EA and Marvel sign new licensing deal

PS2 News | EA and Marvel characters to appear in new fighting game.

Electronic Arts and Marvel Enterprises have entered into a new deal whereby EA will create a new generation of characters to go head to head with the super heros of the Marvel Universe.

Under the multi year agreement, EA will be able to develop and distribute fighting games featuring the Marvel Super Heroes. In exchange for these rights, Marvel gets the rights as worldwide licensing agent for all consumer products and media licensing for the new EA heroes. Marvel will also publish new comic books introducing the new EA characters.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for EA to create new characters for fighting games that can be exploited through our global merchandise licensing machine to fuel sales in many other product categories," said Allen Lipson, President and CEO of Marvel Enterprises.

"It's a unique opportunity, partnering with Marvel to bring their renowned Super Heroes into original videogame environments, as well as providing us an opportunity to create new heroes that will live in games, comic books and other licensing or media opportunities that Marvel presents," said John Riccitiello, President and COO for Electronic Arts. "Fans of both traditional Marvel comics as well as video games have a lot to be excited about as they will be able to fight it out between established Marvel Super Heroes and EA's new heroes in original scenarios."

The Marvel and EA Super Hero based fighting games are currently under development for multiple game platforms at the EA Canada studio in British Columbia, expected for release in 2005. The license grants EA the rights to develop game titles for all current and next generation videogame consoles, handheld platforms and PC's. The deal does not include the rights for the Hulk or Punisher characters, however.