Ubisoft buys owner of 1701 A.D.

Ubisoft today announced that it has reached a deal to acquire German game producer SunFlowers, the owner of the Anno series of PC real-time strategy games, most recently seen in the US as 1701 A.D. The Anno series will join fellow German production The Settlers as well as Heroes of Might and Magic in the French publisher's stable of PC strategy games. As a result of the deal, Ubisoft will also be acquiring 30 percent ownership of Related Designs, the developer of 1701 A.D.

SunFlowers boasts cumulative worldwide sales for the Anno series of more than 5 million copies on PCs and mobile phones. A DS edition of 1701 A.D. is currently in development at Keen Games, and Ubisoft has said Related Designs is working on a future installment in the Anno series.

For more on 1701 A.D., check out GameSpot's review of the PC version.