Zoo Publishing announced yesterday that a deal with New World IP, LLC to license, publish, and distribute the catalog of video game software previously published and developed by Empire.. This agreement allows Zoo Publishing the ability to re-release previous Empire titles, to port previously released games to new platforms, and to create new gaming content from existing Empire intellectual property.

Founded in 1987 in the UK, Empire was a developer and publisher of video games across a number of platforms including Nintendo DS, Wii, XBOX 360, PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, PSP (PlayStation Portable), and PC titles in the UK, Europe and United States. The company developed many titles including Pipe Mania, Big Mutha Truckers, Flatout Ultimate Carnage, and Flatout Head On which won the PSP Office Guidebook Gold Award last year.

Earlier this week, KPMG Restructuring was appointed as Administrators of Empire. Empire, a London-based publisher, ceased trading after the appointment, and several staff members have be retained to assist KPMG with the wind down of business. Empire’s intellectual property rights have been sold to New World IP, LLC, which is based in the US. New World IP, LLC has licensed the intellectual property rights, on an exclusive basis, to Zoo Publishing, Inc.