Warner Distributing Lego Universe At Retail

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment signed an exclusive deal with the Lego Group to distribute developer NetDevil’s family-friendly MMO Lego Universe at retail worldwide in the second half of 2010. Lego Group VP of Lego Digital Henrik Taudorf Lorensen said the deal would be “mutually beneficial” for Warner and Lego, as well as consumers. Warner has a relatively extensive distribution network that Lego can leverage. Lego Universe, which NetDevil originally revealed in 2007 as a 2008 release, is aimed at all ages and will encourage players to build their own digital creations and share them online in Lego-inspired worlds. The game, which runs on Emergent’s Gamebryo engine, is currently in closed beta. NetDevil is the MMO company behind games such as Auto Assault and the upcoming Jumpgate Evolution. The Louisville, CO developer is owned by Gazillion Entertainment. WBIE has experience in publishing and distributing Lego-based games. Its subsidiary studio TT Games is the developer behind titles such as Lego Star Wars, Lego Batman and Lego Indiana Jones. “We look forward to expanding our relationship with the Lego Group beyond what we've already established with the successful TT Games' titles,” said WBIE president Martin Tremblay in a statement.