Skydance has acquired leading game developer The Workshop Entertainment and launched Skydance Interactive, a dedicated subsidiary that will create and own original video games and virtual reality experiences.

The acquisition provides Skydance Media with the capability to vertically integrate its intellectual property across the feature film, television and interactive platforms.

With every studio pushing for more VR capabilities with their IP, the move will allow the company to self-publish and digitally distribute Skydance Interactive titles for the leading VR hardware, including Oculus, HTC Vive and PlayStation VR. While The Workshop will continue to offer its console game services, this transaction allows the company to evolve into a leading-edge virtual reality developer.

“We believe that virtual reality is the perfect medium by which to create an interactive platform where immersive storytelling intersects with active gameplay, which has long been a goal of ours at Skydance Media,” said Skydance Media CEO David Ellison. “We are making a significant investment in virtual reality with the launch of Skydance Interactive, which allows us not only to develop and publish original games, but also to extend the reach of our existing franchises. I am proud that we have found our ideal partners in The Workshop and am thrilled to welcome Peter, Chris and the rest of the team into the Skydance family.”

The Workshop was launched in 2008 by the co-founder and original members of Treyarch, which sold to Activision in 2001 and now leads the “Call of Duty” franchise.

“Skydance clearly shares our belief at The Workshop that virtual reality will profoundly affect the human experience,” added Skydance Interactive CEO Peter Akemann. “It is absolutely exhilarating to be on the front lines of the revolution developing cutting-edge gaming experiences and there is no one with whom we would rather be in business than the innovative team at Skydance.”

(Pictured: Chris Busse, GM of Skydance Interactive / Peter Akemann, CEO of Skydance Interactive / David Ellison, CEO of Skydance Media / Jesse Sisgold, COO of Skydance Media)