Netflix has announced that it’s buying the Finnish mobile games developer Next Games for a reported $72.08 million. In case you’re a bit confused about this acquisition, Netflix announced in November that it was launching a gaming platform on Android and iOS.
Next Games doesn’t appear to have a huge number of games under its belt at the moment but importantly it has two The Walking Dead titles as well as Stranger Things: Puzzle tales, based on the hit TV show Stranger Things which is put out by Netflix. Those who play games on Netflix should expect to see these titles under Netflix’s umbrella soon.
Netflix’s VP of Games, Mike Verdu, said:
“With a shared vision and passion for games, we are looking forward to welcoming Next Games in a city that is home to some of the best mobile game-makers in the world. Helsinki is also near other European cities with great talent, which will help expand our in-house game development capabilities. While we’re just getting started in games, I am confident that together with Next Games, we will be able to build a portfolio of world class games - with no ads and no in-app purchases - that will delight our members around the world.”
According to Reuters, at $72.08 million, each Next Games share is being sold for €2.1 which is more than double the share’s closing price on Tuesday when it was €0.93. It’s expected the deal will be closed at the end of June.