Dublin-based games middleware company Havok is to be taken over by chip manufacturer Intel in a deal valued at over $100 million USD.

Founded in 1998, Havok offers a range of products designed to support game developers with interactive features for their products including Behaviour, Animation and Physics engine(s).

"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," said Renee J. James, VP and general manager of Intel's Software and Solutions Group.

"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 James.

David O'Meara, CEO of Havok commented "Intel's scale of technology investment and customer reach enable Havok with opportunities to grow more quickly into new market segments with new products than we could have done organically,"

"We believe the winning combination is Havok's technology and customer know-how with Intel's scale. This is a great fit for Havok products, customers and employees," he added.

Havok claims that "more than 70 clients" have licensed its technology. So far it has been integrated in apparently "more than 150" 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."

Upcoming games integrating the technology include Halo 3 and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. In addition, Havok says that its 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."

Havok Website