OpenFeint Acquired by Japanese Gaming Company GREE for $104 Million

Thursday April 21, 2011 9:23 pm PDT by Arnold Kim

OpenFeint announced tonight that they have been acquired by Japanese gaming company GREE for $104 million.

GREE, Japans leading mobile social gaming platform, today announced its entrance into the global market with the acquisition of OpenFeint's outstanding securities for US $104 million, plus additional capital for accelerated growth of the OpenFeint platform.

GREE is a popular Japanese social networking service and is said to be the largest social network in Japan with over 25 million users and a market cap of $3 billion. The acquisition brings in OpenFeint's 75 million users across Android and iOS.

OpenFeint began as a two-person iOS gaming company called Aurora Feint. Aurora Feint launched on the first day of the App Store's release with a free game game called Aurora Feint: The Beginning. That game was very well received but they soon branched off to become a social gaming network, providing high score systems, achievements and more. They've attracting thousands of developers including popular games such as Fruit Ninja and Tiny Wings. OpenFeint says they will continue to grow our network while accelerating upgrades with GREE's backing.

Top Rated Comments

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kockgunner

27 months ago

I personally have always avoided Openfeint. I think it's very obtrusive and annoying for some reason. I also hate the icon overlay it gives apps.

Rating: 6 Positives

Cougarcat

27 months ago

Game Center could be so much better.

Why is it impossible to find other iOS users?
Why isn't there any Facebook integration?
Why is there no messaging system?
Cross game chat?
Lobbies? More multiplayer support?

Hello...?

Gamecenter is very "1.0". It was only released last Fall. I expect we'll see at least some of those features in iOS 5.

Rating: 3 Positives