EA Announces Deals with Epic Games, Suda51

Electronic Arts officials surprised more than a few journalists during their media event last week when they announced two separate partnerships with Epic Games and Suda51's Grasshopper Manufacture.

The EA/Epic Games partnership will see development begin on a action title for PC, Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3.

"Epic is excited to work with EA Partners to launch our next big IP on the global stage," said Mark Rein, vice president, Epic Games, in a statement to GamePro. "EA Partners gives independent developers like Epic the muscle of a global publisher like EA, along with the focus and flexibility of a smaller team committed to working with our individual needs."

The Grasshopper game will be a new action horror title produced by Shinji Mikami and directed by game designer Suda51, of No More Heroes fame. The unnamed title is being developed for the PS3, PC, Xbox 360 and Wii.

No release dates or additional information on these two titles was given at press time.