Disney’s clearly got money to burn. Its gaming division, Disney (NYSE: DIS) Interactive Studios, is acquiring indie game developer Wideload Games, the studio founded by former Bungie and Halo exec Alex Seropian; financial terms were not disclosed. The purchase comes roughly a week after Disney’s $4 billion deal to buy out Marvel Entertainment (NYSE: MVL), and a few months after it bought out kid-friendly blog network Kaboose, for $18.4 million.
This deal isn’t so much about intellectual property or actual games, as Chicago-based Wideload has only put out four major titles in the past six years. It’s about bringing more game developers — like Seropian — that have experience creating in-depth, “hardcore” games, in-house; Disney Interactive Studios currently produces mostly lightweight, family-friendly games.
Seropian co-founded Bungie Software, which Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) acquired and turned into Bungie Studios; he helped develop and launch the company’s best-selling Halo franchise, before leaving to start Wideload in 2003. He’s joining as VP of creative, and will oversee the creative development of all Disney Interactive Studios’ forthcoming games. Long-term, his business experience will likely help if Disney tries to integrate parts of Marvel’s gaming division and assets, in a way that doesn’t alienate “core” gamers.
Wideload will retain its branding for now; President Tom Kang will serve as studio director, and the unit will create new IP for Disney Interactive Studios, including a console game slated for release in 2010. Wideload Shorts, the online and handheld unit, will also retain its branding, and create casual, downloadable and mobile games. Wideload currently has 25 full-time employees; it’s not clear whether they will all be joining as part of the deal. Release.

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