Lionsgate invests in Finnish start-up Next Games

Film production house Lionsgate has invested in Finnish start-up Next Games as part of the studio’s Series A financing round.

The latest funding brings total investment in the developer to date to $6m.

Lionsgate’s feature film business includes movies such as The Hunger Games, Divergent and The Expendables 2. It is not currently clear however if Next Games will be working on one of the entertainment firms’ IPs, and which one that might be.

The studio is already working on its own IP and is collaborating with AMC on a free-to-play mobile game based on The Walking Dead.

“I couldn’t be happier to bring Lionsgate, one of the leading entertainment companies and premier content producers, on board with us,” said Next Games CEO Teemu Huuhtanen.

“They have proven their strength in not only creating fascinating new stories for the world but doing a stellar job of marketing and turning them into blockbuster entertainment franchises.”

Next Games was founded in 2013 by ex-Rovio, Supercell and Disney developers. Last year the studio was named in the Develop 100 top European games start-ups list, which you can read in your browser or on iPad.