Nintendo has acquired Next Level Games. The developer is based in Vancouver, Canada, and Nintendo is acquiring 100% of its shares, with the purchase expecting to be completed on March 1. The studio is known for developing many successful games for Nintendo to date, including Super Mario Strikers, Punch-Out!! for Wii, Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon, and most recently Luigi’s Mansion 3.
In a press release, Nintendo cited the studio’s nearly two decades of video game experience, including developing for Nintendo systems such as GameCube, Wii, Nintendo 3DS, and Nintendo Switch. With the acquisition of Next Level Games, Nintendo hopes to secure the studio’s development expertise, in addition to improving game development speed and quality through closer communication between both of them.
Nintendo’s statement noted that Next Level Games recently decided to sell its shares and spoke with potential buyers. Nintendo purchased the studio for the aforementioned reasons, but also of course to prevent another company from acquiring it whose interests may not align with Nintendo’s, as industry analyst Daniel Ahmad notes.
Nintendo clarified that the acquisition will only have minor effects on its fiscal year results. Starting the next fiscal year, however, Nintendo will reflect earnings forecasts regarding Next Level Games.
Be sure to check out Zero Punctuation’s reviews of Next Level Games titles Luigi’s Mansion 3 and Metroid Prime: Federation Force.
