Intel to acquire Havok

Technology giant grabs rights to game development software

September 17, 2007

Havok Inc., a producer of video game development software, has announced today that it will be acquired by Intel.

Ireland-based Havok has had its products used in a wide range of hit games, including the recent Xbox 360/PC title Bioshock, last year's The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and the ever-popular Halo 2. The company's special effects software has also been used in several feature films, including The Matrix and Kingdom of Heaven.

Intel's acquisition of Havok won't change much about how the company operates — at least not immediately.

"Havok is a proven leader in physics technology for gaming and digital content, and will become a key element of Intel's visual computing and graphics efforts," said Renee J. James, vice president and general manager of Intel's Software and Solutions Group. "Havok will operate its business as usual, which will allow them to continue developing products that are offered across all platforms in the industry."

Havok CEO David O'Meara comments, "Intel's scale of technology investment and customer reach enable Havok with opportunities to grow more quickly into new market segments with new products than we could have done organically. We believe the winning combination is Havok's technology and customer know-how with Intel's scale."

The cost of the acquisition has not been revealed.