Netflix Offers to Buy Finnish Game Studio Next Games

Netflix is planning to invest EUR 65 million (roughly Rs. 550 crore) in Next Games.

By Reuters | Updated: 2 March 2022 16:33 IST

Netflix Offers to Buy Finnish Game Studio Next Games

Photo Credit: Netflix

Netflix expects the transaction to close by end of June

Highlights

Shares in Next Games surged 119 percent to EUR 2.04 (roughly Rs. 170)
Next Games will join Netflix as a core studio
Netflix also says it won't add Russian state-run channels to the service

Netflix has offered to buy publicly listed Finnish Next Games, the mobile games company said in a statement on Wednesday. "We are excited for Next Games to join Netflix as a core studio in a strategic region and key talent market, expanding our internal game studio capabilities," said Netflix's Vice President of games Michael Verdu.

Shares in Next Games surged 119 percent to EUR 2.04 (roughly Rs. 170).

After entering the mobile gaming market last November, the Netflix is now planning to invest EUR 65 million (roughly Rs. 550 crore) in Next Games, an offer recommended by the mobile game company's board of directors, the statement read.

Samsung Wins Patent for a Tri-Fold Smartphone With Specialised Barrier Layer for Improved Durability

The offer would mean a price of EUR 2.1 (roughly Rs. 180) per share, more than double the share's closing price of EUR 0.93 (roughly Rs. 80) on Tuesday in Nordic First North stock exchange.

The companies said they expect the transaction to close by end of June.

In other Netflix news, the streamer said that in the current circumstances it has no plans to add state-run channels to its Russian service, despite a regulation that would require the streaming service to distribute state-backed channels.

Bridgerton 2, Venom 2, Outlander 6, and More on Netflix in March

"Given the current situation, we have no plans to add these channels to our service," said a Netflix spokesman in a statement, referring to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Politico first reported that Netflix, which launched its service in Russia in October 2020, would fall under the new Russian regulations requiring compliance on March 1.

The regulations, overseen by Russia's communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, require audiovisual services with more than 100,000 subscribers in that country to distribute 20 free-to-air news, sports, and entertainment channels.

The Fame Game Review: Madhuri Dixit’s Netflix Debut Is Superficial and Empty

© Thomson Reuters 2022

Gaana CEO and Spotify's India chief join us on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast, to discuss India's unique music streaming landscape. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

Affiliate links may be automatically generated - see our ethics statement for details.

Comments

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.