MUMBAI: Anil Dhirubhai Ambani’s Reliance Big Entertainment will be acquiring a 50 per cent stake in British video games developer and publisher Codemasters.

The remaining 50 per cent shareholding vests with the venture capital firm Balderton Capital, which invested in Codemasters in 2005.

RBEL’s gaming division – Zapak Digital Entertainment will oversee the Codemasters investment.

Zapak CEO Rohit Sharma said, "We are excited to partner with Codemasters and believe it’s very strong technology, development and distribution presence will complement our global gaming portfolio. Additionally, Zapak’s global strength in mobile gaming will enhance Codemasters’ ability to fully leverage its attractive franchises such as its racing and cricket games."

Codemasters has major franchises in cricket games (The Ashes), racing games (Formula 1, Dirt2 and Race Driver Grid), performance games (Dance Factory) and military simulations (Operation Flashpoint 2) and annual revenues in excess of US$ 150 Million.

Codemasters CEO Rod Cousens added, "The opportunities arising from this partnership are truly exciting. This is great news for our development and publishing teams. Reliance and Zapak have immense resources and will help us realize the full potential of our game coding and online excellence across so many platforms, and especially in the world’s fastest growing markets. The future of Codemasters has never looked brighter. It’s a whole new game!"

Balderton partner Tim Bunting said, "We are delighted to welcome Reliance as our partner in Codemasters and gratified by the confidence in Codemasters that Reliance’s initiative represents."