Aeria Games and Gamepot Merge to Create Global Force in Free-to-Play
Aeria Games & Entertainment, Inc., a leading global publisher of free-to-play online games, announced today it is joining forces with Gamepot, Inc., a leading Japanese publisher and developer of PC and mobile games, to create a global operation. The combined entity will have a worldwide gaming reach with a portfolio of over 50 PC and mobile games, full operations in five countries supporting 11 languages, and over 50 million registered users. The transaction will accelerate the scaling of Aeria Games’ technology and Ignite distribution platform in four major continents, adds substantial mobile development capabilities in Japan and Korea, and provides a one-stop shop for developers looking to publish games in major international gaming markets. Each company will continue their respective operations and brand identities, with a joint focus on shared technology and know-how, cooperation on mobile game development, and close coordination for licensing and publishing global game IPs.
Both companies will function under a new, US-based holding company headed by Hiroki Totoki and Lan Hoang as co-CEOs. Lan Hoang is the CEO of Aeria Games and Hiroki Totoki is the Chairman of Gamepot and also CFO of So-net Entertainment Corporation, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation and Gamepot’s parent company prior to its combination with Aeria Games. The shareholders of Aeria Games will own a majority stake in the holding company.
“This strategic partnership further helps to cement our position as a truly global multi-platform publisher and developer,” said Lan Hoang, co-CEO of the new holding company. “We are adding significant mobile games and development resources while expanding our core PC publishing business and increasing international reach and resources to acquire and publish Triple-A titles. The combination strengthens every facet of our business – strong financials, global reach, a large and dedicated community of mid- to hard-core players, and a shared technology and distribution platform.”
“Gamepot will add development expertise for client-based games, such as the successful Wizardry and Paperman franchises, and its large mobile development teams in Japan and Korea to Aeria Games’ global platform,” said Hiroki Totoki, co-CEO of the holding company. “We have already started collaborating on co-development projects, leveraging our mobile resources, to bring high-quality games to the international markets.”
The combined entity will have almost 600 employees with offices in the US, Japan, Germany, Brazil, and Korea.
