Singaporean co-development giant Virtuos has made its first UK acquisition. 

The firm has bought Third Kind Games, a Leamington Spa-based outfit that was set up in 2016 by veterans of Activision. The studio features talent that has worked on the likes of Fable, Fay Cry 5, Forza Horizon and the F1 games. At the moment, Third Kind employs over 70 staff and has plans to double this headcount in the next two years. 

“We are delighted to join forces with Virtuos, one of the largest and most globally recognised co-development partners of video games," Third Kind's chief strategy officer Rav Tharanee (pictured) said. 

"This marks an exciting new chapter for Third Kind Games, enabling us to continue our growth and take on new and exciting triple-A projects alongside Virtuos, while continuing to nurture the innovative, creative vision that has always been at the core of our identity. As Virtuos’ first operation in the UK, we are proud to play a pivotal role in expanding their global footprint, and we look forward to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in gaming together.”

Virtuos Western MD Christophe Gandon added: “The co-founders of Third Kind Games exemplify the importance of a shared vision and purpose. They succeeded in one of the world’s densest game development hubs, building a portfolio of homegrown and global AAA IPs over eight years. We are excited to accelerate the expansion of their co-development capabilities, which are in high demand alongside gamers’ growing demand for content, and to continue growing in key markets to be closer to our clients.”