Netflix has announced the acquisition of the Finnish gaming studio Next Games.
Next Games is the first mobile gaming company listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange. Next Games
On Wednesday, March 2, big news was heard when Netflix announced that it would buy the Finnish mobile gaming company Next Games for just over EUR 63 million.
But why did the streaming giant of movies and series want to buy a Finnish gaming company?
Next Games was founded in May 2013. The founding members were Joakim Achrén, Mikael Achrén, Kalle Hiitola mixed Jaakko Jumisko. Next Games is the first mobile gaming company to be listed on a stock exchange in Finland and has been listed many times around the world.
Next Games tells Iltalehti that the company had 121 employees at the end of 2021. Next Games’ office is located in the center of Helsinki.
The company has become particularly familiar with its Walking Dead games, which have been downloaded millions of times. The first Walking Dead game The Walking Dead: No Man’s Land was released in 2015 and the second The Walking Dead: Our World in 2018.
Last year, Next Games became the topic of talk with Stanger Things: Puzzle Tales, based on the Netflix hit series Stranger Things.
Netflix invests in games
Although Netflix is often associated only with movies and series, it has also taken great strides towards mobile gaming. There are already several mobile games available on Netflix.
The acquisition of Next Games as part of the company is a major transfer, as it offers a great deal of expertise in Netflix’s own team in this regard. In the future, there will certainly be more games based on Netflix’s original series.
“We are excited that Next Games will become Netflix’s core gaming studio in a strategic area and key competency market, strengthening our internal gaming studio capabilities. Next Games helps us build a world-class selection of games that our members can enjoy around the world, Head of Netflix Games Michael Verdu said in a press release earlier.
Netflix bought its first gaming studio in September last year. It was Night School Studio, known for the 2016 game Oxenfree.
Management from Finland
He is the CEO of Next Games Teemu Huuhtanen, which joined the ranks immediately after its founding in August 2013. Huuhtanen does not usually enjoy the spotlight, but his wife May Day Pimiä is widely known in Finland.
In 2018, Iltalehti told about Huuhtanen. Teemu Huuhtanen’s father is a former Member of Parliament and Minister of Social Affairs and Health Jorma Huuhtanen. Teemu Huuhtanen has a background in the Fuse developed by Habbo Hotel. After the fuse years, Huuhtanen has also worked at Rovio as Director of Acquisitions.
Teemu Huuhtanen, CEO of Next Games. Next Games
Huuhtanen says in the press release that he is enthusiastic about the stores.
– We have steadfastly followed the path of our original vision: to become the most coveted partner of global entertainment companies, and in cooperation with them to create long-lasting and interactive entertainment based on the world’s most beloved brands, Huuhtanen said.
– Our close collaboration with Netflix in the development of Stranger Things: Puzzle Tales has already proven that we have a strong partnership. This is a unique opportunity to raise the level of our studio even higher in every field and continue to carry out our mission together.
He serves as Chairman of the Board of Next Games Petri Niemi and the company’s largest shareholder and board member is a business angel Jari Ovaskainen. Ovaskainen agreed with Next Games on a EUR 3 million loan in October last year. The loan amount was used to develop the Stranger Things game.
– I have been involved in Next Games’ journey as the company’s biggest supporter since the beginning, Ovaskainen said in a press release.
– The merger with Netflix offers a great opportunity for both Next Games and the Company’s employees to continue on the path indicated by the Company’s original vision and for Netflix to acquire a truly competent mobile gaming studio. As the company’s largest shareholder, I fully support the project.