Planned for release in fall 2008, the as-yet-unannounced game centers around an original intellectual property and will arrive on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Illusion previously worked on the 1930's mobster epic Mafia (PC, PS2, Xbox), along with the Vietcong and Hidden and Dangerous series of war-inspired efforts.

The deal represents D3's first major business partnership with a European developer. The company's American branch, D3Publisher of America, recently acquired Dead Head Fred (PSP) developer Vicious Cycle, marking its first purchase of a development studio. D3PA currently publishes a variety of downloadable and retail titles, with future releases spanning both licensed properties--such as TOMY Coporation's Naruto: Path of the Ninja (NDS), High Voltage Software and 1st Playable Productions's Ben 10: Protector of Earth (PS2, Wii, NDS, PSP)--and original games, including Digital Extremes' Dark Sector (PS3, X360), Infinite Interactive's Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords (PC, X360, Wii, PSP, NDS).

"We are thrilled to partner with D3 not only because they publish excellent games, but also because they publish a more streamlined portfolio of products, with any new and original intellectual property they commit to becoming the central focus of the company," said Illusion CEO Petr Vochozka. "The development, marketing and retail resources that D3 wields will be essential assets as this explosive new intellectual property is established in the competitive arena."