Nintendo has a sence of throwing publishers away when they are known. I pray that Nintendo dosen't do the same with Retro studios.

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