Harmonix are an independent studio once more after investment firm Columbus Nova stepped in to give the developer a new lease of life.

Viacom decided to offload the studio that more-or-less created the games genre after a series of expensive licenses including The Rock Band failed to continue the profitablilty of the Rock Band series.

It has been reported that Columbus Nova acquired for just 49.99 USD and the liability for all the licenses and costs from unsold games and peripherals collecting dust in warehouses around the world.

As well as working on support for Rock Band 3 and Dance Central, Harmonix are also promising that they have a couple of unannounced projects that will get people "pretty pumped".

Thanks Develop Online and IndustryGamers.

By Ewan Aiton