Wargaming.net acquires Total Annihilation and Master of Orion IPs

Wargaming.net, the developer/publisher behind World of Tanks, World of Warplanes and World of Warships, acquired the intellectual property for Total Annihilation and Master of Orion in the recent Atari bankruptcy auction, the company announced today.

The real-time strategy game Total Annihilation was developed by Cavedog Entertainment and released in 1997 for Mac and Windows PC. It was followed by a handful of expansion packs. Developer Simtex's turn-based Master of Orion dates back to 1993, and sequels followed in 1996 and 2003.

"Total Annihilation and Master of Orion are strategy game classics," said Wargaming.net CEO Victor Kislyi. "Although it's too soon to disclose any details, we are more than willing to give a new lease of life to these games most of us grew up playing. It's exactly where our major focus will be."

Wargaming.net also announced that its new Austin, Tx. office will house the company's Producing Center, Central Technology and Global Business Intelligence Groups and serve the role of streamlining "communication between its teams and global studios."

World of Warplanes will also receive British aircraft before the game's launch, according to the developer.

"British engineers built many iconic military aircraft that are a must for any flight combat game," said Vlad Belozerov, World of Warplanes' director of global operations. "Flying legends like the Spitfire, the Blenheim F and the Javelin warplanes will add a considerable amount of depth to the game and more immersion for players."

The IPs came up for auction last month after Atari's U.S. entity filed for bankruptcy earlier this year. In the same auction, Nordic Games acquired the IP for Desperados and Silver.