Exclusive Agreement with Ford Motor Company for Ford Racing 2 Empire Interactive plc ("Empire"), one of the leading listed UK computer games developers and publishers, has signed an exclusive deal with the Ford Motor Company to develop and publish its much anticipated Ford Racing 2. The sequel is being developed by Empire's award-winning Razorworks Studios and will utilise technology successfully employed in previous Empire titles, allowing gamers to "drive" a variety of Ford vehicles, ranging from futuristic concept cars to classic cars, as well as off-road vehicles and pure-bred track racers. It will be released in Q4 2003 on the PlayStation® 2, Microsoft® XboxTM and PC. The game is being distributed exclusively by Take 2 Games in the US and by Empire in the UK and Europe. Ian Higgins, CEO of Empire, said: "Ford Racing was a bestseller in the United States, selling over 500,000 copies on the PlayStation® 1 alone. Empire will build on the experience gained in developing that title to make Ford Racing 2 an even bigger success. We are delighted to be working yet again with Ford as we continue to grow our global brand portfolio. "Take 2 is the natural partner for a game such as this, with their experience in the US market. We have worked closely with them on previous occasions and we have every confidence that Ford Racing 2 will be a success." Seth M. Siegel, Chairman, Licensing of The Beanstalk Group, on behalf of the Ford Motor Company, said, "This dynamic game puts Ford Racing enthusiasts in the driver's seat, allowing them to experience the excitement and exhilaration of these vehicles. We are pleased to have brought Ford and Empire Interactive together to create a sequel Ford Racing title that exclusively features Ford vehicles."