Report: Evolution cost Sony $33M

At this year's Tokyo Game Show, Kaz Hirai made several announcements in his opening keynote speech: Dual Shock 3 would be coming for the PlayStation 3, Home would be delayed until spring 2008, and Sony had acquired Evolution Studios and subsidiary BigBig Studios.

The financial details of the deal were not disclosed at the time of the deal, but the Liverpool Daily Post is now reporting that Runcorn, Cheshire, UK-based Evolution Studios set Sony back £16 million (approx. $33 million).

According to the report, cofounder Martin Kenwright, who owned a 75 percent share in the company, made £12 million ($24 million) from the sale. The report also indicated that Kenwright and the studios' other founder, Ian Hetherington, will be leaving the company, although no jobs will be cut as a result of the management changeover, and the company will remain in its Runcorn base.

Kenwright and Hetherington founded Evolution in 1999--Hetherington had previously founded Psygnosis, and Kenwright had run Digital Image Design. The company is most famous for the PlayStation 3 driving game MotorStorm, as well as other driving titles including WRC: Rally Evolved.

Evolution is currently working on downloadable content for the original MotorStorm, along with a sequel to the game, due in 2008.