Activision To Publish Eutechnyx's NASCAR 2011

Gamasutra sources can independently confirm internet reports that Activision will take control of the NASCAR license with the upcoming release of NASCAR 11. Sources close to the situation have told Gamasutra that Eutechnix will develop and Activision will publish the next title in the long-running NASCAR franchise, which was for years controlled by Electronic Arts. An anonymous post on the EA Sports forums cites "an inside source from NASCAR" suggesting the game could hit stores two weeks before next year's Daytona 500, which is scheduled for Feb. 20. Gamasutra could not confirm this report. The NASCAR brand had been an important part of the EA Sports lineup since 1997, with the company devoting an entire studio to the franchise in 2007. Following the early 2009 release of NASCAR Kart Racing, though, EA Sports President Peter Moore has told Gamespot "there are no plans right now for NASCAR from EA." Eutechnyx, the company behind racing titles like Test Drive Le Mans, Big Mutha Truckers and SuperCar Challenge, recently received a £6 million ($9.25 million) investment from Dutch VC firm Prime Technology Ventures. The developer, which is currently working on driving MMO Auto Club Revolution, hired away EA Sports NASCAR veteran Ed Martin back in March.