NDreams Expands with Acquisition of Near Light, Developer of Shooty Fruity

In a major move, renowned virtual reality developer and publisher NDreams has announced the acquisition of Near Light, a Brighton-based studio, for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition was facilitated in part by the substantial $35 million investment NDreams received from the Aonic group in March. Having previously collaborated on titles such as Shooty Fruity and Perfect, NDreams and Near Light have a well-established history of working together. Currently, Near Light is developing an unreleased VR title that will be published by NDreams. Founded in 2016 by Paul Mottram and Ben Hobb, veterans of the gaming industry with credits including EyeToy Play, SingStar, and Guitar Hero, Near Light brings a wealth of experience to the table. This acquisition increases NDreams' studio count to four, adding to its existing studios in Farnborough, Studio Orbital, which opened in July 2021, and Studio Elevation, which launched in January 2022. According to Tom Gillo, NDreams' chief development officer, 'We are thrilled to be enhancing our relationship with Near Light, building on years of successful collaborations. This acquisition will enable us to work even more closely on groundbreaking games and leverage Ben and Paul's extensive industry expertise to bolster our own capabilities.'