id Software leaves Activision, joins EA

E3 2008: id Software, the developer credited with pretty much inventing modern 3D graphics as used in computer games and the maker of the Doom, Quake and Dangerous Dave franchises has just signed a new publishing deal with Electronic Arts.

John Carmack himself took to the stage during EA's E3 opening address and announced that id Software had broken away from games publisher Activision, who had previously published many of id's games, and formed a new publishing partnership with EA.

Carmack was keen to stress however that the relationship between EA and id Software is only a publishing deal - the company has not been bought out by EA as BioWare and Pandemic were.

EA is now the official publisher for id's new racer-cum-shooter, Rage - and possibly Doom 4 if the new deal lasts long enough.

"This will give us full access to EA's worldwide marketing muscle without taking away our ability to build games the way it should be done," Carmack explained.

"Rage represents a new direction for our games," id CEO Todd Hollenshead said in a statement. "Rage is a shooter unlike any other, developed on our cutting edge new technology, and built to the exacting standards id is famous for. We're excited to have the support of EA Partners to launch Rage on the world."

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