Netflix announced Wednesday that it intends to acquire the Finnish video game studio Next Games, a project which confirms the ambition of the American streaming giant to expand its activities in the video game industry.
The amount of the transaction, financed in cash by the buyback of Next Games shares, is estimated at around 65 million euros, Netflix said.
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Founded in 2013, Next Games develops mobile games from the universe of the hit series "
The Walking Dead
" and "
Stranger Things
", both broadcast on Netflix.
According to its boss, Teemu Huuhtanen, the objective of the Finnish studio is to “
become a partner of choice for the global entertainment industry based on the most popular franchises on the planet
”.
Shares of Next Games, listed on the Helsinki Stock Exchange, soared nearly 120% after Netflix's announcement on Wednesday.
Competing from other streaming platforms, such as Disney + or HBO Max, Netflix is seeking to diversify, in particular by strengthening itself in the very lucrative video game sector.
The Californian group announced last September the acquisition of its first video game studio, Night School Studio, which made a name for itself by creating the supernatural thriller “
Oxenfree
”.
In November, Netflix launched several mobile games that subscribers can download for free from their device with the iOS or Android operating system.