Vivendi Games Unit Signs Deal With Radical

The video game arm of Vivendi Universal, redoubling its production efforts under a new management team, said it had signed an exclusive deal with Radical Entertainment that includes the right to buy the privately held firm.

Vivendi Universal Games said Radical would develop six multi-platform titles based on new and existing franchises. It will have the right to buy Radical at any time during the deal. Radical most recently developed “The Simpsons: Hit & Run” for VU Games. That title was released in September and has sold nearly 2 million units.

In mid-January, Vivendi, which had been seeking to sell its video game arm, brought in a new management team to the unit, installing Bruce Hack as chief executive.

Hack, formerly vice chairman of Universal Music, was instrumental in negotiating the sale of Vivendi Universal Entertainment to General Electric Co.’s NBC.