IGN Entertainment Launches Direct2Drive in the UK
London, 1st August 2007. The UK's number one gaming and entertainment destination, IGN Entertainment, announced today the expansion of its industry-leading digital retail store, Direct2Drive, into the UK ( www.direct2drive.co.uk), giving consumers the chance to digitally 'download-to-own' the latest games direct to their PC.
Direct2Drive UK will initially feature more than 100 of the hottest games including headline titles such as Civilisation IV: Beyond the Sword, Elder Scrolls Oblivion, and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. following deals with games publishers including Activision, Take 2, Sony Online Entertainment, and THQ.
The site gives gamers a hassle-free and fast way to own the latest titles, and is a natural extension of IGN.com, where gamers access all the latest games news and reviews. Direct2Drive also complements sister site FilePlanet.com, where consumers can download free trial versions of games before they are released in the shops.
As well as providing all the latest titles as soon as they are released, Direct2Drive UK provides a deep catalogue of classic games such as Prey and Serious Sam 2.
"Direct2Drive is the quickest and most convenient way to own a game. We want users to discover games through our comprehensive editorial coverage on IGN.com, try before they buy on FilePlanet.com and then buy the ones they love via Direct2Drive," said Justin Keeling, European General Manager, IGN Entertainment.
"The launch of Direct2Drive consolidates IGN's position as the UK's leading online destination for gaming and entertainment content. Our audience keeps growing, with more than 4 million people relying on our UK sites every month for the latest news, reviews and exclusive content."
Since launching in October 2004 in the US, Direct2Drive has grown 100% year over year and houses a roster of games from leading video game publishers including Activision, Blizzard, Atari, NC Soft, and Vivendi Universal Games.
Over time, it's expected Direct2Drive UK will expand to allow users to download movies, TV shows and more. For example, in the US, TV titles like 24 and Prison Break are available as full series, or by the episode.
ENDS
About Direct2Drive
Direct2Drive (D2D) is IGN Entertainment's digital download store ( http://www.direct2drive.com). Launched in October 2004, D2D allows consumers to conveniently purchase and download the latest premium video games, feature films, popular TV shows and anime titles directly from the Web to their desktops. D2D's AAA roster of leading game publishers includes Atari, Activision, Blizzard Entertainment, Eidos, Electronic Arts, Namco, NCsoft, SEGA, Sony Online Entertainment, 2K Games, Ubisoft and Vivendi Universal Games. In addition, Twentieth Century Fox, Lionsgate and Starz Media are making blockbuster movies, TV shows, comics and top anime titles available to users directly via the D2D platform.
About IGN Entertainment
IGN Entertainment, a unit of Fox Interactive Media, Inc., is a leading Internet media and services provider focused on the videogame and entertainment enthusiast markets. Collectively, IGN's properties reached more than 30 million unique users worldwide in the month of June 2007, according to Internet audience measurement firm comScore Media Metrix. IGN's network of videogame-related properties (IGN.com, GameSpy, FilePlanet, TeamXbox, Direct2Drive and others), is the Web's number one videogame information destination and attracts one of the largest concentrated audiences of young males on the Internet. IGN also owns and operates the popular movie-related website, Rotten Tomatoes and one of the leading male lifestyle Websites, AskMen.com. In addition, IGN provides technology for online game play in videogames. IGN is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, with offices throughout the U.S. and in Montreal.
For more information, please contact:
Chris McCafferty 0203 077 4007 cmccafferty@myspace.com