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Big Hit acquires music game company Superb
By Ahn Sung-mi
Big Hit Entertainment, the agency behind BTS, on Monday said it had acquired Seoul-based music game company Superb.
Big Hit declined to reveal the value of the deal and details of the agreement. Superb, however, will retain its current management and retain its “unique color and independence as a game company,” according to both firms.
Big Hit has been on a business buying spree in its effort to expand its label and restructure business areas. In July, the firm bought midsized agency Source Music, label behind girl group GFriend.
The recently completed Superb acquisition is expected to give Big Hit the capability to develop and provide games based on music and intellectual property.
Using the intellectual property of Big Hit and its related firms, Superb is planning to produce games globally. But nothing has been decided as to the exact game development schedule, according to Big Hit.
“Big Hit believes games is an industry that can create strong synergy with music, our main focus,” Big Hit founder and CEO Bang Si-hyuk said in a statement. “We believe this acquisition will provide positive value and opportunities to the both companies, as well as Big Hit’s expanding multi-labels.”
Bang also emphasized it will continue to strengthen its partnership with Netmarble, which has rolled out BTS mobile game “BTS World,” apart from the acquisition of Superb.
“We are happy to partner with Big Hit that is innovating business model of music industry, and we see this as a new opportunity for everyone,” said Superb co-CEO Kim Seon-haeng. “Through cooperation with Big Hit, we expect to create new value and synergy.”
“Superb has been focusing on developing new types of fun across the boundaries of music and game,” said co-CEO Oh Min-hwan. “We will work hard to develop contents that can meet the users around the world through innovative contents and development of both firms.”
Superb, established in 2016, is best known for game “Pianista: The Legendary Virtuoso,” rhythm game available on Nintendo Switch and mobile devices, as well as “Yumi’s Cells,” mobile rhythm game based on popular Naver webtoon of the same name.
By Ahn Sung-mi (sahn@heraldcorp.com)