Sign on Options
Theme:
To Dark

Bourne license surfaces at EA

Publisher enters long-term development deal to create games based on Robert Ludlum's novels; first project handed off to Starbreeze Studios.

Many of the high-profile licenses orphaned after Activision and Vivendi's multibillion-dollar merger took some time to find new homes. Not so with the Bourne license. Not a week after being let go, the Ludlum family reacquired the video game rights to the works of Robert Ludlum, though it did so with the intention of finding a new steward "capable of fully exploiting the multiplatform potential of the Ludlum content and storylines."

Jason Bourne at play.

Jason Bourne at play.

Today, the Ludlum family has done just that. Electronic Arts has announced a multiyear, worldwide licensing agreement to create games based on Robert Ludlum's acclaimed novels. The publisher also announced that the first game in this deal will be based on the author's popular rogue spy Jason Bourne. Neither platforms nor an expected launch window were revealed.

Bourne fans hoping for a quality entertainment experience may be heartened to hear that Swedish outfit Starbreeze Studios has been tasked with the game's development. Starbreeze made a name for itself in 2004, partnering with Vin Diesel's Tigon Studios on The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay, the highly acclaimed film-to-game spin-off adaption of Diesel's Pitch Black antihero.

The upcoming Jason Bourne game marks the second in-development collaboration between EA and Starbreeze. About this time last year, the publisher announced that it had tapped Starbreeze to "reinvent a classic EA franchise." The game, operating under the code name Project RedLime, is in development for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.

For more on the series, check out GameSpot's full review of The Bourne Conspiracy, developed by High Moon Studios.

61 Comments

  • TehUndeadHorror

    Posted Feb 5, 2009 2:38 am GMT

    I hope this is good.

  • msudude211

    Posted Feb 3, 2009 6:23 pm GMT

    Thorpe, I don't think anyone does...

  • Thorpe89

    Posted Feb 3, 2009 4:59 pm GMT

    I would not want EA to mess up with this license.

  • randomgod

    Posted Feb 3, 2009 3:44 pm GMT

    This was a surprisingly good game and a well developed sequel will hopefully make it maximise its potential

  • rmfd341

    Posted Feb 3, 2009 3:17 pm GMT

    Playing like Bourne would be awesome, he kicks ass. Starbreeze is good at making badass guys games.

  • Zidaneski

    Posted Feb 3, 2009 2:29 pm GMT

    I hope its good. I like the Bourne: Conspiracy demo and would buy the game when I find it cheap.

  • DrKill09

    Posted Feb 3, 2009 1:07 pm GMT

    Starbreeze make awsome games. Riddick and The Darkness freakin RULED!

  • Waffen_SS84

    Posted Feb 3, 2009 12:56 pm GMT

    I hope they will do better this time >.>

  • punchwalk

    Posted Feb 3, 2009 11:19 am GMT

    I'd like to see this game end up as a cross between the style of The Bourne Conspiracy and that of the Metal Gear Solid franchise (in other words, I'd like to see some increased stealth action). I like the core idea of the hand-to-hand combat and the takedown system from The Bourne Conspiracy but I think there is some potential to refine it.

  • Shunjinko

    Posted Feb 3, 2009 11:14 am GMT

    Starbreeze isnt half bad, they made The Darkness

  • nishanth12

    Posted Feb 3, 2009 7:59 am GMT

    the first game was good! i wish the same for the next one too.

  • xbox4life76

    Posted Feb 3, 2009 7:08 am GMT

    Loved the movies and just wondering about the success since the movies have been released a few years ago, is the interest really still there? Never played a Bourne games before but willing to try it out when it comes out for the 360.

  • aliboy26

    Posted Feb 3, 2009 7:00 am GMT

    wonder when it will be out, well lets see its ea so i'd give it about three months for them to splatter something together.

  • xdeiri

    Posted Feb 3, 2009 6:44 am GMT

    good luck with that

  • TreFacTor

    Posted Feb 3, 2009 6:32 am GMT

    the first game sucked because it was linear, and shoddy. the onscreen prompts were distracting and slowed gameplay to a crawl when the action needed to be intense like the movies. Most movie games are bad so there wasn't much hope for this one in the first place, but the mere fact that this game mimicked the first movie almost 2 years later didn't help. In all it was rushed and could have been much better. I really hate games that hold your hand after the initial training mission for mass appeal, the new Prince of Persia took this root, and stunk!

  • GeigerdolylWodd

    Posted Feb 3, 2009 4:56 am GMT

    Avenger1324
    Posted Feb 3, 2009 6:49 am CT

    Wasn't the main selling point for Bourne games that they were linked with the films? Now the film trilogy has finished surely this is a bad time to be picking up the licence - the sales will be much lower as they won't get crossover sales from people watching the films

    True but then you have the inevitable re-release dvd special edition trilogy sales and people who will rediscover it by cable, internet or rental.

  • Avenger1324

    Posted Feb 3, 2009 4:49 am GMT

    Wasn't the main selling point for Bourne games that they were linked with the films? Now the film trilogy has finished surely this is a bad time to be picking up the licence - the sales will be much lower as they won't get crossover sales from people watching the films

  • Fat_Boy_PT

    Posted Feb 3, 2009 3:48 am GMT

    I loved the bourne game. Kick a**SS fighting and very exciting from start to finish. Bring on another Bourne.

  • raydarat

    Posted Feb 3, 2009 2:07 am GMT

    maverick, sayin 2-3 guys should beat you down is kinda dumb...JB can own at least 5-6 guys at a time...but i do agree they should focus on the stealth element...

  • Foolio1

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 11:37 pm GMT

    Interesting news. I though Bourne Conspiracy was pretty awesome, but I think Starbreeze could do a very good job with the license as well. Here's hoping.

  • maverick_76

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 7:01 pm GMT

    I think they should have focused more on the stealth element, making the game to where if more than 2-3 guys confronted you, they could beat you down. This for the purpose of realism and to make you have to use stealth and cover and also run away, just like the movies. The boss fights I felt were pretty good, and the combat was nice, just too easy to take down lots of guys.

  • stalepretzels

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 6:21 pm GMT

    I agree with burstlimit514, the driving did indeed suck. The gunplay and fighting were decent, and it had great camerawork, but would have greatly appreciated Matt Damon's face. The game in many ways, failed to feel like bourne, and more like an urban Drake's Fortune. There should've been more stealth and less fighting. That's what people liked about the movies - the fact that people had such a hard time locating Bourne, but when he showed up...BAM! lol

  • burstlimit514

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 6:13 pm GMT

    i dont see how people didnt like conspiracy. One of the best games i have played. Hated the driving though. I hope the next one is even better.

  • darknferno12

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 5:28 pm GMT

    The Bourne conspiracy was a pretty good game, although EA has improved it's quality when I comes to them I'm not sold until I play the game.

  • nintendoboy16

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 5:18 pm GMT

    Oh no. I have a bad feeling about this.

  • koknarr

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 5:16 pm GMT

    EA has improved.I dont hate it anymore.I dont know, i feel like they're trying to shake that image.

  • FLEEBS posted Feb 2, 2009 4:56 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    FLEEBS

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 4:56 pm GMT (hide)

    I hated The Bourne Conspiracy.

    And Azzuren, I hate EA because they suck, not because "everyone else does" or because it's "cool". Once in a blue moon do they come out with something that is actually worthwhile, but their track record plainly sucks.

    Why in the heck would anyone hate something because it's cool to do so? I've never known anyone to think that way.

  • BloodMist

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 4:52 pm GMT

    People hate things like that, because there are reasons for it.That a lotta people are blind to see.

  • Azzuren

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 4:33 pm GMT

    @makchady, people hate EA because it's cool nowadays. Just like it was cool to hate New York, or Microsoft. But still NYC is populated, Windows is used by everyone and their mother, and EA games are played (the not-so and the great ones). It's just cool to hate the big guys, go against the flow.

    It's the salmon effect.

  • BloodMist

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 4:22 pm GMT

    Sure BF2 is great if you like half-assed buggy games with broken classes and maps, sure.

  • Vetteman24

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 4:19 pm GMT

    You're full of it, Bloodmist. BF2 is great as are its mods.

  • makchady

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 3:28 pm GMT

    people consistently trash on EA for what reason? why cant they accept that EA puts out quality game after quality game each year, and eventhough they have their blunders and flops, just remember every company has those. dont forget who brought us originality and uniqueness in last year's mirror's edge and also the solid and critically acclaimed dead space...oh yeah EA published and funded both. not to mention other great games like battlefield bad company and burnout paradise, which the latter of those two was nominated for best game by virtually every magazine and website. EA is the juggernaut in the gaming business for a reason, and you have to release good games to become be in the spot they are in. im more worried however that starbreeze is behind this. typically, their games have been slower paced than what i would expect from a bourne game. riddick was an amazing game and the darkness was good, but those are completely different games than the melee focused combat found in the bourne movies. we shall see though, cant wait, but even more excited for project redlime, interested to find out which franchise they are remaking.

  • Azzuren

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 3:20 pm GMT

    jrabbit, the developer (Starbreeze) is pretty good actually, the only way EA could screw this up is by rushing them and forcing them to release an unfinished product (or sticking in hideous DRM). That would really screw up Starbreeze's rep though, which is bad for business on the long term, but I don't see it happening *crosses fingers*

  • paramite12

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 3:09 pm GMT

    Starbreeze rocks so hard, this game is going to kick some serious ***

  • jrabbit99

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 2:53 pm GMT

    I don't like the sound of this. EA has a tendency to ruin good franchises

  • Maxor127

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 2:49 pm GMT

    I expected to have to bash EA for sucking and probably ruining a franchise but they made the right choice picking Starbreeze. Now they can prove that Riddick wasn't a fluke.

  • tsunami19

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 1:44 pm GMT

    cant wait for the new bornes games if their as good or better than the last one

  • Stalker700

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 1:36 pm GMT

    Any chance to se ethe first game on the PC?

  • WardCleaver02

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 1:35 pm GMT

    Starbreeze? They are one of those studios that even if they tried to fail, they probably couldn't pull it off. This union has some exciting potential.

  • Amir29

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 1:22 pm GMT

    I'm not familiar with StarBreeze, but seeing everyone else excited, I have to say I am excited too. If for nothing else, at least the one's that made conspiracy won't be involved.

  • Arch649

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 12:45 pm GMT

    Bourne AND Starbreeze. count me in.

  • lamprey263

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 12:35 pm GMT

    this game was fun, a little frustrating at times, but very action packed, I'm glad their gonna be making more

  • jadefury27

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 12:25 pm GMT

    the first game wasn't bad but i liked it better as i don't know...splinter cell?

  • Azwethinkweiz89

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 12:01 pm GMT

    Bourne and Starbreeze!? Pure awesomeness.

  • Bloodbath_87

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 12:00 pm GMT

    Nice, I love Starbreeze. The Bourne Conspiracy was a great game (beat it 3 times) so i'm looking forward to more Bourne games in the future...

  • drewciferpike

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 11:56 am GMT

    Starbreeze FTW...

  • RedChuckz

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 11:55 am GMT

    Man whats up with all of your EA haters here at least they been doing good and are trying to they are picking up IP's from a scared company Activision who only depend on CoD and GH series. You go EA.

  • RandyTheFool

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 11:50 am GMT

    Dreski83: "yet I don't see much history left in the Bourne world left to explore. So in turn, unless there are more movies on the way, why bother with something old when you could be real creative and do something new EA!"

    Apparently you've never read the books Ludlum wrote. The movies didn't do them justice at all. I mean, it's a completely different story altogether as Bourne is after the most deadly assassin in the world, Carlos the Jackal, is a master of disguise (which the movies never touch on), Conklin is a FRIEND (not a villain) and Marie isn't killed off idiotcially. That's what I want to see!!!

    Anyway, I guess Matt Damon is game for a fourth Bourne film anyway, so I doubt my dream will come true *sigh*. *whoopity doo - more mindless violent camera shaking idiocy!*

  • jmangafan

    Posted Feb 2, 2009 11:48 am GMT

    The fact alone that its Starbreeze means this game will be great. Riddick was excellent, and The Darkness was simply amazing. It will be a little awkward to see them move away from the sci-fi/horror genre, but Bourne is action packed enough for them to make something awesome out of.

Subscribe to GameSpot's YouTube Channel

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!

Related Game

Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Conspiracy

Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Conspiracy Boxshot
Follow:
  1. Not Following
    Xbox 360: Follow
  2. Not Following
    PlayStation 3: Follow
Add to List
  1. Xbox 360
  2. PlayStation 3

Follow for the latest news, videos, & tips from experts & insiders

GameSpot Fuse
    Platforms:

    Recent News

    See All News »

    Site Blogs