Take-Two looks east

Grand Theft Auto IV publisher and Electronic Arts acquisition target Take-Two Interactive has announced that it is intending to expand its presence in the Asian market.

Hubert Larenaudie will be joining Take-Two and heading up the publisher's Asian expansion, which will be headquartered in Singapore. No stranger to the Far East, Larenaudie previously headed up EA's online efforts in Asia and served as president of Vivendi Games' Asia-Pacific operations.

The company wants to bolster its visibility in the lucrative Japanese market and will also be developing a "meaningful online game operation" in China and Korea. Online games will be the focus of the expansion, with a number of as-yet-unnamed titles planned to be launched in the region.