Keywords Studios swallows up XLOC for under $1m

Video games technical services provider Keywords Studios announced on Wednesday that it acquired XLOC for a total consideration of $0.9m from its founders, Stephanie O'Malley and Mason Deming.

The AIM-traded firm said XLOC, based in North Carolina, had developed the “leading” web-based integrated globalisation content management system for video games, supported by consulting and customisation services.

It explained that its proprietary software application could be integrated with any games development platform, and enabled game developers and publishers to more efficiently manage and automate the complex process of localising games content across multiple languages and platforms for simultaneous global launches and continuous publishing.

The acquisition of XLOC was said to be in line with Keywords Studios' strategy to extend its services, with the objective of providing end-to-end services to its global client base covering all aspects of game production and live operations support.

XLOC was founded in 2004 by O'Malley and Deming, who had gained extensive experience of the localisation process through former roles in production and technology within Activision and by advising many leading video game development studios.

The founders, along with the rest of the XLOC team, would remain in the Group.

Under the terms of the acquisition Keywords was paying a consideration comprised of $0.7m in cash and the issue to the sellers of 19,134 new ordinary shares in Keywords, which would be subject to a two-year lock in period.

“We are delighted to welcome XLOC's talented team to Keywords Studios, having worked well together and recommended each other's solutions across many game titles over several years,” said global head of Keywords’ localisation services, Fabio Minazzi.

“XLOC brings to the group a scaleable, leading, proprietary software application that is embedded into the localisation processes of games developers.

Its system is relied upon from an earlier stage than Keywords Studios has typically been involved and will enable the group to provide integrated software and services across the full localisation cycle, in addition to offering XLOC as a standalone solution.”