Language teaching app Duolingo has acquired Beatstar developer and music gaming startup, NextBeat, in a bid to make its music course “as fun and joyful as the best mobile games in the market.”
In a press release, the company said the acquisition of NextBeat’s team of 23 — with expertise in game design, user retention, monetization, sound design, and music licensing — will “power the next chapter of Duolingo’s gamified learning experiences.”
It also establishes the “first official presence” of Duolingo in the UK.
“Learning should be just as engaging as playing a great game, whether you’re practicing a new language or playing a favorite song,” said Bob Meese, chief business officer at Duolingo. “This is a strategic bet on talent. The NextBeat team brings deep mobile gaming and music industry expertise, which will make our Music course and the entire Duolingo platform more delightful, immersive, and effective.”
“From day one, it was clear that Duolingo and NextBeat share the same values: putting learners first, obsessing over great design, and never taking ourselves too seriously,” said Simon Hade, CEO of NextBeat. “Joining forces means we can bring our passion for music and play to a platform that is redefining how people learn.”
Space Ape Games spun out new studio NextBeat earlier this year. It’s thought the studio’s portfolio will include Space Ape IPs Beatstar and Country Star.
Supercell – which already owned 62% of Space Ape – increased its investment in Space Ape back in November, acquiring the London-based studio.