Valve teams up with EA
Valve and EA sign a multi-year agreement to publish a number of titles.
Electronic Arts have signed a multi-year agreement with Valve Software to publish a number of its games. The first two games to be released are Half-Life 2: Game of the Year and Counter-Strike: Source for PC, both this winter. The next game, Half-Life 2 for the Xbox, is currently in development but is expected in October.
The Half-Life 2: Game of the Year package includes Half-Life 2, Counter-Strike: Source, Half-Life 2: Deathmatch and Half-Life: Source.
"At EA Partners, our mandate is to seek out the world's top studios and game franchises, build partnerships, empower the development teams and help get these great games to more people in more countries than ever before. We consider Half-Life and Counter-Strike to be two of the best game franchises of all time," said Tom Frisina, Vice President and General Manager, EA Partners. "We could not be more excited to have the opportunity to help deliver these outstanding games to players around the globe."
"EA is the worldwide leader in bringing best of breed games, for all platforms, to market," said Gabe Newell, Valve's founder and president. "Valve games have sold over 18 million units at retail since Half-Life shipped in November 1998. By combining EA's unparalleled operation structure and distribution channel with Valve's award-winning development teams and games community, we've established an awesome combination for delivering great products to console and PC gamers around the world."