Aeria Games and Gamepot Merge to Create a Global Force in Multi-Platform, Free-to-Play Gaming

Leading Companies Combine to Establish Worldwide Platform for Publishing and Development of PC and Mobile Games, Supporting over 50 Million Users and Dedicated Teams in Five Major Countries

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--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.

“We have already started collaborating on co-development projects, leveraging our mobile resources, to bring high-quality games to the international markets.”

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.

For more information on Aeria Games, visit http://www.aeriagames.com. For more information on Gamepot, visit http://company.gamepot.co.jp/english/.

About Aeria Games

Aeria Games is a leading destination for free-to-play online multiplayer games. Founded in 2006 and with offices in the US, Germany, and Brazil, Aeria Games publishes and develops high quality online games in nine languages—English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Italian, Turkish, and Russian—covering more than 30 countries. The company’s proprietary technology offers strong benefits to both players and developers. Aeria’s convenient Ignite platform gives players easy access to a universal gaming destination on their PCs. The company provides deep, immersive online games accessible from browsers, tablets, and smart phones. Developers get a blazingly fast point of entry to the global gaming market via Aeria Games’ specialized platform that enables quick and easy game integration. The company’s diverse portfolio includes highly engaging fantasy MMORPGs, action shooters, anime-style social games, and multiplayer mobile game titles. For more information, visit http://www.aeriagames.com.

About Gamepot

Gamepot is a top-4 Japanese publisher with PC, browser and mobile titles in its portfolio. Its Tokyo headquarters are home to both publishing and development staff, with additional mobile developers located in the Korean office. Gamepot has a portfolio of over 20 games and creates its own IP for mobile games with an in-house team of over 100 developers. It also owns the legendary Wizardry IP. Founded in 2001, the company went public in 2005, and became a wholly owned subsidiary of So-net Entertainment Corporation in 2008.