Funcom To Publish Stunlock's Bloodline Champions

MMORPG company Funcom signed a publishing agreement with Swedish start-up Stunlock Studios AB (previously Bumblebee Studios) for the developer's upcoming multiplayer arena game Bloodline Champions. As part of the deal, Funcom plans to publish, operate, and provide customer service for Bloodline Champions, and is already play-testing the game. Currently in its beta phase and slated to launch in late 2010, Bloodline Champions is an arena-based player vs. player game in which up to 10 gamers fight against each other with abilities and spells. With its exclusive ownership of the online action PC game, the publisher also purchased a minority stake in Stunlock Studios. Gothia Science Park Invest AB and Stunlock Studios's founders and employees own the remaining shares of the developer. Funcom, which is best known for publishing MMOs like Age of Conan and Anarchy Online, says that Bloodline Champions represents a complement to its large-scale online titles, expanding its offerings. It also noted that the game fits well into "the current trend of quick access online multi-player experiences". "Everyone at Stunlock Studios is very happy and excited to start this co-operation with Funcom", says Stunlock Studios CEO Tau Petersson. "We met with several potential partners for our game, Bloodline Champions, but when we met Funcom we felt that they really understood our game and its needs. We believe that Funcom and Stunlock together can make Bloodline Champions the best game it can be."