LG enters EV charging business with AppleMango acquisition

Source: LG

LG is entering the electric vehicle charging business with its newest acquisition. The company bought South Korean EV battery charger developer AppleMango. This acquisition will allow LG to create "fully-featured" charging stations with a user-friendly interface and real-time control and management. The company said it could leverage its "sturdy, dust- and water-proof" outdoor digital display tech.

This acquisition expands on LG's existing business around electric cars. It can marry the new charger capabilities with its existing in-house EV charging management systems. LG has plans to install an EV charger production line at the LG Digital Park in South Korea before the end of the year. It wants to supply different customers with custom EV charging solutions.

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Square Enix sells off 3 major Western studios to Embracer

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Square Enix plans to sell three of its major Western game studios and associated video game properties to the Embracer Group. The sale is estimated to be around US$300 million. Following regulatory approvals, it's expected to be finalized between July and September this year.

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Netflix buys Boss Fight Entertainment game studio

Dungeon Boss | Boss Fight Entertainment

Netflix adds another independent game studio under its belt. It has acquired Texas-based mobile game developer Boss Fight Entertainment for an undisclosed amount. The studio was formed by former Zynga Dallas and Ensemble Studios employees back in 2013, headed by CEO David Rippy, CCO Bill Jackson, and COO Scott Winsett. The team will continue to operate out of its studios in the US. Amir Rahimi, Netflix's VP of game studios, will allow Netflix to "tap into great creative talent beyond California." 

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Netflix purchases Next Games studio, the team behind its 'Stranger Things' game

Source: Next Games/Netflix

Netflix wants you to know it's serious about its gaming ambitions. The company announced its plans to acquire Next Games, the Finnish mobile game developer that created its RPG-based Stranger Things game. The streaming service will purchase the studio for about €65 million (around CA$91.5 million), with its paperwork expected to be finalized by the summer. According to Netflix VP of Games, Michael Verdu, Next Games will become its "core studio" that will expand its internal game studio capabilities. 

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