Ubisoft Acquires 300, Sin City Effects Studio Hybride

Ubisoft has announced that is has acquired Montreal-based Hybride Technologies, the visual effects studio which most notably was behind recent film projects like 300, Sin City, and Spy Kids. Ubisoft says it will work with Hybride "to share technology and to develop tools in order to optimize the creation of both video games and visual effects and to offer gamers visual experiences that rival those of the cinema." It also says Hybride will continue to work with film partners as well as bring that experience to Ubisoft projects, as the publisher continues its efforts to bring its stable of IP to the movie industry. In February of 2007, the publisher announced plans to expand with the establishment of a new CGI production center in Quebec focused on producing short films based on Ubisoft brands, with plans to expand to a staff of 500 by 2013. Said CEO Yves Guillemot, "The future of our industry depends on our ability to create brands that captivate audiences and to extend those brands to other forms of entertainment. The acquisition of Hybride falls directly into the strategy that has already led us to open a digital creation studio in Montreal and to acquire the Tom Clancy brand for video games and ancillary products. The exceptional quality of the team at Hybride and the expertise of our Ubisoft teams will allow us to create one of the best 3D animation studios in the entertainment industry.”