Digital Illusions announced today that it has acquired Trauma Studios, the New York based development team behind the popular Battlefield 1942 mod Desert Combat. All the Desert Combat rights and asssets are now owned by DICE, and the Swedish company will also employ all nine Trauma employees. Trauma Studios has already started work on a new PC game.

Trauma will work with the development of games built on Digital Illusions' technology produced in Sweden. The focus for Trauma - as for Digital Illusions' Canadian office - will thereby be on concept and game developing, rather than on developing technology. Initially Trauma will work with the development of a concept for a new PC game based on the Battlefield 2 engine. The companies have been working together since February 2004, and Trauma will continue to develop certain parts of Battlefield 2.