Local Gaming Developer Creates 30 Jobs in Fulton County
ATLANTA – April 2 – The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) announced today that Hi-Rez Studios, a Georgia-based online game developer, will expand its headquarters in Alpharetta, investing $10 million into the 30 jobs and expansion, bringing the company's employee count to more than 100 at its Georgia location by 2015.
'Georgia's thriving technology sector is attracting innovative start-up companies,' said GDEcD Commissioner Chris Carr. 'Hi-Rez Studios newest expansion is not only an investment in the community, but it is an investment for the future of the digital entertainment industry in our state. I have no doubt that Hi-Rez will find the talent and resources it needs to enhance its products and better reach its international markets.'
The company's headquarters, located at 3750 Brookside Parkway in Alpharetta, will expand by 4,000-square-feet. With this expansion and jobs, Hi-Rez Studios will continue to enhance their products with new game content and better reach customers across North America and Europe. The new jobs include software developers, digital artists, game testers and customer support technicians who will support the release and international distribution of the company's latest product.
'Digital gaming requires technical talent, creative talent, and an entrepreneurial climate," said Todd Harris, chief operating officer of Hi-Rez Studios. "We have experienced continued growth in Georgia, thanks to a great talent pool, high quality of life and low cost of doing business.'
Hi-Rez Studios is a leading developer of online computer games and is designated as one of the Top 30 Developers worldwide by Game Developer Magazine. The company has developed and released two previous game titles and is now enhancing their latest title SMITE, a mythology themed online multiplayer game for the PC. The expansion in Alpharetta will support the company's new product launch.
Additional international gaming markets are planned for 2014, including Hi-Rez product distribution into China via a partnership with Tencent, Asia's top internet company. Release and ongoing support of SMITE in new territories is driving the company's growth and expansion in Georgia.
Asante Bradford, project manager at the Georgia Department of Economic Development, supported this project on behalf of the state, in conjunction with the City of Alpharetta.
"The testament of a true tech community is not having the most technology companies, but having the best, most innovative and a diverse mixture,' said Peter Tokar, economic development director, City of Alpharetta. 'Not many communities can boast having a successful global gaming company such as High-Rez Studios and their commitment to growing in the City of Alpharetta reflects the many opportunities for success our community provides."
###
About Hi-Rez Studios
Hi-Rez Studios was established in 2005 to create exceptional online interactive entertainment. In 2010 the company released their first title, the squad-based shooter MMO Global Agenda. The company released the critically acclaimed Tribes: Ascend in 2012, and is currently enhancing the action 3D MOBA game SMITE, the Battleground of the Gods.
About the Georgia Department of Economic Development
The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) is the state's sales and marketing arm and lead agency for attracting new business investment, encouraging the expansion of existing industry and small businesses, developing new domestic and international markets, attracting tourists to Georgia, and promoting the state as a location for film, video, music and digital entertainment projects, as well as planning and mobilizing state resources for economic development.