14 DAY TRIAL // Ubisoft announced the opening of a new studio in Sofia, Bulgaria. Alexandru-Ion Radu, recently named director of recruitment and training at Ubisoft's Romania studio, has been appointed manager of the new studio, reporting directly to S?bastien Delen, managing director of Ubisoft Romania.
The studio opens its doors today with 21 team members and plans to hire 40 additional employees by the end of 2006. A core group of 11 team members, nine engineers and two artists has already been working at Ubisoft Romania on the production of the recently released the popular flight-simulation game Blazing Angels? Squadrons of WWII for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. The professionalism and talent of this core team persuaded Ubisoft to establish a studio in Sofia, where the superior high-tech education in the area means an exciting talent pool.
The new team will immediately begin work on development of several titles, including the PC version of Rayman Raving Rabbids, under the artistic direction of its creator Michel Ancel and a console version of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation?: 3 Dimensions of Murder.
"The opening of our new studio in Bulgaria is part of Ubisoft's ongoing strategy to develop major titles internally, ensuring creativity and innovation," said Christine Burgess-Qu?mard, executive director, Worldwide Studios at Ubisoft. "The core team of developers from Bulgaria has already proved itself and we look forward to expanding our studio through recruitment of the talented local engineers and artists."