Lego Universe Creator Gazillion Raises $60 Million

Gazillion Entertainment -- which owns NetDevil, the developer behind recently launched MMORPG Lego Universe -- raised $60 million in a new round of funding led by Singaporean private equity firm Temasek Holdings. Founded in 2005, Gazillion is headquartered in San Mateo and has development studios in California (Slipgate Ironworks, Gargantuan), Colorado (NetDevil), and Washington (Amazing Society). This new investment from Temasek comes as the company plans to enter "a key phase of expansion". Its NetDevil studio recently released LEGO Universe in North America and Europe, a well-received online title based on LEGO toys and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The studio is currently developing Jumpgate Evolution, a remake of its first MMO, as well as an original IP. Gazillion also has two Marvel-themed MMOs in the works: Marvel Universe from Gargantuan and Super Hero Squad Online from Amazing Society, the latter releasing in the first quarter of 2011. These titles will be the first games published under a ten-year exclusive worldwide license agreement with Marvel Entertainment. "Massively multiplayer online games have become one of the most profitable entertainment formats in many worldwide markets," says Gazillion founder and CEO Rob Hutter. "At Gazillion we've focused our creative energy on bringing a signature style and playability to our MMOs so these experiences can be shared by all kinds of gamers."