The march of Ubisoft across the globe continues apace - the French publisher has today announced plans to open a studio in Brazil, the 20th of its studios around the world.

Based in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the new development team Ubisoft's first studio in South America. The studio will open in late July with 20 staff and will grow to 200 in the next four years.

Ubisoft said the opening wasn't just a numerical milestone, but a territorial one, with the firm boasting studios in five continents now.

The publisher added that, after an initial training period, Ubisoft Sao Paolo will 'work closely with other Ubisoft studios on the development of family-oriented titles for portable and home consoles'.

Bertrand Chaverot will run the studio - he ran Ubisoft’s Brazilian sales subsidiary from 1999 through 2003 and most recently worked at the corporate HQ in Paris as MD of the publisher's external development department for EMEA.

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In discussing the move, Christine Burgess-Quémard, executive director of worldwide studios at Ubisoft, said that as well as being the economic capital of Brazil, the economic leader of South America, the area was a cultural hot spot. 'With a young and creative population that has shown a passion for new technology and media, Sao Paulo boasts the largest grouping of universities on the continent,' said the firm's official statement.

“The cultural richness of Sao Paulo, coupled with its leading university network will bring a unique set of fresh talent to Ubisoft’s international development community,” added Burgess-Quémard. “We look forward to tapping into the exceptional talent in South America in order to continue our global expansion.”

In the past 12 months, Ubisoft has opened new studios in Singapore and Kiev, announced plans to beef up its Eastern European base and acquired Japanese studio Digital Kids. That's all alongside its established bases in France, Quebec, the UK, China and the US.