EA publishing Grasshopper horror title
Suda 51 and Shinji Mikami at the helm.
If EA hasn't already shed its Evil Empire image, then the news that it's set to publish a multiformat action horror title from No More Heroes developer Grasshopper Manufacture will at least convince a few more people of its rehabilitation.
Announced overnight, the as-yet unnamed game is designed by Goichi Suda and produced by Shinji Mikami. There's no release date, but the target platforms are PC, Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii.
What's more, the deal was apparently brokered by CAA in conjunction with Lumines developer Q Entertainment, "who will be working with Grasshopper Manufacture and EAP [EA Partners] on the project".
In a statement marking the announcement, Goichi Suda - better known to fans as Suda 51 - described EA as "a great partner who shares our commitment to quality and innovation while respecting our independence as a studio, which is very empowering."
Speaking for EA Partners, senior VP and general manager David DeMartini said the company was "honoured to be working with Mikami-san and Suda-san on this new project".
Grasshopper's most recent release is Wii exclusive No More Heroes, a delightfully self-conscious and thoughtful action game about an assassin who slices people up with a laser sword. Suda told Eurogamer in January that he wanted to make "something indecent and crazy".
Shinji Mikami, meanwhile, is probably best known for his founding role in Capcom's Resident Evil survival horror series, although he also directed the likes of God Hand and P.N. 03 during more than 15 years at Capcom and, latterly, doomed-but-brilliant satellite studio Clover.
We await the results of their collaboration with frothy anticipation.