Eidos Expands Into Shanghai

Aiming to increase the efficiency of its outsourcing operations, SCi-owned Tomb Raider and Hitman developer Eidos opened a new office in Shanghai. According to a report from Develop, the Shanghai office will seek new regional publishing partnerships and work directly with outsourcing firms as the company aims to keep its costs down after restructuring. The Shanghai studio currently staffs a small team of design, production, programming and art direction headed by Eidos worldwide outsourcing manager Christine Thaarup. "There is incredible talent here in China," Thaarup told Develop. "We are lucky to already be working with some of them and are looking forward to growing these and new relationships.” Eidos CEO Phil Rogers added, "We are looking to accelerate our outsourced development with an ‘organic-growth’ approach." “We already have years of experience in outsourcing of character and environment artwork and we are looking to build on this towards further outsourcing opportunities such as full level production, co-development and potentially full game production.” At the beginning of September, publisher THQ made a similarly-motivated move into Shanghai, looking for new partners while preparing to launch Company of Heroes Online with publishing partner Shanda Interactive Entertainment.