Number-two publisher takes over spy-film-inspired game license after archrival Electronic Arts ends agreement; now holds PC, handheld, and console rights until 2014.
Since 2002, Electronic Arts has held the license to publish games based on the James Bond film franchise. The results have been mixed, with one effort, 2004"s James Bond 007: Everything or Nothing, garnering high praise and selling more than 1.3 million units in the US, according to the NPD group. However, EA"s four other Bond games--James Bond 007 in Agent Under Fire (2002), James Bond 007: NightFire (2003), GoldenEye: Rogue Agent (2004), and From Russia With Love (2005)--have seen middling sales and reviews.
In 2003, Electronic Arts announced a deal with film distributor MGM to make James Bond-based games until 2009. The following year, MGM was bought by Sony, which now co-owns the James Bond license with the production company EON.