Warner to open Montreal studio

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment says it will open a development studio in Montreal that will employ more than 300 people by the end of 2015.

Besides development of high-end video games, the studio will produce digital and cinema animation and translate its products for other markets, the company based in Burbank, Calif., said Monday.

Martin Tremblay, Warner Interactive's president, said Quebec is a perfect fit for the company with its skilful and creative workforce as well as its universities.

"Quebec's tax credits and other incentives made Montreal the right location for our studio at this time," said Tremblay, the former president of the Ubisoft game studio.

"Montreal, with its wealth of talent and highly affordable operating costs, is a wonderful place to continue to expand our growth in gaming."

Games based on characters from the Warner-owned DC Comics stable such as Superman and Batman will be among the products to be developed in Montreal, Tremblay noted.

Warner already has a number of studios around the world.

Tremblay said Martin Carrier, a local industry veteran, will oversee the establishment of the studio during the coming weeks.

Premier Jean Charest, who was present at the announcement, said the government is proud Warners has chosen Quebec for the new studio.

"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," Charest said. "Warner Bros. has acknowledged this and we are very excited to welcome them."

Montreal is considered one of the world's hot spots for video game development.

Quebec is kicking in a $7.5-million non-refundable contribution from the province's investment arm to help the studio get off the ground.