Autodesk Completes Softimage Acquisition

Maya owner Autodesk announced that it completed its acquisition of Avid's Softimage business unit, a purchase originally revealed in late October and valued at approximately $35 million. Autodesk plans to sell standalone versions of 3D software products SOFTIMAGE|XSI and SOFTIMAGE|Face Robot, and intends to continue developing these products. Character animation system SOFTIMAGE|Cat is expected to be integrated into the Autodesk 3ds Max product line, while the SOFTIMAGE|Crosswalk interoperability solution will be integrated with Autodesk's own interoperability technology. Autodesk also intends to continue using the Softimage trademark, absorbing the brand as part of its own brand identity. While the Softimage products will likely keep their names, Autodesk will make changes to product branding with the next software releases. Softimage's online store is temporarily offline while Autodesk integrates it with its own online store. Softimage productsw will be available to U.S. customers within a few weeks and to all other regions eventually. A dominant player in the 3D game art construction tools market, Autodesk acquired Maya creator Alias in early 2006, and since then has continued its expansion, also purchasing Mudbox creator Skybox in late 2007 and AI firm Kynogon in early 2008. "We welcome Softimage customers, strategic partners and employees to Autodesk," says Autodesk Media & Entertainment SVP Marc Petit. "This acquisition brings advanced 3D tools to our entertainment portfolio; tools that are known and loved by the 3D entertainment community. He continues, "With production pipelines becoming entirely digital, and the convergence between games, film and television content, this acquisition is expected to complement and accelerate Autodesk's work in building real-time, interactive 3D authoring tools." Petit also announced that Softimage's former general manager Marc Stevens has joined his management team.