Skydance Acquires Game Developer, Establishes Interactive Unit

SANTA MONICA: Following its purchase of game developer The Workshop Entertainment, Skydance Media has launched Skydance Interactive, a subsidiary that will create and own original video games and virtual reality experiences.

The company will self-publish and digitally distribute Skydance Interactive titles for the leading VR hardware, including Oculus, HTC Vive and PlayStation VR. The Workshop will continue to offer its console game services, and the transaction allows the company to evolve into a leader in virtual reality development as Skydance Interactive.

“We believe that virtual reality is the perfect medium by which to create an interactive platform where immersive storytelling intersects with active gameplay, which has long been a goal of ours at Skydance Media,” said David Ellison, the CEO of Skydance Media. “We are making a significant investment in virtual reality with the launch of Skydance Interactive, which allows us not only to develop and publish original games but also to extend the reach of our existing franchises. I am proud that we have found our ideal partners in The Workshop and am thrilled to welcome Peter [Akemann, CEO of Skydance Interactive], Chris [Busse, general manager of Skydance Interactive] and the rest of the team into the Skydance family.”

“Skydance clearly shares our belief at The Workshop that virtual reality will profoundly affect the human experience,” added Akemann. “It is absolutely exhilarating to be on the front lines of the revolution developing cutting-edge gaming experiences and there is no one with whom we would rather be in business than the innovative team at Skydance.”