Dublin video games service firm Keywords buys Spov for £1.2m

Dublin-headquartered video games service provider Keywords Studios has acquired animation and digital design firm Spov for £1.2 million (€1.4 million) in cash.

London-based Spov is a provider of creative development, cinematics, user interface (UI), visual effects and motion graphics services to the video game and film markets.

Founded in 2007 by Allen Leitch, Spov maintains a small team of creatives in London and manages a network of highly experienced designers, animators, film-makers and artists to produce footage for use in video games and films and on television.

The company has worked on titles such as Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Watch Dogs, The Division, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, Batman: Arkham Knight and Marvel's Doctor Strange.

Spotify-backed Soundtrack Your Brand raises $22m

---

Microsoft to create 600 jobs in Dublin

---

Terror threat has changed, MI5 ex-director tells US conference

---

Data Commissioner legally required to suspend US data transfers, court told

---

AIM-listed Keywords said the acquisition would significantly strengthen the group’s art service line offering with studios located in Europe, Asia and North America.

"We are thrilled to have Allen and the Spov team of talented creative professionals join the Art Service Line at Keywords Studios. Their skills and experience will enhance our ability to provide a broader range of services to our clients," said Fred Stockton, global art service line director at Keywords.

Founded in 1998, Keywords is an international technical services provider to the global video games industry, providing integrated art creation, localisation, testing, audio and customer experience management services across 50 languages and 14 games platforms.

Clients include Activision Blizzard, Bandai Namco, Bethesda, Electronic Arts, Konami, Riot Games, Square Enix, Supercell, TakeTwo and Ubisoft.

The company has worked on recent titles such as Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, Mortal Combat X, Assassin's Creed Syndicate, Battlefield 1, World of Warcraft: Legion, Hearthstone, Clash Royale and Mobile Strike.