Service provider Keywords has acquired work-for-hire mobile games development studio Wizcorp for $1 million (¥120m).

The Tokyo-based company was previously owned by Ankama SAS and Silicon Studio. It has worked with a number of developers and publishers including Line, Square Enix, Avex, Yahoo Japan and Bandai Namco on various HTML5 and mobile titles.

The 35-person studio has annual revenues of around $2.78 million (¥310m) but is not claimed to be a “profit centre”. Following the purchase it will continue to be led by CEO Guillaume Hansali.

Expanding footprint

Keywords said the acquisition would extend its engineering service line and expand its presence in Japan’s games market.

"We are thrilled to welcome Guillaume and the Wizcorp team to join our fast-growing operations in Tokyo where we already employ 300 people,” said Keywords regional MD for Asia Christopher Kennedy.

“Japan is one of the world’s most significant game development hubs and has a long history in this industry. Keywords is excited at the opportunities Wizcorp will bring the Group and its clients in the Japanese market as it becomes the latest member of our global Engineering service line.

“Wizcorp’s HTML5 expertise is a valuable extension to our console, mobile and PC games development skills, which is particularly interesting in the context of Snap’s recent launch of its HTML5 based gaming platform.”

Pocket Gamer Connects is heading to Asia on July 17th and 18th, taking place in Hong Kong. Head to the website for further details.