Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games) today announced the acquisition of independent game developer Swordfish Studios. Under terms of the agreement, VU Games will retain Swordfish Studios’ U.K.-based team of 45 development professionals. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

"Swordfish Studios has emerged as a strong creative force with an experienced and talented group of professionals," said Bruce Hack, CEO of VU Games. "Following the integration of Radical Entertainment into the VU Games organization and Blizzard Entertainment’s acquisition of Swingin’ Ape Studios earlier this year, the purchase of Swordfish further builds our internal development capabilities."

Trevor Williams, Managing Director of Swordfish, will continue to lead the studio in the same role and will report to Peter Della Penna, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Product Development for VU Games. The studio will remain in its current office in Birmingham, England.

Swordfish Studios has earned several awards for excellence in game development, including ‘Developer of the Year’ for 2004 by The Independent Game Developers Association. It was also honored as the best ‘New U.K. Studio’ at the Developer Industry Excellence Awards.

Future products in development at Swordfish Studios will be announced at a
later date. The studio just completed development on VU Games’ PS2 first-person shooter, Cold Winter.