Activision preparing to open new mobile studio in UK

Newsbrief: Activision intends to open a new mobile game development studio in the UK, a move local trade groups (TIGA, UKIE) have hailed as a "massive vote of confidence" for the country's game industry. The publisher has appointed Team17 (Worms) co-founder and 20-year game industry veteran Martyn Brown to find, interview, and hire talent for the planned UK studio, according to a report from local trade site Develop. Activision previously operated a studio in Liverpool with Bizarre Creations (Geometry Wars, Blur), which employed some 200 workers, but it closed the developer in January 2011. It also owns a studio in Leamington, DJ Hero maker FreeStyleGames. The company could take advantage of tax breaks announced for the local video game industry two months ago -- Activision previously lobbied heavily for the UK government to introduce tax relief for game studios.