Intel Buys Physics Developer Havok

By Geoff Duncan Updated September 17, 2007

In an unexpected move, chipmaking giant Intel has announced it is acquiring Havok, Inc., a leading developer of physics and animation tools mostly used in video games and other digital media. Terms of the aquisition were not revealed. Under the deal, Havok will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Intel, and continue to develop solutions for the gaming and movie industries.

“Havok is a proven leader in physics technology for gaming and digital content, and will become a key element of Intel’s visual computing and graphics efforts,” said Renee J. James, VP and general manager of Intel’s Software and Solutions Group, in a statement. “Havok will operate its business as usual, which will allow them to continue developing products that are offered across all platforms in the industry.”

Havok’s tech has graced the CPUs and screens of many gamers and movie fans, and has been used to produce films like The Matrix,Troy,Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Kingdom of Heaven, as well as well-known game titles like Halo 2,MotorStorm,Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and current hit BioShock.

Intel apparently plans to leverage Havok’s technology into a larger role in digital content creation; Havok, for its part, seems to look forward to exploiting Intel’s sheer size and market presence to push its solutions further into the computing and entertainment businesses. “This is a great fit for Havok products, customers and employees,” said Havok CEO David O’Meara, in a statement. “Intel’s scale of technology investment and customer reach enable Havok with opportunities to grow more quickly into new market segments with new products than we could have done organically. We believe the winning combination is Havok’s technology and customer know-how with Intel’s scale. I am excited to be part of this next phase of Havok’s growth.”

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

Gaming

How to revive dead companions in Baldur’s Gate 3

Withers offering services to the player in Baldur's Gate 3.

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Pay Withers to bring them back

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Use a scroll of Revivfy or learn it

Gaming

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Few things feel as inevitable in the video game industry as delays. Ever since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, game delays have only become more and more common as developers find previously set timelines unrealistic and adjust their release plans accordingly. More than halfway through 2023, we've already seen some notable AAA games like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Skull & Bones, and Pragmata delayed pretty heavily. Because video game release date delays are so common, it can be tough to keep track of every game that has had its launch date shifted in some way.
That's why, just as we did in 2021 and 2022, Digital Trends is rounding up every game delay that's announced throughout 2023. Here are the high-profile ones that have happened so far, listed chronologically by their new intended release dates.
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Gaming

Is Remnant 2 cross-platform?

Three characters shoot at a boss in Remnant 2.

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