Foundation 9 Entertainment today announced that Amaze Entertainment and all of its studios will combine with Foundation 9 in a transaction funded by Foundation 9’s current owners, private equity firm Francisco Partners. The transaction is expected to make Foundation 9 the largest independent game developer in the world. The combined entity will comprise over 725 employees across eleven studios, producing more than 30 SKUs for 2006 with coverage of all the major publishers in the US, Europe and Japan.

Amaze has developed nearly 100 titles since its founding in 1996, including several versions of "The Sims," and titles based on popular film franchises such as "The Lord of the Rings," "Harry Potter," "The Chronicles of Narnia" and "Pirates of the Caribbean II: Dead Man’s Chest." The company is in active development on console, PC and handheld titles with several, high-profile unannounced projects underway. Additionally, the company is developing the handheld versions of "Eragon," based on the popular young adult novel and upcoming movie. Amaze currently has studios in Kirkland, WA and Austin, TX.