X-bit labs

Intel Set to Take Over Physics Engine Specialist.

Category: Other

by Anton Shilov

[ 09/14/2007 | 10:44 PM ]

Intel Corp. on Friday said it plans to acquire Havok, the company that is primarily known for its physics engines used across a variety of applications. The move, according to the world’s largest maker of chips, will help the company to develop “visual computing and graphics” products. The takeover will not affect ongoing projects of Havok, such as physics engine for graphics processing units (GPUs).

“Havok is a proven leader in physics technology for gaming and digital content, and will become a key element of Intel’s visual computing and graphics efforts. Havok will operate its business as usual, which will allow them to continue developing products that are offered across all platforms in the industry,” said Renee J. James, vice president and general manager of Intel's Software and Solutions Group.

Havok’s modular suite of software development tools is used by game and digital animation creators to build realistic video games for all types of hardware and digitally animated movies. The company’s combination of technology and dedication to customers has led to its technology being used in more than 150 of the world's best-known game titles, including BioShock, Stranglehold, Halo 2, Half Life 2, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Crackdown, Lost Planet: Extreme Condition, MotorStorm and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. In addition, Havok products have been used to create special effects in movies such as Poseidon, The Matrix, Troy, Kingdom of Heaven and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

The acquisition of Havok is expected to allow Intel Corp. to ensure that Havok’s software physics engines are tailored for the company’s hardware, including multi-core central processing units, high-performance Larrabee processors as well as rumoured graphics processing units. The software company itself is likely to get additional funding from Intel, which will allow it to offer even more complex products.

Havok will be a wholly owned Intel subsidiary and continue to operate as an independent business working with its customers in developing digital media content. Havok was founded in 1998 in Dublin, Ireland, and has offices in San Francisco, San Antonio, Stockholm, Calcutta, Munich and Tokyo.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.