Microsoft Has Acquired Havok, The Leading Provider of 3D Physics, from Intel.

Microsoft announced that it has officially acquired the leading physics engine, Havok. The gaming engine was previously a part of Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC), which purchased it back in 2007 to advance in the video gaming arena. However, terms of the deal have not been disclosed by either party.

Founded in Ireland in 1998, Havok is basically a software company which allows the video game and graphics developers to deliver 3D physics over multiple platforms such as PlayStation (2 till 4), Xbox (360, One), Wii, GameCube, and PCs. And its acclaim could be figured out from the vast variety of popular games it helped create, titles include Age of Empires 3, Call of Duty, Halo 2, Half-Life 2, and Fallout 3. And games are just one of its applications. Movies such as Matrix, Troy, Poseidon, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory are known for their spectacular special effects, all credited to Havok.

Microsoft stated that, the company will continue to develop gaming experiences further, by partnering with other developers, while it will also continue to license Havok’s development tool to its partners. The gaming technology will add to Microsoft’s existing graphics platforms and services, such as DirectX 12, Visual Studio and Microsoft Azure.

Microsoft acquisition has something to do with it upcoming game, Crackdown 3, due to be released in 2016. Aside from the immersive graphics and gameplay, as seen from the early look video released by the company, the game will also be testament to its cloud computing functionality, provided on Xbox One.

The move seems to us as a step forward for the windows maker, as it competes against the likes of Sony’s PlayStation 4. But what the company actually delivers to the final users in the near future is what really matters, and by then we will be able to decide whether the acquisition was necessary, or if it was just to temporarily lure interest of investors, and gamers alike.