Glu acquires Quiz Up developer Plain Vanilla

Mobile company Glu has picked up Plain Vanilla, the studio behind popular mobile trivia title Quiz Up, in a deal worth $1.2m.

Glu invested in Plain Vanilla originally at the start of 2016, trading $7.5m for a minority equity stake in the company. Glu have forgiven that $7.5m in convertible promissory notes, providing Quiz Up can be relaunched on the iOS and Android marketplaces with Glu branding. Part of the original deal meant that Glu CEO Niccolo de Masi joined Plain Vanilla’s board of directors, and they were given the option to acquire the firm after 15 months, but Glu have made their move a fair bit earlier than that.

As part of this acquisition, Plain Vanilla was gobbled up for $1.2m in cash and CEO of Plain Vanilla Nick Earl will be joining the Glu board as its ninth member.

Plain Vanilla came to prominence shortly after launching Quiz Up back in November 2013, as the game snowballed in popularity. Plain Vanilla are currently working with NBC Universal to create a TV show based on the title.