The integration of Hybrid's technology with Criterion's highly successful, multi-platform 3D game development toolkit - RenderWare3 - and its availability as a plug-in to RenderWare3, will offer Criterion's customers the ability to imagine and develop a new generation of games. This strategic alliance confirms RenderWare3 as the leading technological middleware platform for the game industry, reinforcing Criterion Software's position as the world-leading provider of advanced middleware solutions for the games industry.

"Hybrid has been a very well respected provider of 3D middleware for many years and we are very excited to be able to bring Hybrid's new technologies to the game development community via RenderWare3," said David Lau-Kee, President of Criterion Software. "Incorporating Hybrid's technology within our flagship product will open a whole new world of possibilities for game developers, further pushing the limits of the 'technologically impossible'."

"The most important lesson we learned in half-a-dozen years of middleware," said Mikael Honkavaara, Chief Executive Officer of Hybrid, "is that it is all about pain reduction for developers. We are impressed by how Criterion has clearly taken these truths to heart. RenderWare3 is without doubt the leading middleware technology as chosen by the game industry and with a world-class support organisation, the Criterion middleware channel is perfect for our products."

"We couldn't be happier working with Hybrid," said Forrest Workman, Senior Producer at leading online 3D developer EA.com - Kesmai Studios, "their dedication to support and pushing the technology envelope is second to none. This deal is good news to us because it means we're going to see some awesome things in the future."