2K Confirms Ghost Rider Acquisition From Majesco

Take-Two publishing label 2K Games has confirmed that it will publish Ghost Rider, a new third person action title featuring Marvel Comics' iconic motorcycle riding supernatural super hero, of the same name, a title that was formerly in development for troubled publisher Majesco Entertainment. Following an announcement in March that 2K were to publish Starbreeze-developed title The Darkness, and the December 2005 news that Majesco had sold both The Darkness and Ghost Rider rights to the same publisher for $8 million, it was presumed that 2K was also working on the Ghost Rider game, and this announcement confirms it. The game, which is being developed for console and handheld systems by Climax Group, will be based on both the classic comic book series as well as Columbia Pictures/Marvel Studios' big screen adaptation of Ghost Rider, expected to reach theaters February 2007. The movie action-adventure features Nicolas Cage in the title role alongside Eva Mendes (Hitch) and Wes Bentley (American Beauty) as the villainous Blackheart. The Ghost Rider game, which intends to blend "an immersive, supernatural third person world with a seamless blend of hand-to-hand combat and high-speed motorcycle action", is scheduled for simultaneous release with the movie. "Ghost Rider is one of Marvel Comics' most successful comic book franchises and we're thrilled to bring this beloved series to a broader audience," said Christoph Hartmann, Managing Director of 2K Games. "The video game will build upon the popular elements from the Ghost Rider franchise and intertwine its thrilling action and original, compelling content into a gaming experience fans will love."