Warner Bros to open Montreal development studio

Warner Bros is to open a new development studio in Montreal - a move that it says has been aided by the generous financial incentives and tax credits offered by the Quebec government.

The new studio will gradually grow to employ more than 300 people by the end of 2015 - an approach that Warner Bros said would facilitate the recruiting of new graduates.

Quebec Premier Jean Charest also announced a $7.5m non-refundable contribution from Investissement Quebec had been allocated for the creation of the studio.

"We are proud that Warner Bros has chosen Quebec. We have done a lot of work to position Quebec as an essential place to invest that is competitive, and possesses an exceptional and highly qualified workforce. Warner Bros has acknowledged this and we are very excited to welcome them," said Premier Charest.

"With its creative workforce specialised in digital media and its renowned universities, Quebec is the perfect place to develop our new products and technologies," added Martin Tremblay, president of Warner Bros.

"The Government of Quebec's tax credits and other incentives made Montreal the right location for our studio at this time. Montreal, with its wealth of talent and highly affordable operating costs, is a wonderful place to continue to expand our growth in gaming."

The new Montreal subsidiary will be head-quartered in Burbank California.

Various departments will be housed in the studio, including high-end interactive product development, digital and cinematographic animation, product QA and localisation services.

Quebec offers a range of incentives designed to support the growth of the multimedia industry there, and Warner Bros will be eligible for tax credits for the production of its titles.

Last month, Warner acquired a majority stake in Batman: Arkham Asylum developer Rocksteady Studios.