Secret Level Signs With Sega For Next-Generation Title

Long-time game publisher Sega and Bay Area-headquartered game developer Secret Level have announced that the two companies will work together to revive an old Sega franchise for next-generation consoles. Precisely which franchise is due for resurrection is currently unannounced, but the game is planned for release on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Secret Level's past work has included developing a version of the Unreal Engine for PlayStation 2 and Xbox, as well as the console version of America's Army, the Xbox port of Karaoke Revolution, and Magic: The Gathering: Battlegrounds. The developer is currently developing the Xbox SKU of an update of the Final Fight franchise, Final Fight: Streetwise, in conjunction with Capcom. "The talented design team at Secret Level has demonstrated innovation in game development and has a history of technical achievements that will help Sega reinvigorate a vintage and highly commercial franchise," said Simon Jeffery, Sega of America's President and COO. The agreement continues a resurgent Sega's attempts to reconnect with a Western market by both developer acquisition (in Europe) and development deals (in North America), with recent results including partnerships with developer Silicon Knights (on an un-named next-generation project using Unreal Engine); Monolith Productions (survival FPS Condemned: Criminal Origins); Sports Interactive (working with the former Championship Manager team on Football Manager 2006); Outrun 2 Xbox porter Sumo Digital (the PSP conversion Virtua Tennis: World Tour); Pseudo Interactive (Xbox 360 vehicle action game Full Auto); and the acquisition of the UK developer The Creative Assembly (Dynasty Warriors-style console title Spartan: Total Warrior).