Codemasters Games to be Distributed in Europe by Namco Bandai

Namco Bandai has taken up the responsibility for distributing Codemasters games in the UK, Europe, and Australasia – as well as North America, which it already covers – according to a statement sent out today. The distribution agreement will kick off with GRID 2, which should launch in May this year for PS3, 360, and PC, and will also cover future titles (presumably including unannounced games for the next generation of consoles).

Here's the word from Codeys boss Rod Cousens:

As the dynamics of interactive entertainment change and evolve, then the shift to collaborative support via structured agile partnerships, which extend cost efficiencies and provide for stronger alliances, is the way forward.

We have progressed our relationship with Namco Bandai Partners for more than two years and, during that time, we have expanded territorial reach, which has worked well. We are now able to build on this and further extend our relationship to embrace more countries, including the UK.

Codemasters revealed some shiny screenshots for GRID 2 last month along with the release date – May 28^th 2013. There was also quite a bit of complicated information on the various retail-specific pre-orders players in the U.S. can pick up – including various packs like the McLaren Racing Pack, the GTR Racing Pack, the IndyCar Pack, and the Head Start Pack – which will presumably transfer over to the U.K. as well thanks to this distribution deal.

With recent restructuring – and refocusing on racing titles primarily – and the job losses that entailed, it's good to see Codemasters is managing to stay on its feet.