Capcom prepping Monumental effort

Best known as a provider of middleware for massively multiplayer online games, UK-based Monumental Games is looking to bolster its reputation as a developer. It now has a high-profile opportunity to do just that, as Capcom today announced a development deal with Monumental to create a multiplatform game set for release later this year.

Capcom gave no more details about the project other than to say it would be publishing it. However, the list of current projects on Monumental Games' Web site may give some hints.

"We can't reveal the franchise as yet, but we can say we're both proud and excited to be working on it," reads a listing for a secret console project. "As you would expect given our core technology, there's a substantial online element, but the gameplay focus is pure adrenalin."

Monumental Games made news last year when it purchased the Manchester branch of Swordfish Studios from Activision. At the time, Monumental CEO Rik Alexander explained that the team of 26 was "one of the very few developers worldwide to have fully solved the hugely complex issues involved in running and managing the XLSP [Xbox Live Server Platform] server environments for online console gaming." The firm's other development efforts include the online games Football Superstars and Hunter's World.