Ankama Board Games will sell its game products directly to distributors in English-speaking territories, the company announced.  The company ended its relationship with CMON for distribution with the release of Gang Rush:  Breakout in June (see "CMON, Ankama Deal Concludes").  The CMON relationship lasted a year; Ankama was previously distributed in the U.S. by Japanime Games.

The Ankama announcement came from Eric Reasoner, formerly of Japanime Games (2010-2013) and Cardhaus/Global Games (2005-2013).  Reasoner is now North American Sales Director for Ankama.

An initial slate of English language releases includes a new Krosmaster set, Wild Realms, and several stand-alone games scheduled for Fall (see "New Krosmaster Set").

The French company Ankama’s roots are in MMORPGs and bande dessinees, with an expanding move into animation and tabletop games.  It recently debuted the animated feature Mutafukaz, its first joint production with Japanese Studio 4 Degrees C, in France.  Japanese rights to the film, based on a BD published in English by Titan (see "Titan Expanding Euro Line") have been sold, according to Variety, but no English language release has been set.  The company is also developing digital animated series, according to the report.