Home Nintendo announces acquisition of Switch game developer Shiver

Nintendo announces acquisition of Switch game developer Shiver

TL:DR

  • Nintendo to acquire Shiver Entertainment from Embracer Group.
  • Shiver developed Mortal Kombat 1 and Hogwarts Legacy for the Switch.
  • Shiver will continue porting and developing software for multiple platforms.

Nintendo has announced an agreement with Embracer Group to acquire the Florida-based team Shiver Entertainment.

Shiver, responsible for developing Mortal Kombat 1 and Hogwarts Legacy for the Switch, will soon be acquired Nintendo in a newly-announced deal. In a public statement, Nintendo said the deal involves the ownership of “100% of outstanding shares of Shiver” with the plans to make it “a wholly owned subsidiary.” The overarching aim is to “secure high-level resources for porting and developing software titles”.

Looking forward, Shiver’s focus will “remain the same” post-acquisition; namely, focusing on porting and developing software for “multiple platforms”, including Nintendo’s Switch console. This suggests that Nintendo doesn’t have plans to turn Shiver into a studio solely focused on the Switch, keeping a diverse focus as it moves forward.

In a brief footnote, Nintendo notes that |the Acquisition will have only a minor effect on Nintendo’s results for this fiscal year.” This comes after Nintendo just recently announced its latest financial earnings report, revealing the opening date of the Nintendo Museum in Kyoto amongst other things.

What is Shiver Entertainment?

Founded in 2012 by John Schappert, Jason Andersen, and Jon Osvald, the studio has gained a reputation for porting and developing video game software, having influenced major franchises like Scribblenauts, Need for Speed, Guitar Hero and FIFA.

It was previously acquired by Embracer Group in December 2021 and will now be taken into Nintendo in this latest industry acquisition. This comes after Embracer has embarked on various downsizing measures, including laying off multiple teams to streamline its operations.

The move from Nintendo makes clear sense, with Shiver’s long-standing experience in developing games for the Switch. With rumors already flying about the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, folding in the studio behind bringing two major games to the console Mortal Kombat 1 and Hogwarts Legacy.

Featured image: Avalanche Software

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Rachael Davies
Freelance Journalist

Rachael Davies has spent six years reporting on tech and entertainment, writing for publications like the Evening Standard, Huffington Post, Dazed, and more. From niche topics like the latest gaming mods to consumer-faced guides on the latest tech, she puts her MA in Convergent Journalism to work, following avenues guided by a variety of interests. As well as writing, she also has experience in editing as the UK Editor of The Mary Sue , as well as speaking on the important of SEO in journalism at the Student Press Association National Conference. You can find her full portfolio over on…