Epic Games China (retroactively?) announces Titan Studios

Epic Games China (retroactively?) announces Titan Studios - Fat Princess dev

by Christopher Grant { Nov 11th 2008 at 11:50AM }

Try to follow along: In 2006, Epic Games – the North Carolina-based devs behind Gears of War – opened up its very own Shanghai-based studio to outsource its own Unreal Engine-related work to, as well as cater to external third-party licensees like Ubisoft Shanghai. Cost per man month in North America? $9000. Cost per man month in China? $4000, according to a Gamasutra report. So now we all know what Epic Games China is.

Which is why this morning's announcement that Epic Games China has formed Titan Studios – a "wholly owned subsidiary based in Seattle" developing Sony's colorful (albeit controversial) PSN title, Fat Princess – slightly puzzling. First, we've only known Fat Princess since Sony showed it off at E3 and, even then, the developers were known as "Titan Studios" and not their pre-Epic precursor "Darkstar Industries".

Second, why does the "content production outsourcing and game development services" component of Epic Games want to form its own development studio? (Or, in other words, why didn't Epic Games proper "form" Titan Studios in much the same way it acquired People Can Fly?) Epic's Jay Wilbur explains, "Not only are Titan developing award-winning, original IP of their own, they also have resources available to help other studios increase productivity and minimize risk." Their best business advice in these rocky economic times: Be owned by Epic Games.

Gallery: Fat Princess

Tags: Epic-Games, Epic-Games-China, Fat-Princess, Titan-Studios

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Ubiqutous Oxymoron @ Nov 11th 2008 12:05PM

More like for tax reasons. (off shore)

Ubiqutous Oxymoron @ Nov 11th 2008 12:06PM

Also fat princess looks fookin ace.

beeporama @ Nov 11th 2008 4:05PM

I was thinking similarly, possibly also related to isolating risk. Film producers do this all the time, forming a company that exists solely to produce a single film. That way if it bankrupts, assets outside that company are protected.

There is a certain irony, though. The weak dollar makes outsourcing from the U.S. to China a lot less attractive. Suddenly salaries in USD are a lot more affordable...

Mr Khan @ Nov 11th 2008 12:20PM

All Titan Games needs to do is buyout the rights to Epic Games North Carolina, and the circle will be complete

WiredKnight @ Nov 11th 2008 1:06PM

WTF does Epic need to outsource?

Is it just stuff like localization and eastern development, or are Gears of War 3 assets being made in sweatshops?

Chase @ Nov 11th 2008 2:07PM

Outsourcing jobs sucks.

I know a couple people who would have loved a chance to work for Epic.

For shame, Epic.

Christopher Grant @ Nov 11th 2008 2:19PM

They've been doing this for awhile. There are plenty of credits for Epic Games China at the end of Gears 2.

ultimateidiot911 @ Nov 11th 2008 2:34PM

For some people yes, but for the majority and the world as a whole, no.

I actually congrat and like the idea very much of what Epic did. It's smart.

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