Highlights

  • Nintendo surprises fans with Shiver Entertainment acquisition, but promise minimal impact on current fiscal year results.
  • Speculation arises on Shiver's future projects, including possible involvement in ports for the upcoming Nintendo Switch
  • Nintendo's move raises eyebrows in the gaming community amidst a trend of acquisitions by competitors Xbox and Sony.

Nintendo has acquired Shiver Entertainment, Inc., the studio that has been behind the Nintendo Switch ports of games like Hogwarts Legacy and Mortal Kombat 1. While acquisitions like these can be good news for fans, this one seems to have surprised many in the Nintendo community.

There has been an unprecedented rise in the number of acquisitions by gaming giants like Xbox and Sony in the past few years. From the controversial Activision-Blizzard acquisition by Microsoft to Sony's purchase of Bungie, it's been a series of events nobody would have expected from afar. While fans have been eagerly waiting for Nintendo to follow suit, there haven't been any major acquisitions by Nintendo so far. In fact, Nintendo even said that it's not seeking acquisitions at all, something that has been a point of debate for quite a while now. Amid that, Nintendo's recent move has left many surprised.

Nintendo Switch logo on blurred Biomutant screenshot
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In a recent announcement, Nintendo has announced an all-new acquisition. The studio in question is Shiver Entertainment, the team that has been behind the likes of Nintendo Switch ports for Hogwarts Legacy, Mortal Kombat 1 as well as Mortal Kombat 11. While the specifics of the deal haven't been revealed, it has been noted that the acquisition will only have a "minor effect" on Nintendo's results for the current fiscal year. Additionally, Shiver Entertainment will now become a wholly owned subsidiary as Nintendo has acquired 100% of the stocks.

Nintendo Fans Think Shiver Entertainment Could Work On Switch 2 Ports

As far as the acquisition prospects go, there don't seem to be a lot of drastic changes on the radar. Nintendo assures that Shiver Entertainment's focus will remain the same even after the acquisition. However, what's notable is the fact that the announcement also mentions that the team will continue to work on ports which will not only be limited to Nintendo Switch. Unsurprisingly, that has opened the door for a lot of speculation.

Some fans are theorizing that it could lead to PC ports of Nintendo games, but that seems a bit too far-fetched. However, another plausible theory, which actually very well might be the case, is that Nintendo will be using the studio's help to port games to the Nintendo Switch 2. Although Nintendo has confirmed that the Nintendo Switch 2 will be announced pretty soon, it does make sense to simply not refer it to directly for now. Fans have noted that the developers have done commendable work in the past, especially for the port of Mortal Kombat which has improved a lot over time despite launching in a buggy state.

nintendo-switch-game-console-handheld
Switch

A late addition to the eighth console generation, the Nintendo Switch is a hybrid platform that can be experienced as a home or portable system. Launching with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the platform has amassed a wide selection of triple-A and indie titles. Since the console's debut, Nintendo has released two other models: the Switch Lite and OLED.

Brand
Nintendo
Original Release Date
March 3, 2017
Hardware Versions
Switch , Nintendo Switch Lite , Nintendo Switch OLED Model
Original MSRP (USD)
Switch: $299; Lite: $199.99; OLED: $349.99
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