SEGA opens 10,000 sq ft UK studio for Alien game

SEGA-owned UK studio The Creative Assembly is to open a new 10,000 square foot facility in West Sussex, in order to create a "triple A title on console" based on Fox's Alien franchise.

"Within about a year we'll be on about 200 staff," claimed Creative Assembly studio director Tim Heaton – up from around half that presently.

The game's development will be lead by the team responsible for console Total War spin-off Viking. A release date and platforms are unconfirmed as yet, but SEGA told GamesIndustry.biz that releasing Alien on rumoured next-generation consoles had not yet been ruled out.

Visiting the Creative Assembly's HQ in Horsham, West Sussex to see the game this morning was government MP Ed Vaizey, who claimed to be impressed by the Alien title. "Very close to where we are standing there are geniuses at work developing a game on 20th Century Fox's Alien", he said. "The graphics are amazing, the concept is amazing."

Of CA's plans to increase its headcount in order to realise the game, Vaizey observed that "If you're one of the top developers in the country come and work here, on a game to take the world by storm. If anyone outside this room is listening please send your resume to the Creative Assembly."

CA's Heaton told GamesIndustry.biz, in an interview to be published soon, that the developer had approached staff recently laid off from nearby studio Black Rock for possible roles in the Horsham office.