Social game maker RockYou forms new third-party publishing unit

Zoo World and Gourmet Ranch maker, RockYou, has formed a new third-party publishing unit called Studio Partners, which is an "open program that enables talented developers to expand the reach of their games through RockYou's network."

It will also sponsor "advertising solutions, analytics tools, and broader marketing support," allowing continued creative and developmental freedom, while at the same time, still allowing RockYou to diversify its own portfolio of social games.

The new unit came about after RockYou's developed a publishing partnership with John Romero's independent studio, Loot Drop, the first of which is called Cloudforest Expedition, and it launches this summer. Another title from Romero is in the works and it too will be published by RockYou.

Josh Grant, RockYou's former SVP of Strategy and Corporate Development, will head up the publishing unit as SVP and GM of Studio Partners.