Free-to-play publisher Aeria Games merges with Japan's Gamepot

Santa Clara, California-based Aeria Games has merged with Japanese online games company Gamepot, and is now looking to expand its multi-platform free-to-play games on a more global scale. The MMO publisher, known for distributing titles like Dynasty Warriors Online, will now operate under a new U.S.-based holding headquarters with Hiroki Totoki (Gamepot chairman) and Lan Hoang (Aeria CEO) as co-CEOs. Combined, the companies now have a portfolio of more than 50 PC and mobile games, and nearly 600 employees in total with offices in the U.S., Japan, Germany, Brazil and Korea. Aeria says that the merging will accelerate its technology scaling, allowing it to launch its Ignite free-to-play game platform more quickly in multiple continents. Meanwhile, Gamepot is bringing multiple big-name franchises to the pairing, including Wizardry and Paperman. Aeria noted that its current shareholders will soon own a majority stake in the new holding company.