Japanese mobile social network Gree has acquired mobile-game developer App Ant Studios as it continues an ambitious expansion within the U.S.
The acquisition is the first since Gree absorbed mobile social-game maker Funzio for $210 million in May. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The agreement is part of Gree’s goal of hitting a billion consumers worldwide as it grows mobile releases on its Gree platform, which cross promotes games and adds social elements to them.
San Carlos, Calif.-based App Ant Studios worked with Gree earlier this year to develop the Android title Dino Life. The American company will now become part of Gree’s team. App Ant’s four founders will take leadership roles in the game development and engineering teams.
“The team at App Ant Studios has continually impressed us with the quality of its engineering, art, and overall product,” said Naoki Aoyagi, chief executive of Gree International, the U.S. subsidiary of Gree. “They share the same strong passion Gree has for mobile social gaming, and we genuinely respect their dedication to evolving the gaming industry. With our constantly growing and evolving mobile-game market, having such exceptional talent on board to build great experiences for the latest hardware is a huge priority for us.”