After having seen takeovers multiply on the side of Sony and Microsoft in recent months, it is now Nintendo's turn to acquire a studio with which it has been collaborating for many, many years...
After the acquisition of Next Level Games – which is also working on the next episode of Mario Striker – in January 2021, Big N has just announced the acquisition of SRD!
A logical takeover for Nintendo
If until now you had never heard of this name, you should know that SRD has been working for many years, and this in a totally exclusive way, with Nintendo.
Founded in 1979 in Japan, this studio of 139 employees (as of April 2021) accompanied the beginnings of the Japanese manufacturer. SRD (for Systems Research and Development), has also worked on Nintendo's biggest licenses, including Mario, Zelda and Donkey Kong. More recently, this same company was in charge of developing 1-2 Switch and Ring Fit Adventure.
Like the takeover of Next Level Games last year, it is clear that the acquisitions made by Nintendo are the fruit of a relationship of trust with its partners – buyouts, of course, occasional, but not remaining of it less strategic. Indeed, Nintendo has rightly specified that this acquisition of SRD was above all intended to secure the relationship that binds it to the studio, after almost 40 years of collaboration.
Finally, this acquisition of SRD by Nintendo will be officially recorded as of April 1st. A takeover for which the Japanese manufacturer paid no less than 50 million yen, the equivalent of around €390.
