IndustryGamers - Informing the Games Industry

Lou Castle to Head Up InstantAction as New CEO

Posted July 15, 2009 by James Brightman

Lou Castle with Steven Spielberg (image credit: Sfgate.com)

Lou Castle is one of the biggest names in the games industry. The man founded Westwood Studios way back in 1985 and spearheaded the popular Command & Conquer franchise, which was a tremendous influence on the real-time strategy genre. Today, IndustyGamers can now confirm that Castle has joined InstantAction as its new CEO. InstantAction is the browser-based games portal created by the folks at GarageGames, which was purchased by Barry Diller's IAC in 2007.

Castle most recently was transitioned out of the short-lived Blueprint studio at Electronic Arts (which was shut down after Neil Young left to found iPhone developer ngmoco) into a new role at EALA. Castle also played a big role in the launch of Steven Spielberg's Boom Blox. 

IndustryGamers  also has discovered that IAC is splitting InstantAction into two divisions and that the company is leaving its Eugene, Orgeon headquarters. One part of the company will be moved to Las Vegas and that's where Lou Castle will be based; the other part is going to Portland.  

At the moment, we're not sure what role current GarageGames CEO Josh Williams will have.  We hope to bring you much more information shortly.

Update: We were pretty sure of our source, and now an IAC spokesperson has confirmed the news. "We are confirming Lou's role," the rep said. Also, we're expecting to talk with Castle, so we'll have greater insight soon. Stay tuned!

James Brightman has been covering the games industry since 2003 and has been an avid gamer ever since the days of Atari and Intellivision. He was previously the EIC of GameDaily Biz.