Agreement Expands on Existing IPP Partnership and Licensing Deal between GameSpy and Epic Games
IGN Entertainment’s GameSpy, a leader in multiplayer and online gaming technology, and Epic Games today announced a licensing deal to incorporate GameSpy’s multiplayer technology into Epic’s Unreal Tournament 3, the immensely popular first-person shooter franchise. This partnership comes on the heels of a recent announcement between GameSpy and Epic Games that included a licensing deal to incorporate GameSpy’s online technology into Epic’s Unreal Engine 3 and GameSpy joining Epic’s Integrated Partners Program.
Under the terms of the agreement, GameSpy’s multiplayer technology - including multiplayer matchmaking, in-game and out-of-game messaging, deep player statistics, Voice over IP (VoIP) communication and a robust leaderboard and ranking system - will be incorporated into both the PLAYSTATION 3 and PC versions of Unreal Tournament 3. The new agreement expands on GameSpy’s current relationship with Epic Games, which created a one-stop solution for game developers by incorporating GameSpy’s online technology into Unreal Engine 3, one of the world’s most popular game engines.
“GameSpy is excited to expand our existing relationship with Epic Games and align ourselves with Unreal Tournament 3,” said Jamie Berger, senior vice president of consumer products and technology for IGN Entertainment. “As our technology continues to expand and evolve with next-generation consoles, we will continue to work with developers to provide an ease and expertise when it comes to online gaming technology.”
“Partnering with GameSpy for the second time and expanding on our IPP relationship furthers our commitment to including the highest level of online technology into our video games,” said Mark Rein, vice president of Epic Games, Inc. “Unreal Tournament 3 is a leader in online gaming, and we will continue to push boundaries and technology to develop a game that satisfies the high expectations of our franchise fans.”
Unreal Tournament 3 marks the return of the industry's premiere first-person shooter franchise. In the latest installment of the award-winning Unreal franchise, players assume the role of a futuristic warrior engaged in contests of intense warfare against dedicated and skilled opponents, controlled either by human contestants online or by A.I. These brutal contests are fought with the most powerful military weapons and vehicles known to man. In Unreal Tournament 3, players can go face-to-face with devastating close quarters weapons like the flak cannon and rocket launcher, or pick off their enemies from a distance with a high-caliber sniper rifle. Players will also be able to fully access the universe's most capable and advanced set of vehicles in their quest to dominate and overwhelm opponents. Unreal Tournament 3 will also be the first game to feature robust user-generated content on PLAYSTATION 3 including multiplayer maps, custom game modes and much more. Unreal Tournament 3 is scheduled for release November 19 on the PC and is coming soon for the PLAYSTATION 3.
