Sega lands Total War: Rome 2 four book deal

A UK adult books publisher picked up the rights to a four-book run of novels based on the upcoming computer game Total War: Rome 2, according to The Bookseller.

Pan Macmillian and Thomas Dunne Books teamed up to beat out eight other publishers for the deal.

Bestselling novelist David Gibbins, who writes archaeological thrillers based on his own background as a archaeologist, will work on the series with developers The Creative Assembly. The first book will hit next October, set to tie in with the release of the game, which hasn't officially been dated.

"We are delighted to be working with one of the most successful games franchises on the market," publisher Jeremy Trevathan told TheBookseller. "What is also particularly exciting is that they have an in-built, committed community of players who are emotionally engaged with the games and who have told their researchers that they are hungry for more 'story-telling' within the games and around the games."