Del Rey To Publish Books Based on Xbox Games

Posted on February 7, 2002

Ballantine Books, a division of Random House, Inc, announced the creation of a major new joint book development agreement with Microsoft's Xbox video game system to create a fiction publishing program. The titles will be published by Ballantine's Del Rey imprint. Under this agreement, Del Rey has acquired exclusive, worldwide rights to publish paperback, hardcover, audio and electronic books based on Xbox game titles developed by Microsoft Game Studios. On a related note, Prima Games, also a division of Random House, Inc, recently announced a deal to be the exclusive worldwide publisher of first-party strategy guides titles for the Xbox games.

Del Rey is best known for its science fiction/fantasy publishing. The imprint's roster of authors includes Greg Bear, Ray Bradbury, Terry Brooks, Sir Arthur C. Clarke, David Eddings, Anne McCaffrey, R.A. Salvatore and Harry Turtledove. Del Rey also publishes media tie-ins and licensed properties; its most successful program to date has been the creation of a line of original Star Wars books. Del Rey will also soon release the official book tie-ins for the upcoming film Spider-Man.

Last fall, in cooperation with Microsoft, Del Rey published a debut paperback Xbox title, Halo: The Fall of Reach by science fiction writer Eric Nylund. Halo: The Fall of Reach was the official prequel to the Halo game released by Microsoft with the launch of Xbox last November, and its publication was timed to take advantage of Microsoft's enormous pre-launch marketing push. The novel was considered a success, and Del Rey and Microsoft moved forward with plans to launch an entire fiction book program based on the Xbox games.

"The enthusiasm and imaginativeness of Del Rey's readership is a perfect match for Xbox, which the success of Halo: The Fall of Reach underscored for us," said Steve Saffel, Del Rey Executive Editor. "We will be releasing two titles this fall and our goal is to publish about six titles per year starting in 2003. As we move forward, we'll be working closely with Microsoft -- including the game development teams -- to find the game titles that best lend themselves to novels."

Three new novels are tentatively planned for release beginning in Fall 2002. One revolves around the dark, mysterious world of The Unseen. Another takes place in the swashbuckling world of the 1930s air-pirate adventure Crimson Skies, popularized by the hit PC title of the same name. Finally, a new Halo novel will feature a storyline that follows-up and expands upon events in Halo: The Fall of Reach.

"This is a very exciting opportunity for Del Rey," said Betsy Mitchell, Del Rey Vice President and Editor-in-Chief. "By melding the global marketing prowess of Microsoft and Del Rey's celebrated editorial vision, we hope together to create a dynamic book program that will introduce a whole new generation of young consumers to reading."

Del Rey Books was founded in 1977 as a division of Ballantine Books under the guidance of the renowned Judy-Lynn del Rey and her husband, Lester del Rey. Del Rey publishes modern fantasy, science fiction and alternate history in hardcover, paperback, and now ebook formats. Ballantine Books is a publishing group of Random House, Inc, the U.S. publishing company of Random House, the trade book publishing division of Bertelsmann AG.