Nintendo acquires Shiver Entertainment
Nintendo has acquired Shiver Entertainment, the company just announced.
While Shiver worked on Scribblenauts Showdown, it’s largely known for its porting work. The studio previously helped to bring Scribblenauts Mega Pack, Mortal Kombat 1, Mortal Kombat 11, and Hogwarts Legacy to Switch.
Nintendo is making the acquisition from Embracer. Embracer previously picked up Shiver at the end of 2021.
Despite Nintendo’s acquisition, it seems that Shiver’s role won’t see significant change. The Big N says it “aims to secure high-level resources for porting and developing software titles.”
The full notice is as follows:
Nintendo Co., Ltd. (HQ: Kyoto, Japan, President and Representative Director: Shuntaro Furukawa; hereinafter “Nintendo”) hereby announces that it has entered into an agreement with Embracer Group AB (HQ: Karlstad, Sweden, CEO: Lars Wingefors) to acquire 100% of the outstanding shares of Shiver Entertainment, Inc. (HQ: Miami, Florida, U.S; CEO: John Schappert; hereinafter “Shiver”) and to make it a wholly owned subsidiary (the “Acquisition”).
1. Purpose of Acquisition
Shiver is a video game development company that develops software for multiple platforms including Nintendo Switch. Since its establishment in 2012, Shiver has partnered with publishers and developers through commissions for large scale title developments, and recently, has worked on porting and developing software titles such as Hogwarts Legacy and Mortal Kombat 1.
Nintendo will acquire 100% of the outstanding shares of Shiver and make it a wholly owned subsidiary. By welcoming Shiver’s experienced and accomplished development team, Nintendo aims to secure high-level resources for porting and developing software titles. Going forward, even after it becomes a part of the Nintendo group, Shiver’s focus will remain the same, continuing commissions that port and develop software for multiple platforms including Nintendo Switch.
The Acquisition will be completed pending satisfaction of all relevant customary closing conditions.
Today’s news comes as a surprise, especially given Nintendo’s hesitancy when it comes to studio acquisitions. The company last acquired Luigi’s Mansion developer Next Level Games at the start of 2021, though that was done mainly since Next Level Games started exploring potential sale transactions.
