Vivendi Universal to distribute Interplay products

Titus Interactive has reached a North American distribution agreement with Vivendi Universal Publishing for games developed by its US unit Interplay Entertainment. Vivendi owns Sierra, Universal Interactive, and Blizzard Entertainment.

According to a statement released by the company, outsourcing Interplay's distribution channels will allow the company to reduce staff in marketing and distribution, and could reduce fixed costs by about $10 million annually. An executive at Titus told GameSpot that the deal is unrelated to the US-based Titus Games subsidiary and includes all current and next-generation console and PC games by Interplay Entertainment. Interplay's roster of products includes such high-profile franchises as Baldur's Gate, Giants, Hunter, and the upcoming The Matrix games.

Titus Interactive recently acquired controlling interest in Interplay Entertainment and now holds 51.52 percent of the shares in the US publisher.