Fasa Buy Adds Popular Mechwarrier Franchise To Microsoft Games Portfolio

EDP Weekly's IT Monitor, Jan 18, 1999

Microsoft Corp. has announced plans to acquire Chicago-based FASA Interactive Technologies Inc., including its parent company Virtual Worlds Entertainment Group Inc., for an undisclosed amount. Microsoft gains exclusive rights to one of the most successful franchises in the computer game industry: MechWarrior and its recent real-time strategy extension, MechCommander, and MechWarrior 2.

The buy "reflects our commitment to growing our business with a smaller portfolio of top-quality games," says Ed Fries, GM of Microsoft's Games Group. "The MechWarrior franchise is one of the best-selling series of PC games in history and is synonymous with groundbreaking technology and compelling gameplay."

FASA's development staff will be integrated into Microsoft's product development teams in Redmond, where they will continue working on upcoming titles. Jordan Weisman, chief creative officer of FASA Interactive, has also joined Microsoft, where he will guide the growth of the BattleTech-based franchises.