The deal comes a month after Codenames and SETI publisher Czech Games Edition signed its first-ever distribution agreement with Hachette - for the UK distribution of its new title Wispwood - after a decade of Asmodee being the sole distribution partner for its titles in the UK.
The War of the Ring publisher has added Europe to its distribution partnerships with Poland's Galakta Games, Italy's Tabula Games, Czech Republic-based Albi, and France's Nuts! Publishing and Don't Panic Games, for which it already has distribution deals in North America.
Codenames and SETI publisher Czech Games Edition has signed its first-ever distribution agreement with Hachette, as the French publishing giant continues to expand out its European board game distribution operation in the face of competition from industry heavyweight Asmodee.
About two thirds of Asmodee's net sales - which reached €1.36bn during the last financial year - come from the company distributing games from other publishers, while almost 70% of Asmodee's 2,200-plus workforce are focused on distribution.
HABA, the veteran German toymaker famous for its board games aimed at young children, has begun an expansion into heavier, more complex titles by signing a distribution deal for NorthStar Game Studio title Nature.
Zatu Games, one of the UK's biggest board game retailers, has added licensed game specialists Maestro Media and Steamforged Games to its growing distribution operation.
French board game publisher IELLO has given Blue Orange USA exclusive first pick on bringing its titles to the US, having left former partner Flat River Group after it slashed its North American hobby game distribution operation.
One of the UK's biggest board game retailers, Zatu Games, has moved to fend off a wave of online criticism claiming it exploits low-paid apprentices and runs a toxic 'hire-and-fire' culture in its growing warehouse operation.
Maestro Media, the publishing company adapting IPs such as Hello Kitty and video game The Binding of Isaac to the tabletop, has signed an exclusive distribution deal with Asmodee for its English language products in the US, United Arab Emirates and South Africa.
Frosted Games, the German-language publisher of titles including Too Many Bones and Endeavor: Deep Sea, has signed a deal with industry heavyweight Asmodee to expand its distribution across Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
