candycrushsaga.png

While news of this strategic partnership between Next Games and Lionsgate as part of the latter’s new gaming initiative sound great for all concerned money wise, all you need to know is that Next Games puts out Candy Crush Saga, Bubble Witch Saga 2, Farm Saga, Pet Rescue Saga and many other addictive little games for your phone. I’m not saying that I spend an hour every day trying to keep Odus from falling or listening to the bubbling cauldrons of Bubble Witch Saga…but perhaps someone who lives in Stately Beat Manor might be part of the reason that Lionsgate has invested in this gaming powerhouse. You may not have cleared the jelly but Lionsgate did!

As part of its recently-announced move into the gaming space, Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), a premier next generation global content leader, has formed a strategic partnership with the Finnish games developer Next Games and will make an investment in their extended Series A financing round, the two companies announced today.
 
The announcement follows Lionsgate’s recent appointment of games and digital media entrepreneur Peter Levin to be President of Interactive Ventures & Games.  The collaboration re-affirms Next Games’ strategic approach of relying on intellectual property developed in-house complemented by strategically licensed properties.
 
Founded last year by gaming veterans from Rovio, Supercell and Disney, Next Games has assembled a team committed to creating lasting global entertainment brands by developing games with high end production values and engaging play experiences.  Working in collaboration with AMC, they are currently developing a mobile free-to-play game based on the blockbuster TV series The Walking Dead as well as a game based on their own intellectual property.
 
“Gaming is a logical next step in extending our content portfolio, and we’re very excited about the potential of our partnership with Next Games,” said Levin.  “Their management team has a proven track record of creating popular and successful brands for some of the industry leaders in the gaming space, and their passion, innovation and entrepreneurial culture are a perfect fit with our own.  We see them as a prolific source of the next generation of games, creating exciting and engaging properties based on our franchises as well as new content that we develop together.”
 
“I couldn’t be happier to bring Lionsgate, one of the leading entertainment companies and premier content producers, on board with us. They have proven their strength in not only creating fascinating new stories for the world but doing a stellar job of marketing and turning them into blockbuster entertainment franchises,” said Next Games CEO Teemu Huuhtanen.
 
Next Games announced the first part of its external investment round earlier this year, raising $6 million in financing from an elite list of institutional, strategic and private investors.


 

2 COMMENTS

Comments are closed.