May 8, 2008

Autodesk Acquires Kynogon SA, Grows Middleware and Simulation Portfolio

San Rafael, Calif. - Autodesk Inc. has completed the acquisition of Kynogon SA, maker of Kynapse artificial-intelligence middleware.

Autodesk announced its intent to acquire Paris-based Kynogon on February 19, 2008. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Kynapse has been used to develop more than 65 AAA game titles, including Alone in the Dark 5, Crackdown, Fable 2, and The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar.

Kynapse gives characters spatial awareness, enabling them to realistically navigate digital environments.

"The acquisition of Kynogon extends Autodesk's leadership in game development and simulation technology. We welcome Kynogon's customers, partners, and employees to Autodesk," says Marc Petit, Autodesk Media & Entertainment senior vice president. "The future of video games is about more believable characters and environments. Due to the increasing complexity of video games, developers are adopting commercial middleware solutions such as Kynapse and Autodesk HumanIK to improve game play and to stay on time and on budget."