Netflix expands game business: Here's the giant purchase!

The record price acquisition between Netflix and Next Games was signed. The developer of Stranger Things: Puzzle Tales is under the auspices of Netflix.

Broadcasting platform Netflix announced that it would enter the video game field last summer, and in this context, it launched the Netflix Games service. The company acquired Next Games, the developer of Stranger Things: Puzzle Tales, to expand its portfolio of games.

The publishing giant announced that it will acquire Finland-based Next Games with a deal worth approximately $72 million. Founded in 2013, Next Games works in the mobile gaming space and is best known for "Stranger Things: Puzzle Tales", a game based on Netflix's Stranger Things series.

Netflix acquires Next Games at record price

Next Games will join Night School Studio, the developer of Oxenfree, another mobile game studio within the Netflix game group. As you may recall, Netflix bought Night School in September.

Michael Verdu, Vice President of Games for Netflix, used the following statements about the purchase:

“Next Games has an experienced management team, a strong career in mobile games based on entertainment franchises, and operational capabilities. We are excited that Next Games is joining Netflix as the core studio and expanding our game studio capabilities. Although we are just getting started with games, I am confident that with Next Games we can create a premium portfolio of games that will delight our members around the world.”

Netflix announced its move to video games last summer, with a focus on mobile games that will add to its existing subscription deals. The first roster of games was released in November, including two Stranger Things-themed productions.

Netflix's investment in games not only delights its subscribers, but also allows them to spend more time on the platform. This plan is also part of an effort to provide services on mobile devices, where people are less inclined to watch feature films and TV series in particular.

The acquisition of smaller game studios is a strategy adopted by Sony, which owns PlayStation, and Microsoft, which owns Xbox. Chinese internet giant Tencent is also prolific when it comes to investing and buying small mobile game studios. But this strategy now seems to be used by Netflix.