Helsinki, Finland  –  October 30 2014  –  Next Games, the mobile game developer and publisher based in Helsinki, Finland today announced the acquisition of Helsinki GameWorks, a Finnish mobile game startup.The arrangement will further strengthen Next Games’ strategy to build a solid portfolio of diverse games, anchored by both internally developed and third party IP. This two-pronged approach gives Next Games a crucial competitive advantage and an exciting opportunity to create engaging experiences for a growing global mobile player base. With this strategy, the company aims to become a forerunner in the constantly evolving mobile games industry.The acquisition of Helsinki GameWorks follows a close collaboration with the two companies earlier in 2014 wherein Next Games contracted senior experts from Helsinki GameWorks to work on its ongoing game productions. Both employees and Helsinki GameWorks’ intellectual property including games under development will transfer over to Next Games. Helsinki GameWorks employs 12 people and Next Games 33 people, making the total headcount 45.“I am extremely pleased to welcome Helsinki GameWorks’ employees to become a part of the Next Games family. At Next Games we’ve focused on two key areas from the very beginning: building a robust portfolio and rock solid roadmap of games as well as ensuring we have an experienced team working on it. Joining forces is a logical move, as our first games will launch very soon and the next productions are being ramped up. The veteran team and IP from Helsinki GameWorks will be a huge asset,” said Teemu Huuhtanen, CEO of Next Games.“The whole Helsinki GameWorks team is truly excited to help form an even stronger Next Games together. To be able to work with such a talented veteran team on some of the most exciting IP in the world is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” commented Kalle Kaivola, CEO of Helsinki GameWorks.Following the acquisition, Next Games has appointed Helsinki GameWorks’ CEO, Kalle Kaivola as Head of Licensed Games. He will be overseeing the production of The Walking Dead: No Man’s Land game based on AMC’s incredibly popular The Walking Dead TV series. Before founding Helsinki GameWorks, Kaivola held the position of SVP, Product and Publishing at Rovio Entertainment, the makers of Angry Birds.Media enquiries:Saara Bergström press@nextgames.com +358504833896

About Next Games

Next Games, founded in 2013 by design veterans from Rovio, Supercell and Disney, focuses on crafting visually impressive, highly engaging games. Next Games has assembled a team with a profound love for games and a burning desire to develop lasting global entertainment. The company is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, at the heart of mobile games development, and funded by an elite list of investors. www.nextgames.com.

About Helsinki GameWorks

Helsinki GameWorks is an independent game development studio based in Helsinki, Finland. It was founded by a group of seasoned industry professionals focused on developing accessible mid-core mobile games.