May 08, 2009

Microsoft said on Thursday it intends to acquire BigPark, a Vancouver, B.C.-based game studio. BigPark, which is made up of former Electronic Arts Canada and Distinctive Software executives, has been working on an Xbox-exclusive game over the past year.

Microsoft plans to buy BigPark, a company chaired by Don Mattrick (pictured above), who already serves as a senior VP in Microsoft's game unit.

We believe BigPark has tremendous potential to create new properties and innovative gaming experiences for our platforms, one of which we're looking forward to showcasing at the E3 Expo in June," Microsoft game studios boss Phil Spencer said in a statement. The company did not disclose financial terms in its press release announcing the deal.

Among BigPark's founders is Don Mattrick, who joined Microsoft in July 2007 as senior VP of its interactive entertainment business, while continuing to serve as BigPark's chairman. Microsoft noted that Mattrick's investment and role at BigPark was known to the company when it hired him.

However, neither Mattrick's Microsoft biography nor the press release announcing his hiring mention BigPark.